Tridivesh Singh Maini points out the involvement of state governments in promoting economic interests abroad, termed 'para-diplomacy.' This aligns with goals by the central government in New Delhi and has assisted the ambitions of state-level politicians.
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Thailand faces ongoing challenges to democracy, where the monarchy/military retain significant power. True winners were denied victory in recent elections. But democratic resilience persists with calls for more public participation writes Pavin.

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Diego Fossati argues that Indonesian democracy has stabilized despite past challenges. However, civil liberties and horizontal accountability have worsened under President Widodo, who has not fulfilled expectations for political reform.

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Democratic backsliding in India seems to have resulted from the Hindu nationalist party's barrage of small authoritarian steps, resulting in competitive authoritarianism, writes Rahul Mukherji. However, recent signs show pro-democratic forces are back.

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Democracy in the Philippines has faced numerous challenges over the years. Now, with the ousted dictator Marcos' son as president and Duterte's daughter as vice president, rebuilding democracy is tough but hope remains, says Aries A. Arugay.

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Youngho Cho argues that the 2016-17 candlelight protests in South Korea, which resulted in President Park Geun-hye's impeachment, is one of many developments that illustrate the complex dynamics that underlie the resilience of democracy in South Korea.

tinyurl.com/3bru6794

Taiwan is an exception to the global democratic backlash and ranks second-most democratic in Asia. However, increasing polarization among the public is a potential threat to democracy. Yu-tzung Chang discusses this concern.

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Analyzing democratic resilience is vital. Aurel Croissant's essays explore why some Asian democracies are more resilient than others, emphasizing the importance of understanding this during challenging times.

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In Asia, governments vary from autocratic to democratic, with income levels often unrelated to democratic governance. Through analysis of 18 Asian countries, David Arase suggests that civil society plays a vital role in sustaining democratic progress.

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East Asia poses a complex challenge to Western democracy advocates due to cultural, social, and historical factors shaping democratic norms. Brendan M. Howe emphasizes nuanced understanding of regional democratic norms to draw meaningful conclusions.

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To read our scrumptious book reviews, feel free to click on the link below, where you can access them for free!
globalasia.org/v18no4/book/sh…

Wrestling with issues of statehood and sovereignty, the book, 'Palestine, Taiwan, and Western Sahara' provides creative approaches to dealing with the primary obstacle of 'single-state opposition.'

Edited by Sabella Abidde
Review by James Baron

bit.ly/49ze76K

'Wa is not remote, Wa is not a borderland or a buffer zone, not a Chinese puppet state nor a fringe hill tribe. Wa is simply Wa.'

'Stalemate' by Andrew Ong
Book review by Tristine Kenderdine

globalasia.org/v18no4/book/un…

Through a penetrating analysis of dozens of stone inscriptions, Patrick Olivelle creates a remarkable biography of the iconic Mauryan emperor Ashoka.

'Ashoka: The Portrait of a Philosopher King' by Patrick Olivelle
Book review by Nayan Chanda
globalasia.org/v18no4/book/in…

Discover the captivating yet covert world of raging intelligence competition during the Cold War and what it means for today's geopolitical climate of rising Chinese and Russian aggression.

'Spies' by Calder Walton
Book review by John Nilsson-Wright

globalasia.org/v18no4/book/fu…

The recent San Francisco summit has received both pessimistic and optimistic reviews, but William H Overholt argues that the US policy toward China, clouded by shifting myths, must adopt a more reality-based approach to bilateral relations.

globalasia.org/v18no4/focus/a…

What would it take for the Xi and Putin to pay for their crimes against humanity?

'Blood Debts' by Walter Clemens.
Book review by Mel Gurtov
globalasia.org/v18no4/book/wh…

China’s history of authoritarian rule is accompanied by fictionalized subversion of prevailing political realities. These utopian and dystopian narratives shape an alternative reality that reveals a view of China as it really is, writes Walter Clemens Jr. bit.ly/3u1HUpk

Indonesian President Joko Widodo will end his final term in controversy as his son ran for VP on the ticket of current defense minister Prabowo Subianto. But Indonesian institutions, while weak, remain independent and resilient, argues Yohanes Sulaiman
bit.ly/3vCVKyU