A Tiger Rules the Mountain: Cambodia’s Pursuit of Democracy

by Gordon Conochie

Cambodia’ s Hun Sen is the world’ s longest-serving prime minister, in power since 1985. In 2013, Sen’ s rule came under threat when the exiled opposition leader, Sam Rainsy, unexpectedly returned just before a national election. One hundred thousand supporters hailed him at the airport as protests swept the country. On election day, millions voted for change. This narrative non-fiction account tells the dramatic story of that election and the subsequent multi-year wrestle for power, right through to the dramatic events of the present day. This is Cambodia through the lens of the human stories. Gordon Conochie lived and worked in the country and interviewed many involved in the events, including government officials, journalists, young human-rights activists and opposition politicians. The story he finds is both complex and Cambodia’ s history is riven with trauma yet there is a powerful and swelling appetite for change. Looking ahead to Cambodia’ s future and the role of democracy in South-East Asia, Conochie examines whether we will continue to see a backslide in liberal democracy or if the region could gradually be on the path to a more liberal future.

384 pages, Paperback

Published September 15, 2023

Reviews

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good book to update your knowledge on Kingdom of Cambodia's politics from the fall of the Khmer Rouge to the current time. It describes the monarchy and the two leading parties, the CCP and the CNRP. Canochie delves into the strongman rule of Hun Sen and the forced dissolution of the CNRP as a political party. He discusses the feelings of disenfranchisement among the supporter of the dissolved opposition party and the efforts to keep them from returning to power. He also discusses the mixed feelings that people today have of the CCP and Hun Sen.

I found it rather hard to get into the book. The book is very thorough. I knew nothing about the subject. Between the names of people, I have never heard of and politics that I was completely unfamiliar with, I found the book a bit dry. For those in know or looking for research material, I think this is a very good book.

[Sally · Rating 5 out of 5]

I do read a fair amount of narrative non-fiction, mostly surrounding World War Two and Soviet Russia, but this is the first book I've ever read about Cambodia - so I came in absolutely fresh and knowing nothing (except for primary school knowledge such as its capital city and vaguely where it is on the map!).

The writing is engaging as well as educational - it's a gripping tale that's told masterfully through many first-hand accounts. Sometimes non-fiction can be dry and textbook like but this is certainly not the case here. I didn't want to put this down! And that's from someone who came in with zero knowledge on the topic. It's so well-written and easy to read, and the characters you meet are so vivid that it often feels like you're sitting down with them over a bowl of noodles and listening, instead of reading their words on a page thousands of miles away.

Like I said, I had next to no knowledge of Cambodia before, but now I'm definitely compelled to read more. The first thing I did upon finishing this was to google the recent election results, and I'm also curious to go back in time and read up on the Khmer Rouge. I found a lot of interesting parallels to Soviet Russia as well, so it always came as a huge surprise to me every time I read about someone just leaving the country for example! I'd highly recommend this to anyone who has any interest in Cambodia, and how one Prime Minister could rule a country for over 30 years! And also of course even more highly recommend it to someone who realises "huh, I don't know anything about Cambodia." A lot of the stuff that went down around those elections just feels so improbable to a foreigner, yet it happened time and time again... and now with the new chapter of Hun Manet just beginning - what on earth will follow next?!

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

I sometimes find non-fiction hard to stay engaged with. It feels like something I 'should' be reading, rather than being something I'm excited to open up. I rarely have the 'just one more chapter THEN I'll go to sleep' reaction with non-fiction. But this book was one that I didn't want to put down.

I found the story and the characters (I have to remind myself they're real life people!) warm and engaging, while also learning more about modern day Cambodia, its culture, its politics and its people.

Highly recommend.

[Khan Sokummono · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will copy the link of my review for Australian Foreign Affairs here once it published. But for a quick word, this is the latest book that sum up the almost last era of Prime Minister Hun Sen’s rules. I would recommend to read this book before trying to understand Cambodia moving on with the upcoming premiership—a change leadership that is usual elsewhere, but unusual for Cambodia.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

“A Tiger Rules the Mountain” by Gordon Conochie is a compelling narrative non-fiction account that delves into the intricate web of Cambodian politics. Through a diverse array of Cambodian voices, Conochie offers readers a deeply enriching insight into the complex dynamics of a nation striving for democracy.

