Intersecting Politics and Identity in Asia: Governance, Religion, and Policy Dynamics

This panel explores the multifaceted dimensions of governance, identity, and sociopolitical transformation across Asia, with case studies spanning South, East, and Southeast Asia. From legislative reforms and religious influence to indigenous frameworks and space policy, the papers examine how states navigate tensions between centralized authority and local interests, tradition and modernity, and national sovereignty and global interdependence. Emphasizing both authoritarian and democratic contexts, the panel interrogates the evolving nature of political legitimacy, cultural resilience, and ideological contestation in shaping the region’s governance landscape.