Hun Manet refines Cambodia’s authoritarian governance model

Hun Sen’s succession to his son, Hun Manet, in August 2023 raised hopes for political reform in Cambodia. However, Hun Manet has maintained his father’s authoritarian regime, utilizing sophisticated repression tactics while increasing control over civil society and independent media. Environmental activists and opposition figures face imprisonment and harassment, and the government’s alignment with China has strengthened its grip on power, complicating Western diplomatic efforts for reform.

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