Conochie vividly portrays Cambodia’s tumultuous history and the enduring quest for change. With a keen focus on the dramatic 2013 election and the ensuing power struggles, Conochie skillfully weaves together personal accounts from government officials, journalists, trade union leaders, and opposition politicians. This approach provides an authentic and riveting perspective on Cambodia’s journey towards democracy.

The stories shared by individuals like Rong Chhun, who sought to protect the interests of the people, and H.E. Dav Ansan, who vividly recalls the turmoil of past conflicts, offer a poignant and intimate view of the challenges faced by Cambodians. It’s through their voices that the book sheds light on the resilience and determination of a nation in the face of adversity.

Rong Chhun's story is both inspiring and thought-provoking. Despite facing challenges, including imprisonment and defamation charges against the ruling government, he continued to stand up for what he believed in as an independent critic and advocate for free and fair elections.

Conochie’s connection to Cambodia, having lived and worked in the country, adds an invaluable layer of authenticity to the narrative. “A Tiger Rules the Mountain” is a must-read for anyone seeking a profound understanding of Cambodia’s recent history and the role of democracy in Southeast Asia. Conochie’s storytelling, intertwined with the voices of ordinary Cambodians, makes this book an essential contribution to the genre of narrative non-fiction and social and political studies.

An additional feature which appealed to me was the delicate use of references to Cambodian music (in particular from the golden age of the 1950-60’s) which maintain their popularity and continue resonant with so many people often provoking either nostalgia or emotional sentiments the echo through to the contemporary. Conochie also uses vivid descriptions of Cambodias favoured food dishes and these culinary vignettes are beautifully set within the context of powerful conversations with range of people. It should not be underestimated the importance of food and implicit meaning given to dishes either from specific provinces or to mark particular occasions, especially with the hungry of the Khmer Rouge period. The use of music and culinary references really are significant details that give the reader some wider context.

In a world where democracy is constantly evolving, the book serves as a testament to the courage required to challenge repressive regimes and the importance of international support for the people of Cambodia. This captivating narrative is not only an insightful exploration of Cambodia’s past but also a thought-provoking examination of its potential future on the path to a more liberal society. Gordon Conochie’s “A Tiger Rules the Mountain” is a powerful and compelling testament to the resilience and determination of the Cambodian people in their quest for democracy.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have recently visited Cambodia and was amazed by the development and changes it has undergone since I last visited in 2011, working as a volunteer for a few weeks at orphanages in Phnom Penh. While seeing Hung Sen faces everywhere, I am curious about the politics of Cambodia.

So after my trip, I started to look for books about contemporary history of Cambodia. My friend recommended me the Cambodia’s Curse, but it was written already a decade ago. And then I found this book which was published only last year and covered the political development from the last 10 years.

This is an amazing read and the book is so informative and covered so many voices of the Cambodians and how they saw the political development happening in Cambodia. I especially like that the author is not one-sided and has covered voices from both opposition and CCP supporters in different chapters which helped readers have a full picture of what Cambodians are truly thinking and the dilemma and struggles faced by the Cambodians in terms of freedom, democracy versus stability and economic development.

In addition, as a Hong Konger, I am surprised that I can relate a lot to the struggle of the CNRP as there are so many similarities in the process and how the government cracked down on them, comparing to what happened in Hong Kong since 2019.“colour revolution”, “incitement”, “collusion with foreign power” were also used alot by the HK government (I wonder if Sen Hung also learnt it from China?). I am also surprised there are many Cambodian proverbs that are exactly the same as in Chinese.

Overall, I highly recommend people to read this book if they are interested in contemporary Cambodia.

[Poamrong Rith · Rating 5 out of 5]

thoroughly enjoyed. straight forward, engaging, relevant.

was honestly looking forward to a stronger message of hope, but I suppose those ideas area left to the reader’s imagination.

[Imogen Whittaker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Propulsive.