Democracy in Asia-Pacific

[Cossack25A1]

This thread is about democracy in Asia-Pacific, its advantages, disadvantages, issues and whether it is compatible with Asia-Pacific countries

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Overview of the current status of democracy in Asia-Pacific
by Dr. Jinhyeok Jang

Democratic ideal has multiple implications for political development. Given that Asian countries are in a wide variety of status from long-standing or nascent democracies to authoritarian or totalitarian regimes, each country faces its unique challenges for democracy and democratization.

As a first blog posting of the year, I provide an overview of the current status of democracy in Asia-Pacific. For this purpose, I rely on the seven indicators of democracy presented by the Freedom House, including Free and Fair Elections (Election), Political Pluralism and Participation (Participation), Well-functioning of Government (Functioning), Freedom of Expression and Belief (Expression), Associational and Organizational Rights (Association), Rule of Law, and Personal Autonomy and Individual Rights (Rights).

Figure 1


Figure 1 presents a colorful summary of the seven dimensions of democracy in forty-three countries and territories in Asia-Pacific. In this figure, deeper blue and red colors in each cell represent more and less democratic values in each dimension of democracy in each country, respectively.

An interactive plot can be explored by visiting here. In this interactive plot, the value in each cell represents a degree of democracy. For example, Thailand’s “Rights” value is 62.5 meaning that the country was evaluated as 10 of the total 16 points in the last year.

Figure 2


In many countries, these seven categories of democracy are correlated each other. However, some irregular cases are also observed. Hong Kong is the most extreme case of heterogeneous democratic values within a single polity. It boasts the top score in the Rule of Law category, but its electoral freedom is similar with one in Burma and Afghanistan.

To demonstrate change and continuity of democracy in Asian-Pacific, I also prepare Figure 2. In this table, the value in each cell refers the difference between the 2015 and 2014 points. For an effective visualization, I fill some colors in each cell. Blue and red colors represent positive and negative change, and deeper colors implies more changes in either direction. At first glance, most of countries remain static. But there are also notable changes. Fiji achieved significant developments. In contrast, Thailand faced democratic decline in most of the dimensions in the last year.

The Freedom House has provided an annual measure of freedom for countries and territories since 1972. The main indicator, as known as the Freedom House score, and its sub dimensional values capturing political and civil rights are widely used in scholarly and other fields to describe the status of democracy around the world. Their evaluation of the current status of democracy is provided in this link (| Freedom House

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The Durian: Overview of the current status of democracy in Asia-Pacific
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[AViet]

If you want to be exact and to discuss in academic way, we should define what democracy is in the first place?

The name of former Eastern bloc countries mostly went with terms like "Democratic republic", "people's republic", all means the utmost power of those countries belonged to people, or in other meaning, those were democratic.

In Confucian countries, we use the term "Dan chu" (Vietnamese), "min-chu" (Chinese and Korean) or minshu (Japanese), all from "民主", in which "dan - 民" or "min" mean "the people"; and "chu - 主" means "boss, lord" and we generally consider them equal to the term "democratic" of the West.

However, I believe we have quite different understanding between the terms.

 

[Cossack25A1]

If you want to be exact and to discuss in academic way, we should define what democracy is in the first place?

The name of former Eastern bloc countries mostly went with terms like "Democratic republic", "people's republic", all means the utmost power of those countries belonged to people, or in other meaning, those were democratic.

In Confucian countries, we use the term "Dan chu" (Vietnamese), "min-chu" (Chinese and Korean) or minshu (Japanese), all from "民主", in which "dan - 民" or "min" mean "the people"; and "chu - 主" means "boss, lord" and we generally consider them equal to the term "democratic" of the West.

However, I believe we have quite different understanding between the terms.

Well, when people talk about democracy, many would have different answer, so it would be better to first identify what "Democracy" means first, and what is the difference between the democracy that was invented in ancient Greece, specifically the Athenean Democracy and the modern interpretation of democracy.w

We could also include the difference between "Republic" and "Democracy" as the two usually get mixed together.

 

[Desertfalcon]

Well, when people talk about democracy, many would have different answer, so it would be better to first identify what "Democracy" means first, and what is the difference between the democracy that was invented in ancient Greece, specifically the Athenean Democracy and the modern interpretation of democracy.w

We could also include the difference between "Republic" and "Democracy" as the two usually get mixed together.

I think Freedom House gets the definition right...

Free and Fair Elections (Election), Political Pluralism and Participation (Participation), Well-functioning of Government (Functioning), Freedom of Expression and Belief (Expression), Associational and Organizational Rights (Association), Rule of Law, and Personal Autonomy and Individual Rights (Rights).

 

[Abacin]

Western democracy has an intrinsic problem. The voting system does not encourage self improvement. This can be a big problem when the flow of social ladder stops. People in the lower ladder will give up education or endeavors since everyone only has one vote. This is a big problem in the West. Many people just want to live on social Welfare and have no interests for self-improvement to contribute the society. Countries will only have more and more debt until bankruptcy.

That's why China and most corporations use leveled voting system. People contribute more to the society or the company get more weights in the voting. Ordinary people only vote for basic level elections. People with higher contribution gain voting rights on higher levels.

China system is very similar to corporate structures. That's why companies worldwide, including US companies like China. It is much easier for corporate professionals to deal with Chinese governments than Western governments.

The main difference between Chinese democracy and Western democracy is not about democracy or authoritarian, rather whether voting should be weighted, or not. All companies, including western companies seem to stand on Chinese side.

