Systematic Literature Review on Civil Society and Democracy in Malaysia: The Pursuit of Patriotism
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24191/afnvbb21Keywords:
Cosmopolitanism, Ethnic politics, Nationalism, ROSES review protocol, Civil society, DemocracyAbstract
The discourse on civil society in Malaysia is dominated by liberal cosmopolitanism and Malay Islam, overlooking nation-building and patriotism. Previous research on civil society and democracy in Malaysia indicates a stark division between multiculturalism and ethnoculturalism, marginalising the centre and deepening societal divides. This systematic literature review, utilising the ROSES protocol, analyses 24 selected articles out of 191, revealing contrasting themes of cosmopolitanism and Islam within discussions on civil society and democracy in Malaysia. The study explores how this contestation poses a potential threat to patriotism. Based on Steven B. Smith’s “Reclaiming Patriotism in an Age of Extremes” (2021), there is an urgent need to incorporate patriotism into broader discussions on civil society and democracy. However, the current argument faces limitations imposed by the SLR protocol’s inclusion and exclusion criteria.
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