A Regal Authoritarian Turn in Cambodia

Cambodia’s transition from competitive to hegemonic authoritar-
ianism, begun with a crackdown in 2017 which saw the opposition
Cambodia National Rescue Party dissolved, and institutionalised in
non-competitive parliamentary elections in 2018 in which long-
incumbent Cambodian People’s Party won all seats, has been teem-
ing with references to the monarchy. Whilst Prime Minister Hun Sen
has long built a complex set of regal legitimations elevating him to
or above kingship, these legitimations have both intensified and
changed qualitatively with the transition to hegemonic authoritar-
ianism. In the past, Hun Sen and his regime’s regal references
served to re-work in his favour the power boundaries between
him and the monarchy; now, such references are mobilised against
the non-royalist political opposition – at the same time as there is a
sitting king on the throne. This article investigates the meanings
and messages attached to these interventions on kingship, and
how their usefulness to the new authoritarian order sheds light
on the path the regime is taking. It is argued that Hun Sen uses
royal imagery to cohere an otherwise incoherent vision of himself
as a popular revolutionary as well as king-like leader whose power
needs no check, to project power and create new political
possibilities.