As global democratic decline accelerates, Asia increasingly reflects both the fragility and diversity of contemporary democratic experiences. The region encompasses a wide spectrum of regime types—from liberal democracies to electoral autocracies—with many countries occupying a contested “grey zone” between democratic and authoritarian rule. Recent years have witnessed significant democratic backsliding, including growing pressures on freedom of expression, association, political participation, and electoral integrity. At the same time, the democracy–autocracy divide has become an important dimension of geopolitical competition in the Indo-Pacific.
This General Track invites panel and paper proposals that critically examine the varieties of democracy in Asia and the regional dynamics shaping governance, development, and security. Contributions may explore the drivers of autocratization, the resilience of democratic institutions and practices, and the role of civil society and political actors in resisting democratic erosion. The track also welcomes analyses of alternative or distinctly Asian pathways to democracy, taking into account historical, cultural, and institutional contexts that differentiate the region from dominant Western models.
Both theoretical and empirical contributions, including comparative and country-specific studies, are encouraged. The track aims to foster dialogue on the future of democracy in Asia and the prospects for democratic renewal amid ongoing regional transformations.
- Asian Regionalism and Multilateralism: ASEAN and the Future of Regional Cooperation
- Authoritarian Nostalgia and Political Memory: The Uses of the Authoritarian Past
- China’s Rise and the Changing Asian Political Order
- Civil Society and Social Movements: Mobilization, Repression, and Democratic Change
- Climate Change and Human Security: Political Institutions, Cooperation, and Unequal Risk
- Democracy and Political Violence: The South Asian Experience
Chair: Prof. Raj Kumar Kothari - Democratic Backsliding and Autocratization: Causes, Patterns, and Consequences
- Democratic Resilience: Institutions, Civil Society, and Resistance to Erosion
- Developmental States and Democratic Accountability
- Digital Politics and Democratic Governance: AI, Disinformation, and Digital Authoritarianism
- Globalization under Pressure: Deglobalization, Fragmentation, and Economic Security in Asia
- Liberal Democracy in Asia and Its Alternatives: Contestation, Adaptation, and Renewal
- Migration, Identity, and Nationalism in Diverse Asian Societies
- Neoliberalism, Inequality, and the Politics of Development
- Parties and Elections in Asia: Representation, Competition, and Electoral Integrity
- Political Dynasties and Unequal Access to Power: Family Rule, Representation, and Reform
- Political Violence, State Security, and Democratic Rights
- Populism, Polarization, and Personalist Leadership
- Rethinking Democracy in Asia: Regional Experiences, Concepts, and Pathways
- The Indo-Pacific in a Multipolar World: Security, Power, and Regional Order
- US–China Rivalry and Asian Strategies: Hedging, Alignment, and Nonalignment
