Democracy has been scarce and of poor quality in the region. Nevertheless, it has begun to take root mainly in wealthier, non-socialist states. To much surprise, given its military-dominated authoritarian past, Indonesia now appears as the bright light in this respect. Since 1998, elections have been held regularly, there has been significant turnover of power between various parties and contenders for the presidency, and civil liberties have been very broad. Thailand has teetered between authoritarian and democratic regimes but since the 1980s has overall been ruled by democratically elected governments, and a significant turnover of power between contenders. The armed forces retreated seemingly from intervening in politics in recent years, most significantly by accepting electoral results in 2010 that returned to power Puea Thai and allowed Yingluck Shinawatra to become prime minister. Thailand resumed a course that was set in the 1990s, when civil liberties were broad, electoral competition lively and democracy seemed to be progressing. The Philippines returned to electoral politics in 1986, when large masses forced Marcos out of power. Mass mobilization blocked other attempts to concentrate power and re-establish authoritarian rule. At the same time, political clans have strongly supported a return of elections and competitive democratic institutions that have served their interests. Their clout remains strong, at the expense of broadening representation and participation of the vast number of poor and marginalized Filipinos. Finally, Malaysia and Singapore, While remaining dominant party systems, have shown signs of pressures to reform and democratize, Certainly Malaysia came close to significant political change with the surprisingly strong showing of Anwar Ibrahim’s opposition coalition in the 2008 elections. In Singapore’s 2011 elections, the opposition gained six seats and dominant PAP saw its popular support erode to 60 per cent vote. While these results did not challenge the PAP’s dominance, it shows growing resentment towards the status quo.