Modernization theorists argue that once a country passes $6,000 GDP per capita, it is substantially poised to succeed in its transition to democracy. Nevertheless, Malaysia, which has well passed the threshold of GDP per capita, still maintains authoritarian government. This paper comprehends the limitations of structural variables that are proclaimed by modernization theory to be crucial for democratic transition and will prove that civil society variable is more persuasive in explaining the different processes of democratic transition in South Korea and Malaysia. South Korea and Malaysia are similar in that both countries fit the model of a “strong state,” and their difference lies in civil society. South Korea is uniquely homogeneous in ethnicity, religion, and language, while Malaysia has high degree of social cleavage and diversity. O’Donnell and Schmitter pointed out that the “resurrection of civil society” should precede the democratic transition. While South Korea experienced it in 1987, Malaysian civil society is yet fragmented due to the heterogeneous characteristics of its civil society. Therefore, the most urgent need for democratic transition in Malaysia seems to require trust-building among the diverse social groups and share democratic values, which eventually will lead to the “resurrection of civil society.”
Ⅰ. Introduction
Ⅱ. Literature review and theoretical framewor
Ⅲ. Modernization without democratization
Ⅳ. Resurrection of civil society and democratization movement
Ⅴ. Conclusion
BIBLIOGRAPHY