The Politics Of Age: An Examination Of The Cambodia National Ageing Policy 2017-2030

Abstract

“The Politics of Age: An Examination of the Cambodia National Ageing Policy 2017-2030,” examines ageing population issues in Cambodia and the Cambodian government's approach to addressing the issues by adopting a thirteen-year national ageing policy plan. The study outlines the history of political development in Cambodia in the post-French colonial period and onwards (1953-Present) – and examines how the colonial legacy contributes to shaping today's politics and policymaking process. The tracing of the country's early political development provides an avenue to conduct critical analysis on the Cambodian government's policy choice on the ageing population. By critically assessing and comparing the civil society efforts with government officials’ performance throughout the policy implementation process as well as investigating how the National Ageing Policy 2017-2030 affects the ageing population, this dissertation uncovers the differences between how the policy serves and benefit the Cambodian government and the ageing population. While the enactment of ageing policy in Cambodia can be viewed as a positive action of the government in conforming with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN-SDGs) and the International Human Rights Law, this policy action is, arguably, an apparatus to reaffirm regime legitimacy or in other words, proving the capacity of an authoritarian regime to care for the population. Using empirical evidence collected from my field study through participating in the National Ageing Policy 2017-2030 first phase action plan’s review process with the government officials and civil society organization as well as interviews with Cambodian elderly attest to my argument on how the Cambodian government incorporate ageing policy as an instrument to strengthen its ruling power.