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Political developments following the collapse of the Soviet bloc have spurred considerable controversy about the future of democracy. While some political scientists highlight the expansion of pluralism and herald the fourth wave of democratization, others lay emphasis on democratic disaffection and authoritarian resilience. Others again take issue with the teleological or sequential character of the democratic transition paradigm and call for a more critical and comprehensive analysis. One of the principal areas of disagreement surrounds the question as to whether (and to what extent) democratic consolidation depends on a specific set of foundations. Is democracy attainable by institutional reforms – the inception of multi-party elections, political decentralization, and freedom of press and association – irrespective of other, non-institutional conditions? Or is the viability of democracy contingent on socio-historical, economic and cultural context factors? The analysis of post-cold war Asia provides an excellent opportunity to shed new light on these questions. A review of recent dynamics – ranging from democratic advancement (Taiwan, South Korea, and Indonesia), over democratic backsliding (Thailand, Philippines), to forms of soft authoritarianism (Singapore and Malaysia) and authoritarian resilience (China, Vietnam, and Burma) – highlight Asia’s diverse pathways towards and away from democracy. This panel welcomes papers that explore these diverse experiences by drawing on historical and/or empirical comparisons across (or within) selected Asian countries. Possible topics include, but are not limited to: (1) the interactions of institutional and structural factors in recent democratic advances and regressions; (2) the sequencing of democratic and economic progress; (3) the tensions between uniform democratic rules and values, on the one hand, and social and historical ‘embeddedness’ on the other; (4) the characteristics of what we might call an ‘Asian democracy model’ that serves to expand existing eurocentric or Western perspectives; (5) and the issues surrounding the democratization of regional organizations.
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| How Democratic is a Democracy? The Mindanaon Case | View Paper Details |
| Institutional Trust and Democratic Support: A Comparison between Citizens in East Asia | View Paper Details |
| Democracy in Southeast Asia | View Paper Details |
| Making Sense of Developing Democracy Trajectories: Thailand and Indonesia | View Paper Details |
| The Relationship of Civil Society, Military and Developing Democracy in South-East Asia | View Paper Details |
| Indonesia’s Democratic Stagnation: Predatory Elites and Resilient Civil Society | View Paper Details |
| Models of Democracy in East Asia | View Paper Details |