Logistics
Date & Time: Thursday, June 18, 2026 | 9:30AM CEST / 2:30PM ICT
Online Platform: Zoom (will be livestreamed on GDC YouTube channel)
Co-hosting Organizations: Asia Centre, Global Democracy Coalition
Livestream Details: Coming Soon!
Background
The 2026 GDC Asia Regional Forum in Seoul convened democracy actors from across the region to reflect on democratic transitions, democratic resilience, technological change, and the evolving challenges facing democratic governance in Asia. Discussions highlighted recurring tensions surrounding institutional fragility, authoritarian adaptation, civic participation, regional coordination, and the growing impact of technology on democratic practice.
The Forum also reinforced the increasingly transnational nature of many democratic challenges facing the region. Democratic actors across Asia are confronting interconnected pressures that transcend national boundaries, including disinformation, surveillance, shrinking civic space, political polarisation, and the uneven governance implications of emerging technologies.
At the same time, discussions in Seoul pointed to important questions around democratic cooperation itself: how democratic actors can move beyond fragmented responses, what forms of regional solidarity are most effective, and how networks and alliances can better support democratic resilience and renewal in increasingly complex political environments.
Rather than revisiting the Forum panels, this webinar creates space for strategic reflection on the broader lessons, tensions, and unanswered questions emerging from Seoul. It aims to continue the conversation beyond the Forum itself and help identify possible directions for future democratic cooperation and engagement in Asia.
Objectives
- Reflect on key themes, tensions, and lessons emerging from the GDC Asia Regional Forum
- Examine the increasingly transnational nature of democratic challenges in Asia
- Explore gaps, opportunities, and limitations in current forms of democratic cooperation
- Discuss the potential role of regional alliances and networks in supporting democratic resilience
- Identify strategic questions and priorities for future GDC engagement and democratic collaboration in Asia
Speakers / Experts Profiles
Coming soon!