Asia represents a critical frontier for democratic governance that will shape the geopolitical landscape of the 21st century, the Brookings Institution observes. Democratic states in the region face increasing strain… Read more »
Since the late 2000s, regional intergovernmental frameworks and NGO networks have begun to emerge in Asia, demonstrating commitment to the norms and values of democracy, notes Maiko Ichihara, Associate Professor at Hitotsubashi… Read more »
Vietnam’s Communist Party is in a weaker position than it seems. Protests are mounting and economic growth will be hard to revive, the Economist observes: Although the party does not allow… Read more »
China’s freedom-seeking youths last rose up in 1989. Might they again? the Economist asks. The country’s youth merit attention for the simple reason that they will one day be the… Read more »
China has possibly committed “genocide” in its treatment of Uighurs and other minority Muslims in its western region of Xinjiang, a bipartisan commission of the U.S. Congress said in a… Read more »
“They are heroes because they were fighting for democracy and civil society with no real hope that they would achieve their aims,” celebrated Chinese artist Ai Weiwei says of Hong… Read more »
By jailing fearless Hong Kong pro-democracy campaigner Jimmy Lai (above) on charges of breaking its new national security law, the Communist Party of China intends to reinforce the new limits… Read more »
This week, the South Korean parliament passed a law criminalizing the practice of floating balloons with anti-regime leaflets, cultural items and cash into North Korea. The move is causing a backlash… Read more »
What is the best balance of political freedom and economic openness? We are about to witness a demonstration of whether an authoritarian state can take over a free society and… Read more »
Months after eliminating a popular challenge to its rule in Hong Kong, China is turning to an even higher-stakes target: self-governing Taiwan. The island has been bracing for conflict with… Read more »