Female Leadership of Democratic Transitions in Asia

t is striking how often, over the last decade-and-a-half, women have led successful popular uprisings against dictatorships in Asia. Corazon C. Aquino in the Philippines (1986), Benazir Bhutto in Pakistan (1988), Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina Wajed in Bangladesh (1990) and Megawati Sukarnoputri in Indonesia (1998) inspired and organized mass protests against non-democratic regimes. They then guided precarious transitions to democracy. Aquino was the Philippines' first president after the Marcos dictatorship. Bhutto served twice as prime minister in the post-Zia era in Pakistan. Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina have alternated as prime minister since the end of military rule in Bangladesh. Megawati, who was initially elected vice president, succeeded to the Indonesian presidency after accusations of corruption and mismanagement led…