Contributors -- A note on Thai and Vietnamese names -- Introduction / Muthiah Alagappa -- Part I. Legitimacy: Explication and Elaboration: 1. The anatomy of legitimacy / Muthiah Alagappa ; 2. The bases of legitimacy / Muthiah Alagappa ; 3. Contestation and crisis / Muthiah Alagappa -- Part II. Legitimacy: Case Studies: 4. Malaysia: aspects and audiences of legitimacy / William Case ; 5. Singapore: political legitimacy through managing conformity / Cho-Oon Khong ; 6. The Philippines: the languages of legitimation / John T. Sidel ; 7. Burma: the depoliticization of the political / Chaeo-Tzang Yawnghwe ; 8. Thailand: the evolution of legitimacy / Saitip Sukatipan ; 9. Indonesia: historicizing the New Order's legitimacy dilemma / Mochtar Pabottingi ; 10. Vietnam: the changing models of legitimation / Thaveeporn Vasavakul -- Part III. Conclusion and Observations: 11. Seeking a more durable basis of authority / Muthiah Alagappa -- Notes -- Bibliography -- Index.