Asia and The Pacific

The Asia Pacific region is defined by diversity, reflected in a wide range of regime types.

The region boasts some of the most enduring, authoritarian states as well as some of the world's best performing democracies. Yet the regional tendency is towards growing autocratization and erosion of democracy, with the most dramatic reversals taking place in Myanmar, Hong Kong and Afghanistan.

Erosion of democracy is also widespread: India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, and the Philippines exemplify this trend, with the militarisation of politics, rising ethnonationalism, and high degrees of polarization threatening prevailing multicultural fabrics. Unjustifiable restrictions on Freedom of Expression have occurred in Cambodia and China as well as in democracies such as Sri Lanka and the Philippines.

Still, there is outstanding resilience.

Many democracies have proved able to withstand the impact of the virus while continuing to respect democratic principles. Countries from Vanuatu to South Korea and from Mongolia to Australia and New Zealand have provided vital lessons on how to carry out free and safe elections under emergency. Parliaments and local governments have come up with innovative practices, and Taiwan in particular, demonstrated how to best use technology in countering disinformation. Protests across Asia, despite the authoritarian clampdowns, show people demand a say.

People’s trust in institutions runs as a vital regional leitmotif.

In countries such as New Zealand, South Korea, Taiwan, Japan, and Singapore, there appears to be an established – though not necessarily unwavering – culture and history of trust in systems of government. Enhancing that popular trust is key to ‘fireproofing’ democracies against future crises in the region.

In order to do so, we call on regional governments to ensure that democracies DELIVER equally and sustainably; REBUILD institutions to protect fundamental rights; and PREVENT democratic threats, notably through investments in education and independent media.

Policy Recommendations Asia and the Pacific

Region: Asia and The Pacific

Attribute: Fundamental Rights

Type: Rebuild

The international community and regional actors need to provide support to the civic movements for democracy, which have emerged around the region, often as a direct response to regressive action by government forces. Local civic activism is the way to bring about change in closed societies. Likewise, long-term civic education on democratic principles and rights is a valuable investment in the future of democracy.

Region: Asia and The Pacific

Attribute: Fundamental Rights

Type: Rebuild

National legislative frameworks regulating migrant worker rights require significant updates and/
or reform. With the rise of ethnonationalism, laws combating hate speech and xenophobia online also require strengthening and updating, in consultation with affected groups.

Region: Asia and The Pacific

Attribute: Representative Government

Type: Prevent

Governments must consider the needs of women. Women have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic, and it is vital to ensure that their needs are taken into account in all future public health emergency responses. Specifically, they should integrate caregiving into the formal healthcare system. The pandemic underlined that (mostly female) formal and informal caregivers are ‘frontline’ workers essential to maintaining public health and safety.

See all recommendations

The Asia Pacific region is defined by diversity, reflected in a wide range of regime types.

Still, there is outstanding resilience.

People’s trust in institutions runs as a vital regional leitmotif.

Asia and the Pacific Report

The 2021 State of Democracy in Asia and the Pacific in 90 Seconds: Old Resilience, New Challenges

International IDEA Secretary-General’s call to renew democracy

Case Study: China

Case Study: Taiwan

Case Study: Viet Nam

Case Study: Sri Lanka

Case study: South Korea

Policy Recommendations Asia and the Pacific

International IDEA