Message from the Director

Welcome to the Center for Asian Democracy!

The future of democracy across Asia remains an urgent global priority. The Varieties of Democracy (V-DEM) project reports that, in 2022, the Asia-Pacific region showed the most dramatic global decline in democracy, returning “to levels last recorded in 1978.” India, Thailand, Myanmar, and Afghanistan were among the world leaders in growing authoritarianism in V-DEM data. China-US competition further challenges democratic reforms.

At the same time, movements for democracy and rights persisted in the last year. In Sri Lanka, protesters forced President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to leave office. In Malaysia, longtime opposition politician Anwar Ibrahim ascended to the Prime Minister’s office after decades of political persecution. Local elections in Taiwan showed the resilient energy of its democratic institutions.

The mission of the Center for Asian Democracy, established in 2006, is to promote research, student opportunities, and community engagement that advances our understanding of democracy in this diverse region. The 2022-23 academic year saw CAD return to extensive activities advancing scholarship, teaching and policy engagement. See our Annual Report for a look back at the last year.

We invite you to join us in the work ahead.

David Buckley, PhD
Director, Center for Asian Democracy