8th International Conference (2023): Democracy and Elections in Asia
From 23 to 25 August 2023, Asia Centre convened its 8th International Conference on “Democracy and Elections in Asia”. The conference marked a return to fully on-site participation, with over 130 attendees hailing from more than 20 countries. Asia has been buzzing with elections since 2022 with the Presidential Election in the Philippines, South Korea, and Sri Lanka, the Chief Executive Election in Hong Kong, General Elections in Malaysia and Nepal, and Gubernatorial Elections in Japan. 2023 continued with the Presidential Elections in Bangladesh, China, and Singapore, General Elections in Cambodia and Thailand, and State Elections in Malaysia. More elections will take place in 2024 in India, Indonesia, and Taiwan. Hence, the conference was timely to examine the relationship between democracy and elections and exchange experiences from Asia. For the 2023 conference, Asia Centre established title partnerships with The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA), The Taiwan Foundation for Democracy (TFD), The International Development Research Center (IDRC), Chiang Mai University, and Google; panel partnerships with 13 organisations and institutions: Badan Keahlian DPR RI – Expertise Agency of The Indonesian House of Representatives (BKD), The Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD), Destination Justice, Thuraisingam International, Hashtag Generation, The International Republican Institute (IRI), The Association of World Election Bodies (A-WEB), Graduate School of Letters, Osaka University, Pacifica G.K., The Asia Foundation, Media Studies and Journalism Department, University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB), Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD), and The National Democratic Institute (NDI). Additionally, the Japan NGO Center for International Cooperation (JANIC) and Raoul Wallenberg Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law were two organisations that engaged as participant partners. Across 21 panels, 90 speakers engaged with the audience, with 53% male and 47% female presenters. Throughout the three days, the following major themes were discussed: the role and activism of youth, women, minority groups and social movements in democratic political participation; the impact of law, money, technology and social media towards electoral behaviours and processes; and on the competency of electoral institutions in pursuing accountability and implementation of anti-corruption measures. Additionally, six country panels covered Myanmar, Thailand, Japan, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, providing an insider look into these nations’ experiences in building democratic resilience. The inaugural evening featured a warm welcome to Thailand from Dr. James Gomez, Asia Centre’s Regional Director, and Leena Rikkilä Tamang, Director for Asia and the Pacific at International IDEA. The opening panel, hosted by International IDEA, explored a range of issues regarding elections under the current junta regime and prospects of democratic elections for Myanmar’s future. The panel of distinguished country experts and activists unanimously agreed that civil society actors should withhold support for the forthcoming elections until the junta regime can guarantee fair and equitable elections for all of its citizens. Thus they highlighted the need for a more inclusive political participation for ethno-religious communities, women, and youth. The second day started with official welcome remarks from Dr. James Gomez, followed by remarks by representatives of the conference’s title partners: Markham Erickson, Vice President of Google’s Government Affairs and Public Policy, Leena Rikkilä Tamang, Director for Asia and the Pacific of International IDEA, Caroline Ford, Director of International Development Research Centre (IDRC)’s Democratic and Inclusive Governance Division, and Associate Professor Dr. Pailin Phujeenaphan, Dean of the Faculty of Political Science and Public Administration, Chiang Mai University. Dr. James Gomez informed the audience on how the annual conference has evolved over the years to become a strategic space for INGOs and their partners to not just convene to discuss key democracy and human rights issues, but also to engage in networking with representatives from civil society organisations, diplomatic missions, international institutions, parliaments, technology companies, and universities (see speech here). In its eighth year, Asia Centre’s international conference has become a premier regional event. Markham Erickson of Google provided an overview of how this technology company contributes to supporting democratic electoral processes by making official information about elections easily accessible to the voters on its platforms, protecting electoral information against disinformation online, building free products to enhance cybersecurity protection, and supporting political parties in managing their digital presence online through its various platforms. Caroline Ford of IDRC highlighted the need to build