Nation-Building in the Information Age: Legitimacy and the Information Economies' of Southeast Asia

Abstract

This essay explores the exogenous economic and endogenous political factors motivating some of Southeast Asias authoritarian governments to strike out on a new, information-based development path. After examining the economic prospects and pitfalls involved in reorienting toward an information economy, this essay considers the question of how contradictions inherent in the economic changes and increased information flows mandated by this new development strategy might challenge these governments ability to continue their nation-building and legitimacy-building projects.