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| Anti-Coup protesters in Thailand (File Photo) |
By Serhat Ünaldi
The “old middle class” in Southeast Asia is turning against democracy in a bid to protect its interests.
If forecasts are anything to go by, Asia will account for two thirds (PDF) of the global middle class population in 2030. Whereas investors and businesses already did the math and are waiting in line to capitalize on rapidly expanding consumer markets, political analysts are only slowly beginning to grasp what the rise of Asia’s middle class means for governments in the region, especially in non-democratic countries.
Will the middle class demand more democracy, representative government, and a greater say in the running of their countries? Or will it remain satisfied with one-party states, military regimes, or elected autocrats, as long as the economy grows and their material needs are satisfied?
Read the full story at The Diplomat