and protect a vibrant and inclusive civic space to support democratic values. Acknowledging the threats of disinformation disorders and electoral violence, IDRC is determined to provide its support for transformative research on democracies to not only strengthen the civic space but also to ensure continuous engagement with the public mandate throughout the electoral process. Leena Rikkilä Tamang of International IDEA remarked on the importance of addressing both traditional and modern challenges to election integrity happening across the Asian region, and International IDEA strives to address two of the core issues: the disenfranchisement of migrants towards political suffrage and the usage of technology to facilitate accessible electoral processes in its two other panels in the conference. Associate Professor Dr. Pailin Phujeenaphan of Chiang Mai University underlined the importance of having a safe and open platform for academics and ground actors to convene and discuss issues on democracy, to enable knowledge sharing and mutual learning from each others’ experience in dealing with the regression of electoral integrity. The welcome remarks were then followed by a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signing ceremony between Asia Centre and Japan NGO Center for International Cooperation as represented by Patcharee Rattanarong, Centre Manager of Asia Centre and Asako Haga, Manager of THINK Lobby/JANIC. JANIC has been a partner of Asia Centre for many years, having collaborated in producing reports and digital media content, most recently on the report “Foreign Interference Laws in Southeast Asia: Deepening the Shrinkage of Civic Space in February 2023. Alongside the report, this collaboration produced a podcast series, a collection of infographic posters and an informative infographic video to disseminate further the report’s findings to the larger public. On the second day, speakers from across eleven panels addressed challenges to democratic integrity in the region threatened by authoritarian regimes, lack of accountability
CMU POL: Thailand’s Democracy Remains in a Quagmire after the 2023 General Election
Chiang Mai University, a title partner for Asia Centre’s 8th International Conference “Democracy and Elections in Asia” on 23 to 25 August 2023, through its welcome remarks and panel analysed the outcomes of Thailand’s 2023 General Election and whether the polls would actually return the kingdom to democracy. Dean of the Faculty of Political Science and Public Administration, Chiang Mai University, Asst. Prof. Dr. Pailin Phujeenaphan, in her welcome remarks, observed that despite the expectation that digital technologies would serve as an accelerator to democratisation – Thailand’s politics remains in a quagmire. The same message was delivered on the next day, 25 August, during the Chiang Mai University speakers for the plenary session, “Institutions, Agency and Democracy in Southeast Asia”, were Asst. Prof. Dr. Panuwat Panduprasert and Asst. Prof. Dr. Chanintorn Pensute from Chiang Mai University and Asst. Prof. Dr. Ladawan Khaikham from Kasetsart University. Moderated by Professor Tanet Charoenmuang from Chiang Mai University, the panel speakers pointed out that after Thailand’s 2023 general elections, significant challenges remain for the kingdom’s democratic transition. The panel presentations provided an insight to these challenges. Dr Khaikham drew attention to the impediments encountered by environmental protection policies in Indonesia, the Philippines, and Thailand. She pouted out that Thailand has developed several plans to solve environmental issues using international frameworks, however, the country’s democratic deficit has obstructed it from effectively implementing the plans. Against the backdrop of Thailand’s 2023 election and the victory of the Move Forward Party, Dr Pensute argued that the party’s adoption of digital technologies played a significant role in their remarkable success in acquiring parliamentary seats, genuinely connecting with voters and winning crucial electoral endorsements. Dr Panduprasert examined the military’s role within Thailand’s hybrid regime framework, characterised by growing calls for increased democracy and greater oversight of royal and military powers. The youth-led movement from 2021 posed a significant threat to the preponderance of the military and the monarchy. However, with military-affiliated senators still in the parliament and the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) having overly-broad power, the military is expected to continue dictating Thai politics. Although opposition parties such as Move Forward in Thailand and activists in other Southeast Asian countries have leveraged on digital technologies and social media to make some gains, entrenched regimes are still able to create obstacles to the use of new media for democratic expression, through laws and extra-constitutional practices. This panel was organised as an outcome of the Memorandum of Understanding between Asia Centre and the Faculty of Political Science and Public Administration, Chiang Mai University (CMU), signed on 26 August 2022 at Asia Centre’s 7th International Conference. Earlier that month, Dr. James Gomez spoke at CMU’s panel “ASEAN in the Changing Regional Dynamics”, where Asia Centre also visited the Faculty of Mass Communication and the University Academic Service Center of CMU. In June 2022, Dr. Narut Charoensri moderated the panel on “Trade” at the conference “ASEAN-EU Relations in light of the War in Ukraine”, co-convened by Asia Centre and Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom (FNF), Southeast & East Asia. In July 2023, leading up to the 8th International Conference, Associate Professor Surachanee Sriyai and Dr. Charoensri from CMU participated as the mentors in The #Reshaping Europe: Hackathon on the ASEAN-EU Relations, also co-convened by Asia Centre and FNF. To view the main conference article, articles on individual title partners who convened panels, as well as the TikTok video and photo album, go to the main conference piece here. The International Conference is Asia Centre’s annual event where it brings together its partners to share the outcomes of their programmes and network for future collaborations. Over the years, the conference has become a platform for a range of actors to meet and discuss key human rights issues. If you would like to become a Conference partner for Asia Centre’s 9th International Conference “Civic Space in Asia: Stories of Resistance and Pushback” or explore other collaboration opportunities, email us at contact@asiacentre.org. For more information on the 9th Conference, click here.
Google: Authoritative Information Important for Electoral Integrity
Google, title partner for Asia Centre’s 8th International Conference “Democracy and Elections in Asia” on 23 to 25 August 2023, through its welcome remarks and panel outlined how the technology company and its partners seek to address some of the negative online influences on election integrity. Vice President of Google’s Government Affairs and Public Policy Markham Erickson in his welcome remarks on 24 August 2023 said the technology company supports electoral integrity by engaging users to disseminate authoritative information about their elections; protecting online electoral information and combating disinformation; and supporting elections campaigns by managing their digital presence, alongside trainings for long-term capacity building. Later that same day, Google convened a panel, “The Role of Online Platforms in Elections”. The speakers were: Dr Yasu Shigeta, Policy Advisor, Japan NGO Center for International Cooperation (JANIC)/THINK Lobby; Dr Martin Petlach, Assistant Professor, Mendel University Brno, Czech Republic; Clare Amador, Head of Public Policy (Philippines & Thailand), Meta; Kulachada Chaipipat, Cofact Thailand. The overarching message was that civic spaces, including digital spaces, are crucial for any healthy democracy to function, and more so during election periods. Given that these spaces are now being inundated with fake news – youth, as well as CSOs, through their engagement with technology companies, can combat disinformation and ensure that the integrity of electoral processes is maintained. Dr Yasu Shigeta spoke about narrowing civic spaces, a decreasing press freedom ranking, declining voter turnout, a “hereditary” parliamentary system, and very small numbers of female legislators in Japan. However, this is occurring alongside the rise of online engagement, where groups organise petitions, advocacy for changing certain electoral laws, and other forms of civic action. This evolution of civic spaces in Japan is spearheaded by the youth, especially young women. This is in contrast to Southeast Asia, which has varying degrees of digitalisation during election periods, explained Dr. Martin Petlach. There is no clear link between the levels of the online population and degree of democracy in Southeast Asia, and we cannot surmise that the internet is a tool for positive change. Governments in the region have learnt to navigate the online environment to shape public opinion. To continue building such spaces online, there needs to be more fact-checking to combat disinformation, said Kulachada Chaipipat. The 2023 Thailand general elections were a “social media elections” with more active citizens online. Disinformation has also become more sophisticated and generated online through social media, political statements, messaging apps, and online mainstream media. There is cooperation between Cofact Thailand and platforms like Meta, Google, and TikTok to provide training on digital literacy to help promote authoritative and accurate information online. According to Clare Amador, Meta works with academic and law enforcement agencies to determine the nature and extent of disinformation networks. Numerous Asian countries have held or are set to hold elections, such as Cambodia, Thailand, and Indonesia in 2024. The value of elections in democratic systems is vital, demanding commitment to safeguarding their integrity. Combating misinformation and disinformation is a pressing challenge faced by many, requiring substantial efforts. This