8th International Conference – Democracy and Elections in Asia
Overview Amidst the growing climate of authoritarianism throughout the world, Asia continues to grapple with various challenges related to democratisation and political change. As countries in the region get into a post-pandemic election cycle, political party laws, election advertising laws, fake news laws and laws governing political donations continue to have a problematic impact on the goal of holding free and fair elections. 2022 marks a series of elections across Asia as countries begin to open up. Elections were held or set to be held at the national (India, Japan, Nepal, Philippines, South Korea, Timor Leste and Turkmenistan), state or provincial (India, Malaysia) or communal/municipal levels (Cambodia/Thailand). In national elections held thus far (South Korea, Japan and the Philippines), with some exceptions, one sees the return or advent of authoritarian tendencies and elites with highly problematic records of governance that adversely affect the emergence or transitions to substantive democracy. A major contributing factor to this outcome was the role of hybrid regimes maintaining dynastic control over media, election process and the country’s overall politics. Anti-democratic populist movements, using disinformation campaigns over social media also drowned out the much-needed civic participation in politics. Additionally, women candidates faced harassment over the online space and physical threats during campaigns; while opposition party members faced threats and legal repercussions on accusations of foreign interference. Fear of a military coup d’etat, regime change uprising or election annulment by partial election commissions all worked to suppress elections. Recognizing the wide variety of questions and issues to be explored, this conference examines the relations between democracy and elections in Asian countries. Despite the plethora of elections at multiple levels, why do they often lead to illiberal outcomes? Does the new social media environment enable/facilitate such outcomes? The conference will probe whether electoral systems in the region are a force for democracy or a force for authoritarian consolidation. Themes Impact of COVID-19 on Elections, Campaigning and Voting Rise of Electoral Authoritarianism/Illiberal Democracy Role of Asian Political Dynasties Populism and Patronage in Elections Annulling Election Results: Legal Cases, Political Party Dissolution and Coups Media versus Social Media in Election Campaigning Harassments and Violence Against Women Candidates Youth Participation: Voters, Candidates, Political Parties Foreign Interference and Manipulation of Elections Independence and Professionalism of Election Management Bodies Role of Ethnic Groups and Minority Groups Or any other related themes Objectives The conference aims to achieve the following objectives Convene researchers and advocates for free and fair elections Analyse laws and disinformation campaigns that influence elections outcomes Evaluate how elections impact the rise of authoritarianism in Asia Assess the future of democracy in the region Conference Structure The conference will consist of short remarks, keynote speeches, plenary discussions and breakout sessions made of thematic panels, region and country-specific panels. Conference Participants Registration is open to all presenters and participants from academic institutions, media outlets and journalist associations, businesses, national and regional civil society organisations, international NGOs, political parties, parliaments, government agencies and intergovernmental organisations to facilitate knowledge sharing and networking. Conference Publications Following the international conference, Asia Centre will undertake the following publishing efforts: Conference Proceedings Guidelines for the Conference Proceedings can be found here. (Please refer to the Style Sheet Guidelines) Programme Outline DAY 1: 23 August 202318:30-20:00 | Welcome Reception and Evening Panel DAY 2: 24 August 20239:30-17:00 | Morning & Afternoon Panels DAY 3: 25 August 20239:30-17:00 | Morning & Afternoon Panels Submission Guidelines Paper Presentations and Speeches Researchers and practitioners wishing to present papers or share their experiences are invited to submit a title and abstract of 300-340 words in English, together with a biographical paragraph of 100 words, here. For those submitting papers, full papers should be 5,000 words (Please refer to the Style Sheet Guidelines). Conference Fee This is a self-funded conference, hence a flat, base fee of USD300 will be charged to all presenters, participants and drop-in visitors. This will go towards covering the cost of the venue, equipment and logistics, coffee breaks on all days, certificates for participants, conference communications and staff. Conference fee (USD300) does NOT cover a flight ticket, accommodation, and any other expenses related to travel advisory. Conference Partnerships Asia Centre welcomes organisations and individuals to be conference partners and sponsors by co-convening the event, panels, keynote speakers and participants. This will provide partners an opportunity to network and forge linkages with