Monarchy and religion could give governments deep legitimacy, but they could also be used against rulers.
In Thailand, Sarit revived the prestige of the monarchy after 1957, and King Bhumibol became the most respected figure in the country. Military rulers drew legitimacy from royal support.
The Thai king could also restrain rulers. In 1973 he backed the students, and the military leaders left the country. In May 1992 he called the prime minister, General Suchinda, and the protest leader to an audience, which ended the crisis.
In Malaysia, the Malay rulers and Islam were part of the constitution. In the 1980s Mahathir's government promoted Islamic institutions to compete with the Islamic party PAS.
Indonesia's rulers managed religion carefully. Suharto made Pancasila, the state philosophy, the compulsory basis of all organisations by 1985, and he kept political Islam under control.
Religion could also rally opposition. In 1986 Cardinal Sin, the Catholic archbishop of Manila, called people onto the streets to protect the soldiers who had defected from Marcos. In Burma, Buddhist monks joined the protests of 1988.
- Thai monarchy
- Revived under Sarit; key in 1973 and 1992.
- Pancasila
- Compulsory for all organisations by 1985.
- Cardinal Sin
- Rallied People Power in 1986.
Worked example: Comparing traditional institutions
How did monarchy and religion affect power?
- Thailand: royal support gave the generals legitimacy and could withdraw it.
- Malaysia: Islam and the Malay rulers anchored UMNO's legitimacy.
- Indonesia: Pancasila kept religion under state control.
- The Philippines: the Church helped topple Marcos.
Watch out for this
Traditional institutions always supported rulers.
They could turn against rulers. The Thai king helped end military rule in 1973 and 1992, and the Catholic Church helped bring down Marcos.
Check your understanding
How did the Thai king help end the crisis of May 1992?
- He called the prime minister and the protest leader to an audience.
- He took over the government himself.
- He led a coup.