Abingdon and New York: Routledge, 2024. US$180.00, cloth. ISBN 9781032340951.
Malaysia’s State Formation: Small Steps and Large Outcomes of a Contested Leviathan by Abdillah Noh provides an in-depth examination of the historical, social, and institutional dynamics of the evolution of Malaysia’s political and economic structure. Noh analyzes the positions of the Malays and the Chinese in the shaping of the political-economic framework and proposes a new model to explain the country’s political-economic character. The book’s starting point examines how, at different points in history, the conflicting demands of ethnic groups posed a threat to the stability of the system, and how, despite these challenges, a certain level of compromise was achieved and balance was maintained. He discusses several approaches (class-based, functionalist, and neoliberal/utilitarian perspectives) to explain how this compromise and balance were achieved yet argues that a more comprehensive framework and conceptualization are still needed to understand Malaysia’s political-economic character.
The primary aim of this book is to propose a comprehensive model that explains both the historical origins and modern implications of Malaysia’s political economy. The “Contested Leviathan Framework” proposed by the author explains how a strong state (Leviathan) in Malaysia manages ethnic differences and conflicting interests through power-sharing and conflict resolution to create a harmonious system. The term “contested” here signifies that ethnic groups continue to make contentious claims and that achieving balance has not been easy. In this context, the book provides a detailed exploration of the background and key factors related to Malaysia’s constitutional monarchy, relationships between ethnic groups, and current political coalition structures. Additionally, the book explores how historical events, power imbalances between ethnic communities, and colonial policies shaped Malaysia’s political economy up until 1972, when the unity government was formed.
The seven chapters in this book address the historical developments of Malaysia in a chronological framework, examining the political, economic, and social transformations from British colonial rule to post-independence challenges. Noh examines Malaysian history through two main periods: the colonial period (1800–1957) and the post-colonial period (1957–1972). First, he details the development of race-based economic and social structures under British colonial rule. Then, he examines Malaysia’s efforts toward conflict resolution and reconciliation as a multi-ethnic nation post independence. The book further explores how the fundamental elements of Malaysia—referred to as the country’s reference conditions (the Malays, the monarchy, and Islam)—play a role in forming the Malaysian state within the Contested Leviathan Framework. It also focuses on the relationships between Malays, Chinese, and, to some extent, Indians, and discusses the political and economic developments both during the colonial period and after independence.
Chapter 1, designed as an introduction to the book, introduces the book’s conceptual framework and analytical tools. Chapter 2 explores Malaya’s development under British influence, highlighting economic pragmatism and the role of Chinese capital, labour, and Malay rulers. Chapter 3 analyzes British policies after the Pangkor Treaty and how two distinct autonomous groups—the Malays and the Chinese, each with their own political and economic expectations—emerged in Malaya. Chapter 4 examines the evolution of these two autonomous groups, the rise of Malay intellectuals and political expression, and the emergence of exclusive institutions that challenged the existing structure. Chapter 5 discusses growing nationalist movements and social-political organizations, emphasizing the compromise that shaped Malaysia’s political economy. Chapter 6 assesses post-independence challenges, including ethnic tensions, Singapore’s failed merger, and the 1972 unity government. The conclusion, chapter 7, presents a summary of the findings and includes brief observations on the recent elections and political developments in Malaysia within the Contested Leviathan Framework.
As a strength, the book effectively applies the historical institutionalism approach to examine Malaysia’s historical development and provides a detailed analysis of how institutions have been shaped over time and the long-term effects of colonial policies. This integration of history, sociology, economics, political science, and international relations may attract the interest of readers from various disciplines. Additionally, the Contested Leviathan Framework emerges as an innovative model for understanding Malaysia’s political and economic structure. This model serves as a crucial tool for readers aiming to understand Malaysia’s state formation process, along with its political and economic structure and transformation.
On the other hand, although the author makes some brief remarks regarding the last four general elections within the Contested Leviathan Framework in the conclusion, current political events could have been the subject of a more detailed analysis in a separate chapter. As a result, the author’s failure to address post-1972 developments in detail leads to a weak connection between the theoretical framework and concepts discussed in the book and contemporary Malaysian politics. The author also places excessive emphasis on West Malaysia to understand the overall structure of Malaysia. Even though Noh specifies that the political developments of East Malaysia can be interpreted within the Contested Leviathan Framework, the neglect of East Malaysia’s political and social dynamics creates a gap within the scope of the book. In addition, while the role of the Chinese community in Malaysia’s political economy is elaborated in detail, the influence of the Indian community is addressed in a relatively superficial manner, which creates a gap in understanding Malaysia’s truly multi-ethnic structure. And because the language of the book is sometimes overly technical and dense with academic jargon it may pose a challenge for readers without an academic background.
In summary, Malaysia’s State Formation is a valuable resource for readers seeking to understand the formation and political economy of Malaysia. By offering a different explanatory model like the Contested Leviathan Framework and analyzing Malaysia’s political economy within this model, Abdillah Noh makes a significant contribution to the literature. However, the exclusion of East Malaysia, limiting the analysis until 1972 instead of addressing the contemporary era and the use of dense academic language limit the book’s impact. Despite these shortcomings, the book is an important work worthy of reading with a critical perspective for those who wish to understand Malaysia’s complex political and economic structure.
Ferhat Durmaz
Ankara University, Ankara