In retrospect, our approach of leaving all doors
open for whatever political scenario would unfold
in Malaysia seems like a clever move, but I guess
few seriously expected the return of Mahathir to the
pinnacle of power. But didn’t we get lucky in putting
a question mark behind the sub title – just in case?
We also wrote, “Malaysian society has moved beyond
Mahathir … Malaysian youth are now more open and
largely influenced by social media, as can be seen in
Barisan Nasional’s loss of the popular vote in 2013”.
This was entirely meant in a positive sense and takes
me back to the point about enthusiasm.
I might idealise my experience just a little bit but this
is the dominant image solidified in my mind when
I think back to my time at MUM. And I never fail to
share this experience with my students in Germany.
Taking liberalism, the rule of law, a fair and just society
and democracy for granted is a fallacy. Today most
European nations are challenged by growing right
wing populism, which can easily turn into radicalism
◀ Presenting the
Best Communication
Student Award to Ms
Pung Sha-lene (2013).
and extremism. We cannot be complacent or
silent. When I discuss civic engagement and the
courage to stand up for one’s beliefs with my politics
students, sooner or later I mention Malaysia as a
positive example. So, in a nutshell, this is my SASS
metamorphosis: the realisation that lecturing is not
only about helping my students become great or –
let’s be modest – at least decent social scientists
but also about planting the seeds so that future
generations can enjoy the same level of liberalism and
democracy that we are privileged to experience today.
Joern Dosch was at SASS from 2012 to 2013.
He is currently Professor of International Politics
and Development Cooperation, University of
Rostock, Germany.
101
When young people in Europe, North America and
many places in Asia decide to study political science
or another discipline within the social sciences they
usually do so because they find the subject matter
intellectually stimulating (or at least they hope to be
stimulated). There are exceptions, but few would
begin a degree programme in politics because they
plan to apply their knowledge in the real world of
policy-making or because they aspire to making their
nation a more just and democratic place. In many
countries of the “Western world”, democracy is taken
for granted, something that was achieved generations
ago and no longer requires fighting for. There is no
doubt that, just like their German, British or Japanese
contemporaries, many of my SASS students wanted
to quench their intellectual thirst but their interest
went beyond academia in a narrow sense. They were
passionate about politics and society in Malaysia,
did not accept the status quo as being set in stone,
participated in BERSIH and other civil society
movements and actively campaigned for change
and reform. I considered it a privilege to teach and
supervise students who did not see themselves solely
as knowledge takers but as activists.
▲ With young diplomats
from ASEAN at the
Clingendael Institute in The
Hague where I am a frequent
visiting professor (2018).