Malaysia in 1992: Sharp Politics, Fast Growth, and a New Regional Role

Abstract

Since the late 1980s, analysts have tracked two important features in Malaysia: mounting political authoritarianism and rapid economic growth. Indeed, the United Malays National Organization (UMNO), the central party in the ruling National Front, has asserted that these phenomena correlate,' ensuring that in 1992 they continued to dampen political contestation. Moreover, this approach's evident success in fostering high growth rates amid a stagnant global economy has permitted Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad to claim a new international role, deepening cooperation with other developing countries while rebutting Western criticisms over human rights and environmental policies. Let us chart broadly, then, the ways in which these trends unfolded in politics, the economy, and international relations during the past year.