underscores the urgency and significance of technology companies such as Google’s role at the Asia Centre’s event. The 2023 conference collaboration builds upon the 2022 conference collaboration where Google co-convened a panel titled “Rights-Friendly Content Regulation in APAC”. The partnership between Asia Centre and Google since 2022 includes a partnership on a Malaysian baseline study, Youth and Disinformation in Malaysia: Strengthening Electoral Integrity, being appointed implementing partner in Malaysia and Thailand for the ASEAN Digital Literacy Programme to train master trainers, and being selected for the 2023 APAC Digital Transformation Program. There are also discussions in the pipeline for future partnerships on other projects. To view the main conference article, articles on individual title partners who convened panels, as well as the TikTok videos and photo album, go to the main conference piece here. The International Conference is Asia Centre’s annual event where it brings together its partners to share the outcomes of their programmes and network for future collaborations. Over the years, the conference has become a platform for a range of actors to meet and discuss key human rights issues. If you would like to become a Conference partner for Asia Centre’s 9th International Conference “Civic Space in Asia: Stories of Resistance and Pushback” or explore other collaboration opportunities, email us at contact@asiacentre.org. For more information on the 9th Conference, click here.
International IDEA: Support Needed for Democratic Actors in the Region
The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA), a title partner for Asia Centre’s 8th International Conference on “Democracy and Elections in Asia”, hosted two panels and a demonstration session. During the three-day conference, panel speakers convened by International IDEA emphasised the importance of offering support and fostering solidarity with democratic actors in Asia. This importance was underscored during the opening remark on 23 August by Leena Rikkilä Tamang, International IDEA’s Director for Asia and the Pacific. She emphasised that, given the numerous challenges to democracy posed by electoral manipulation, the importance of solidarity and cooperation among civil society actors has become even more critical. International IDEA’s opening panel of the conference titled “Perspectives and Prospects for Future Democratic Elections in Myanmar.” Moderated by Marcus Brand, Head of the Myanmar office, the panel delved into the range of issues surrounding the election to be conducted under the junta regime. The consensus among the panellists was that civil society and democratic actors should withhold legitimacy and institutional support for the forthcoming election until the junta guarantees a free and fair electoral process for the citizens of Myanmar. Three speakers discussed inclusivity issues and democracy in Myanmar. Debbie Stothard, Coordinator/Founder of Alternative ASEAN Network on Burma (ALTSEAN-Burma), pointed out that there is a lack of inclusivity of young people and ethno-religious minorities – who play a huge role in the democratisation efforts – during the transitionary period. These actors are crucial for a future electoral model that is free and fair. Thinzar Shunlei Yi, Deputy Director of the Anti-Sham Election Coordination Committee (ASECC) and Human Rights Advocate added that civil society actors have to be properly included in the process to develop a post-coup regime that is truly democratic and responsive to the needs of the citizens of the country. Igor Blaževič, Head of Prague Civil Society Center, speaking from the vantage point of the international community, emphasised that INGOs should use their positions to discourage giving legitimacy to the election and instead provide needed support to key civil society organisations in the country. On the second day and in the second International IDEA panel “Leaving No Voters Behind: Facilitating The Right to Suffrage of Migrants”, moderated by Senior Programme Manager of International IDEA’s Asia and the Pacific Regional Programme, Adhy Aman, panellists – experts from India, Nepal, and the Philippines – highlighted the inconsistent treatment of migrants’ electoral rights as a major roadblock to enhancing voting accessibility and inclusiveness in Asia. Dr Banasmita Bora, independent researcher, illustrated the situation in India. The country has a significant migrant population facing disenfranchisement, with fewer than a quarter actually using their right to vote due to the financial constraints of having to vote in-country. This issue extends to internal migrants, who constitute a substantial portion of the migrant population and are also significantly disenfranchised in local elections. Commissioner Marlon Casquejo, Commission of Elections, Philippines, noted that civil society should advocate for a holistic approach towards overseas voting, which includes easier voter registration, more opportunities for Filipino nationals to vote from other countries, as well as study the possibility of internet voting. Dr Gopal