Malaysia’s GE15 – Reflections on a Snap Election

In this talk, Duncan McCargo reflects on his experiences following the November 2022 election campaign in Malaysia, during which he met candidates, campaign workers and voters across four different states. What was at stake in the election? How did first time voters feel about the campaign? Why did the long-dominant UMNO do so badly – yet become a key player in the subsequent coalition? Why did the Islamic party PAS do so well, but fail to join the government? What kind of expectations surround Anwar Ibrahim now that he is finally prime minister?

Duncan McCargo is Director of the Nordic Institute of Asian Studies and a professor of political science at the University of Copenhagen. He specializes on the comparative politics of Southeast Asia, especially Thailand.

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