“But if you ask the people, perhaps a little bit of authoritarianism is needed to fight those corrupt people… Corruption is still widespread. Last summer, youth-led nationwide protests erupted in Indonesia over state corruption and wealth inequality. It also ranks near the top in the World Justice Project’s Rule of Law Index. The bellwether Corruption Perceptions Index doesn’t include data on illicit financial flows, money laundering, or private-sector corruption, Pozsgai noted. Several Southeast Asian states show that authoritarianism can produce dramatic clean-ups when applied against corruption.

Source: Dhaka Tribune February 24, 2026 09:11 UTC