academia, businesses, civil society, governments and international organisations in the region and beyond; and can promote their organisation and activities. Partner Benefits Logo on all publicity materials online and at the conference venue. Social media and mailing list promotion through Asia Centre’s networks. Display and distribute promotional materials from partner organisations to the participants. Develop expertise on the issues covered by the conference themes. Additional Options Sponsor participants by buying conference tickets. Sponsor a keynote speaker by providing a financial grant to the conference. Provide corporate sponsorship (in-kind and/or financial grants) and be featured on promotional materials. Panel Partner Requirements Purchase minimum 4 tickets (USD300 x 4 = USD1,200). Market the conference within their networks. Partners can also buy additional conference tickets. Enquiries and Registration Please contact us at contact@asiacentre.org Register here Pay your conference fee online **Please be aware that all fees are not refundable.**
Asia Centre engages with Indian Universities and Think-Tanks
Over February to March 2019, Asia Centre will participate in several meetings organised by Indian universities and think-tanks in Kolkata. Kicking-off, Dr. James Gomez, Chair, Board of Directors, Asia Centre will be Calcutta’s University delegate to the Bengal Global Business Summit on 7th and 8th February 2019. The annual flagship event, organized by Government of West Bengal, is positioned as the business gateway to South-East Asia and North-East India. During the occasion, Asia Centre will sign an Memorandum of Understanding with Calcutta University to formalise cooperation between the two entities. A month later, from 8 to 9 March 2019, Tessa Allebas Asia Centre’s Research and Grants Officer will participate in NSHM Knowledge Campus’s International Seminar on the Media. At the Seminar, Asia Centre, is the official partner for the Technical Session “Media & Human Rights”, scheduled at 11am on 9th March 2019. During the session, Ms Allebas will highlight trends in manufactured opinion over social media. Later in March, on the 25th and 26th, Asia Centre’s Dr. Robin Ramcharan, will speak at a workshop on “Significance of the Bay of Bengal: India and South East Asia. The event is organised by the Observer Research Foundation (Kolkata) as a part of its research programme on “Proximity to Connectivity”. Dr. Ramcharan will address the session, Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response (HADR) and speak on the Rohingya refugee crisis. Asia Centre’s engagements in Kolkata scheduled in 2019, come on the back of a trip in late November to early December 2018, when its Chair, Dr. James Gomez, had a series of outreach engagements with Indian universities and think-tanks around building partnerships for the upcoming Fake News conferences and other joint activities and projects. Starting in Kolkata, from 26 to 30 November 2018, Dr. Gomez was a Visiting Fellow at the Centre for South and South East Asian Studies, University of Calcutta, Alipur campus. During his visit, Dr Gomez addressed the topic of ‘Thainess and the Contemporary Challenges of a Diverse Society’ during the panel discussion “Thailand in Perspective.” At Amity University, its Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Dhrubajyoti Chattopadhyay and Mr. Rajesh Sisodia, Deputy Director, School of Communication welcomed Asia Centre’s Dr. James Gomez and discussed partnership for the International Conference on Fake News and Elections in Asia. NSHM Knowledge Campus Chief Mentor Cecil Anthony and Prof. Mrityunjoy Chatterjee also discussed the International Conference on Fake News and Elections in Asia partnerships and other collaborations. During his visit, Dr. Gomez addressed the media department’s staff and students and was interviewed over 91.2 Y-FM NSHM Community Radio. Following on from Kolkata, Dr James Gomez, introduced the work of Asia Centre in Northeast India, in the cities of Guwahati, Assam and Shillong, Meghalaya in early December 2018. In Guwahati on 1 December 2018, Dr. James Gomez spoke on “Fake News and Elections in Southeast Asia” at the well-attended event at the Guwahati Press Club. The event was organised by Institute of Media and Development Studies, Guwahati. Again, at the Guwahati Press Club the next day on 2 December, Dr. Gomez spoke on Social Innovation in Action: Southeast Asian Perspective. The event was moderated and organised by Mr. Deepak Baruah, Centre of Innovation in Governance and Public Administration, Guwahati. In Shillong, Dr James Gomez joined a panel of prominent local actors to the topic “Fake News – The Menace”. The event was organised by social enterprises Jookto and Nagrik Mancha Shillong at on 4 December at Shillong Club. The discussions on fake news both in Guwahati and Shillong were reported in the local vernacular and English press. The meetings in late 2018 have set the pace for follow on activities in Kolkata, India in early 2019. Meanwhile discussions are ongoing with other partners for future joint activities. Asia Centre plans to expand its engagement with India to other states and also to other countries in South Asia. Previous Next