This book contributes to the ongoing debate on the complex transition in weak states from war to peace and from authoritarianism to liberal democracy. The analysis the impact of foreign intervention on Cambodia's state and societal structures during the period 1954-98. Three forms of intervention are discussed: competitive, cooperative, and co-optative. None of them contributed to the emergence of what is called a hurting balance of power-a necessary, if not sufficient, condition for democratic compromise and maturation; none has the capacity to allow democratization to emerge and mature in the immediate term. While competitive intervention perpetuated hegemonic instability, cooperative and co-optative intervention seemed to lead the country in the direction of illiberal democracy, in which greater hegemonic stability exists and may persist for some time.

Part 1 democratic seed on thorny soil1955-90
- Chapter 1 Anti-Democratic Political Systems
- Chapter 2 Unstable Hegemonic Power Structures
- Chapter 3 Cold War " Competitive " Intervention

Part 2 unconsolidated democratic transition
- Chapter 4 Towards an Unconsolidated Democratic
Regime
- Chapter 5 Hurting Balance of Power Unachieved
- Chapter 6 Co-optative Intervention in Cambodia

Part 3 towards illiberal democracy 1996-future
- Chapter 7 Democracy on Trial, 1996-98
- Chapter 8 Hun Sen's Rise to Greater Hegemonic
Status, 1996-98
- Chapter 9 The New "Co-optative Intervention",
1996-98