Siwakoti, INHURED International (Nepal), pointed out that the lack of provisions for out-country voting or online voting in many countries further disenfranchises the migrant population who already lack political and financial leverage. This is particularly the case in migrant-sending countries such as Nepal. Antonio Spinelli, International IDEA, built on the points made by other speakers and concluded that a lack of mechanisms to facilitate absentee voting jeopardises the right to universal suffrage which lays a foundation for the right to self-determination. Overall, the panel showed that those advocating for absentee voting have not been properly supported and have not been given a platform to speak up on the issue. It is therefore important that more focus be given on the topic. The International IDEA, on the third day of the Conference, also showcased its “Electoral Redistricting App (ERA)”. Developed on the backdrop of unfair gerrymandering of electoral districts worldwide, the App makes it easier to create electoral redistricting maps that conform to international principles and best practices. Facilitated by International IDEA’s Senior Programme Manager Adhy Aman, conference participants tried out the App themselves and came up with various ideas of how a better electoral district could look like in their respective countries. Civil society can also use the redistricting app to advocate against gerrymandering with their respective governments. This conference helped strengthen the two organisations’ partnership which was already a year in the making. In the lead-up to this conference, Asia Centre and International IDEA signed an MOU in December 2022 to formalise their partnership. The two organisations also co-convened a closed-door consultation on “Digital Authoritarianism in Southeast Asia” with representatives from diplomatic missions, UN agencies and civil society actors based in Bangkok, Thailand. Earlier in December 2022, Dr. Gomez delivered a presentation on the rise of disinformation and its relation to the distrust in media in an International IDEA-hosted event, “Democracy in Asia and the Pacific 2023 Outlook Forum”, in Bali, Indonesia. In October 2023, the two organisations will co-convene this year’s edition of the “Democracy in Asia & the Pacific 2023 Outlook Forum” in Bangkok, Thailand. To view the main conference article, articles on individual title partners who convened panels, as well as the TikTok videos and photo album, go to the main conference piece here. The International Conference is Asia Centre’s annual event where it brings together its partners to share the outcomes of their programmes and network for future collaborations. Over the years, the conference has become a platform for a range of actors to meet and discuss key human rights issues. If you would like to become a Conference partner for Asia Centre’s 9th International Conference “Civic Space in Asia: Stories of Resistance and Pushback” or explore other collaboration opportunities, email us at contact@asiacentre.org. For more information on the 9th Conference, click here.
IDRC: Strengthen Inclusivity & Research Capacity in Asia
IDRC, as title partner for Asia Centre’s 8th International Conference “Democracy and Elections in Asia” from 23 to 25 August 2023, called for greater inclusivity and the strengthening of research capacity in Asia. IDRC made these calls through the two panels it convened at the three-day conference, in which speakers discussed the key challenges women in Asian countries face to engage in politics and how researching democracies can be improved. These calls were framed by the opening remarks of Caroline Ford, Director for Democratic and Inclusive Governance at IDRC, who said that civic spaces serve as a vital platform for representing communities and marginalised groups but are vulnerable to challenges like misinformation. Thus, safeguarding civic spaces is essential for upholding democratic legitimacy and preventing violence, particularly in post-conflict settings such as Myanmar and Afghanistan. Within this framework, democracy is perceived as a value system grounded in a peaceful, inclusive, and dynamic civic context, closely interconnected with values like inclusion, justice, human rights, equality, and equity. Ms. Ford emphasised IDRC’s support for Asia Centre’s conference on democracy and elections, which aligns with their broader mission to strengthen civic spaces, promote democratic knowledge, and foster collaboration among research communities. On 24 August, in the first of the two panels, titled “Women and Political Participation in Asia,” the plenary session featured three speakers: Saumya Surbhi, Youth Environmental Human Rights Defenders Protection Coordinator at the UNDP Bangkok Regional Hub; Viyanga Gunasekera, a PhD candidate at the Australian National University and a researcher at the International Centre for Ethnic Studies in Sri Lanka; and Dr Philippe Doneys, Associate Professor in Gender and Development Studies at the Asian Institute of Technology in Thailand. Moderated by Kundan Mishra, Senior Program Officer at IDRC, the