Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo is ineligible for a third term but seems reluctant in giving up his power and position in politics. To maintain some sense of control, President Widodo seems to be endorsing Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto as his successor. He seems to be influenced by Prabowo’s running mate, Jokowi’s son, Gibran Rakabuming Raka. These relational connections and greed for political power indicate a budding political dynasty. This is a concerning trend for both Indonesia and Southeast Asia’s developing democracies or lack thereof which political coercion in place.

Similarly in the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., son of the dethroned dictator, won the presidency aided by Duterte’s daughter as his running mate. As discussed in class, Duterte is well-perceived for his ‘man of the people persona’ despite having a background that drastically contradicts the background of the people that majorly make up his nation. Because of this influence, I can only help but assume that his power and Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s close proximity to Duterte’s daughter aided him in winning the Presidential election. 

Further, Thailand’s recent elections witnessed the Shinawatra clan’s return to power, with Thaksin Shinawatra’s daughter leading the Pheu Thai party, forming a government in alliance with the military. These instances highlight a worrying shift toward dynastic politics, posing challenges to democratic stability in Southeast Asia amid global concerns about democratic backsliding. Time and time again we see these particular Southeast Asian countries influenced by power, money, and greed. It is very common for families to utilize nepotism in order to establish a firm foundation for themselves within political spaces. These actions often directly contradict their democratic policies. Further, the entire point of democratic systems is to elect individuals that mirror the needs of the people they represent. However, when political power is concentrated within a few families, there is a limit to the amount of perspectives and ideas within the political pool because they are pulling from one viewpoint. This lack of diversity can hinder the development of well established policies that consider the opinions and needs of all segments of society. It is important to elect individuals that can make change in a society rather than electing multiple individuals from one family because the same viewpoint is being expressed over and over again. 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/11/28/southeast-asia-political-dynasties-rise/