 

[jammersat]

democracy for most part will fail horribly in the united states itself , when hillary later this year will get flushed out by trump
to an extent the americans won't support it around the world , angela merkel pro

 

[Aepsilons]

Western democracy has an intrinsic problem. The voting system does not encourage self improvement. This can be a big problem when the flow of social ladder stops. People in the lower ladder will give up education or endeavors since everyone only has one vote. This is a big problem in the West. Many people just want to live on social Welfare and have no interests for self-improvement to contribute the society. Countries will only have more and more debt until bankruptcy.

That's why China and most corporations use leveled voting system. People contribute more to the society or the company get more weights in the voting. Ordinary people only vote for basic level elections. People with higher contribution gain voting rights on higher levels.

China system is very similar to corporate structures. That's why companies worldwide, including US companies like China. It is much easier for corporate professionals to deal with Chinese governments than Western governments.

The main difference between Chinese democracy and Western democracy is not about democracy or authoritarian, rather whether voting should be weighted, or not. All companies, including western companies seem to stand on Chinese side.

Great appraisal! Let me also interject a theme for us to ponder upon; the role of Populism and its effect(s) on Democracy.

@bbccdd1470 @Arryn , let's join this thread.

democracy for most part will fail horribly in the united states itself , when hillary later this year will get flushed out by trump
to an extent the americans won't support it around the world , angela merkel pro

Ah, mon frere, what you're noticing is populism in effect. Well, i'd say Trump , Cruz and even Sanders are both examples of Populism on the grand stage there in the United States.

 

[jammersat]

Great appraisal! Let me also interject a theme for us to ponder upon; the role of Populism and its effect(s) on Democracy.

@bbccdd1470 @Arryn , let's join this thread.



Ah, mon frere, what you're noticing is populism in effect. Well, i'd say Trump , Cruz and even Sanders are both examples of Populism on the grand stage there in the United States.

no i 'm serious , if trump gets elected , after 8 years of obama , then ameircans will receive such a whoop az that they'll never rise again

 

[Aepsilons]

no i 'm serious , if trump gets elected , after 8 years of obama , then ameircans will receive such a whoop az that they'll never rise again

Do explain. Just curious to hear your written thoughts.

 

[Jlaw]

Democracy to man westerners really comes down to the ability to make choices on relatively unimportant things. I remember getting educated in the public school system in Canada where we talked about west vs. East (primarily USSR) at the time.

I clearly remembered the teacher saying we in the west have choices. His examples, include when we buy a car we can buy it in any colour we choose (though not the case anymore), whereas in the USSR it's only one color. We can go to a mall and buy any colour clothes, types of clothes we want. You can't in USSR. It's limited.

Now I think about it, he was clearly talking more about the superior western democracy that paved the way for a better market economy. He is not wrong, but that is clearly not the only way. China has a one party centralized system, but a vibrant market economy is working very well.

But on more important things, the general populace does not care or have any say. In fact many rights have been lost in the US "so called land of the free" since 2001 and getting worse. People are oblivious to this fact but as long as they still have the right to supersize their meals most don't care.

Scorecard: How Many Rights Have Americans REALLY Lost? Washington's Blog

 

[jammersat]

Do explain. Just curious to hear your written thoughts.

Trump complements obama , like a ginger complements a nagger , can't you see? obama made such hurrendeous jokes for the past 8 years that now trump's gonna ride it all , she's gonna whoop hillary clinton's az in the final debate hahaha

 

[Aepsilons]

Democracy to man westerners really comes down to the ability to make choices on relatively unimportant things. I remember getting educated in the public school system in Canada where we talked about west vs. East (primarily USSR) at the time.

I clearly remembered the teacher saying we in the west have choices. His examples, include when we buy a car we can buy it in any colour we choose (though not the case anymore), whereas in the USSR it's only one color. We can go to a mall and buy any colour clothes, types of clothes we want. You can't in USSR. It's limited.

Now I think about it, he was clearly talking more about the superior western democracy that paved the way for a better market economy. He is not wrong, but that is clearly not the only way. China has a one party centralized system, but a vibrant market economy is working very well.

But on more important things, the general populace does not care. In fact many rights have been lost in the US "so called land of the free" since 2001 and getting worse. People are oblivious to this fact but as long as they still have the right to supersize their meals most don't care.

Scorecard: How Many Rights Have Americans REALLY Lost? Washington's Blog

Perfect analysis in the absolutist line of thinking that was very common in Western societies during the height of the Cold War. Therein lies the difference in absolutism from dualism, in context to political economy. I suppose China had accomplished what few have been able to do (the USSR included); that is the fusing of socialist thought, communist party doctrine and constitution , with market economy (capitalism), with the imperial meritocracy mandate. So we have in China the underlying meritocracy and upon which we have sen the strata layering of socialism, communism, capitalism, enlightened centralism with core ideals of universalism rolled up into one. All working in China.

And its working eloquently and syntactically.

Trump complements obama , like a ginger complements a nagger , can't you see? obama made such hurrendeous jokes for the past 8 years that now trump's gonna ride it all , she's gonna whoop hillary clinton's az in the final debate hahaha

Souu desu ka...

 

[Desertfalcon]

Whereas in an emergency, more authoritarian government may be justified for a time, the "gold standard" of what constitutes a successful state is still based on things like representative government, the rule of consistent law, the right to redress grievances and expression, free press, individual dignity and rights respected, and a respect for private property, private enterprise and market capitalism. In states that adopt some or all of those values compared to those that don't, the difference over time is impossible to ignore. That is why countries such as my own and other capitalist democracies, will continue to stay strong and prosper.

 

[jammersat]

 

[gambit]

Whereas in an emergency, more authoritarian government may be justified for a time,...

Then once that authoritarian government is established to deal with that emergency, it will do everything possible to stay in power. Everything qualifies as an emergency.

By the way...Do not expect non-Americans to sing 'Great appraisal' and 'Perfect analysis' to what you and I live with everyday.