8th International Conference (2023): Democracy and Elections in Asia

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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…

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CMU POL: Thailand’s Democracy Remains in a Quagmire after the 2023 General Election

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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,…

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 Google: Authoritative Information Important for Electoral Integrity

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 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…

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International IDEA: Support Needed for Democratic Actors in the Region

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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…

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IDRC: Strengthen Inclusivity & Research Capacity in Asia

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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…

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