Why have some Southeast Asian cities become laboratories of reform while others remain mired in old patterns of patronage politics and substandard services? This has become an important question now that over half of Southeast Asia's population lives in urban areas, transforming the politics of the region. Quintessentially urban problems—traffic congestion, sanitation, public transport, housing and the like—increasingly preoccupy policymakers, while the region's swelling urban middle classes expect their mayors and city governments to provide ever-better infrastructure and amenities. Drawing on close case studies of a diverse set of 17 urban areas across four Southeast Asian countries—Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand—this volume offers fresh insights into how the region's urban politics are changing. It provides a new framework for understanding why some cities are flourishing and others not. Exploring the factors that shape distinct local governance regimes in these cities, the volume also throws light on how urban residents use community associations, informal networks, and other political mechanisms to access the public services they want and need.
