Research Activities

Research Projects 2023

Persistence and Transformation of Cambodia's Authoritarian Regime during the Hun Sen Government

Outline

In Cambodia, where the Hun Sen government has maintained long-term power, personal rule by Prime Minister Hun Sen has strengthened since the 2010s, and in recent years there has been a shift from a competitive authoritarian regime to a hegemonic authoritarian regime, as well as a move toward a collective succession of power to the children of the Cambodia People' s Party (CPP)'s senior leaders. The purpose of this research project is to examine how the authoritarian regime in Cambodia has persisted and transformed since the 2000s, when the CPP gained control of the coalition government. The analysis will be conducted from two specific perspectives: the utilization of democratic political institutions to reduce threat to the regime and the assertion of the legitimacy of rule, while relying on recent theories in the study of authoritarian regimes.

Period

April 2023 - March 2025

Members
Role Member
[ Organizer ] Shintani, Haruno
[ Co-researcher ] Hatsukano, Naomi
[ Co-researcher ] Yamada, Hiroshi(Niigata University of International and Information Studies Associate Professor)
[ Co-researcher ] Lim, Lyhong(Bun & Associates Japan Desk and Associate)

*Affiliations are as of April 2023.

Expected Outcome
  • Interim Report