Democracy and Political Mechanisms in Cambodia

Abstract

This article aims to present the political phenomenon related to democracy in Cambodia. Which can be divided into 2 important periods: 1) Early Democracy After Cambodia gained independence from colonial nations (France) with the help of Japan, Cambodia was able to enjoy full autonomy and 2) second-generation democracy, including the present is a drive for the country to restore a nation that had been dilapidated as a result of the failed former regime to become a democratic developed country under the leadership of Cambodia's all-time Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen.

          It also analyzes how the Cambodian government's drive mechanism appears to be being used in a reverse direction from liberal democracy to maintain its own and allies' political power base, which can be divided into 2 types: Mechanism Type 1 The use of the concept of leadership in social control (Hegemonic Apparatuses) consists of the image of leader, use of nationalism and use kinship politics and the second type of mechanism consists of the use of political influence and military force to seize power, use government resources for campaign benefits,  Dominance of government agencies and independent organizations, use of state power to threaten people and the use of judicial and legal powers to eliminate competitors.

          However, this article is merely a study to provide an explanation and understanding of the political phenomenon occurring in Cambodia regarding the movement of democracy and the use of the government's political mechanisms in its operation.