Authoritarian Governance and Statecraft in Asia: Ideology, Sovereignty, and Social Transformation

This panel investigates the evolving forms of authoritarian governance and statecraft in Asia, with a particular focus on China and South Asia. It explores how regimes consolidate power through ideological narratives, cultural production, and sovereignty claims, while navigating the challenges of legitimacy, modernization, and postcolonial identity. Through interdisciplinary perspectives, the panel highlights the mechanisms through which contemporary authoritarian systems shape public discourse, marginalize dissent, and reconfigure social and political structures. Together, these papers provide a nuanced understanding of how state authority is constructed, contested, and maintained in the region.