session was a platform to underscore the intricate challenges impeding women’s engagement in politics across distinct contexts. Viyanga Gunasekera and Dr Philippe Doneys outlined how the convergence of identities becomes a barrier, particularly for women from ethnic minorities, in participating in political spheres within post-conflict societies like Sri Lanka and Myanmar. Building on this, Saumya Surbhi stressed the need for capacity building for young women in the context of climate protests, given the lack of inclusion of this group in traditional decision-making processes. After the input shared by all three speakers and insights provided by the moderator, panel attendees raised questions and articulated their views. The questions covered a range of topics and delved into various key factors that hinder women’s participation in politics and how to overcome them. A key point that was discussed during the interaction between panelists and participants was that Active political participation by women is an enduring concern within the political landscapes of Asia, underscoring the fact that politics continues to be predominantly male-dominated. This dynamic, panelists explained, significantly undermines democratic governance and requires urgent attention. To address the problems undermining the role of democratic governance, speakers highlighted the importance of developing political communication strategies at the grassroots level, conducting more research to understand and compare the challenges faced by women at national and local levels, the necessity of parliamentary quotas, and the establishment of solidarity networks to empower women. Finally, despite the likelihood of persisting challenges, the panelists emphasised the importance of providing appropriate educational tools to enhance awareness and foster more inclusive political spaces, enabling equal participation. On 25 August, the second panel organised by IDRC, titled “Researching Democracies” featured three presenters: Joel Mark Baysa-Barredo, Strengthening Human Rights and Peace Research and Education in Southeast Asia (SHAPE-SEA); Prof Puja Kapai Paryani, Hong Kong University; and Rahul Verma, Centre for Policy Research in India. The panel was moderated by IDRC’s Kundan Mishra. During this session, the speakers delved into the intricacies of democracy research beneficiaries. They distinguished between those who possess the capacity to actively apply research findings to the democratic process and those who merely exhibit a passive interest. This differentiation shed light on the existing power asymmetries within the realm of democracy, underscoring the unequal distribution of influence and resources among participants. These insights underscored the challenges in translating research into actionable democratic practices and highlighted the need for more equitable access to research-driven tools and knowledge for a more inclusive and effective democratic engagement. The speakers also explored the nuanced challenge of adapting international recommendations for democracy enhancement to fit local contexts. They emphasised the importance of ensuring that these recommendations are not only applicable but also sensitive to the unique needs and dynamics of specific regions. Additionally, there was a critical examination of the “foreign interference” narrative, with speakers pointing out its shortcomings in adequately representing minority interests. This perspective sheds light on the complexities of balancing the implementation of global recommendations with the imperative to maintain inclusivity and prioritise the concerns of marginalised groups within the democratic framework, underscoring the need for more context-aware and inclusive approaches to democracy promotion. In this context, the panellists put forward several recommendations aimed at strengthening democratic governance. They stressed the need to translate research into actionable steps to ensure that voices from all social groups are heard and that the political landscape becomes more inclusive. Furthermore, they highlighted the importance of developing specific, context-tailored indigenous frameworks for each country. This approach was seen as crucial for understanding democracy in ways that align with national needs, advocating for a departure from uniform approaches in favour of nuanced, localised perspectives. The speakers also underscored the significance of creating deliberative democratic platforms to engage various segments of society, including women and youth. The panel concluded with a question-and-answer session in which participants sought further clarification on the insights shared by the panellists. IDRC’s participation at Asia Centre’s 8th International Conference is its second showing. In 2022, at the Centre’s 7th International Conference, IDRC convened the panel “Knowledge Systems and Fragility in South and Southeast Asia – The Faraway Future” to discuss the unique challenges faced by knowledge systems and scientific research in South and Southeast Asia, particularly in fragile contexts. Currently, Asia Centre and IDRC are