Choose a source of power and test how far it kept governments in office.
Which source of power lasted best?
Government performance
- Singapore's housing and jobs.
- Suharto's growth and rice self-sufficiency.
Delivering results won broad support.
It collapsed in crises, as in 1998.
Elections and constitutions
- The PAP and BN won every election.
- Golkar's managed victories.
Elections showed support at home and abroad.
A stolen election triggered People Power in 1986.
The military
- Dwifungsi in Indonesia.
- Military rule in Burma from 1962.
Force kept rulers in office.
Army splits could bring rulers down.
Monarchy and religion
- The Thai king's prestige.
- Islam and the Malay rulers.
Deep, lasting legitimacy.
These institutions could turn against rulers.