Theme: Youths, Democracy & Electoral Legitimacy in Asia
Date: 4 April 2025
Location: Bangkok, Thailand (Venue TBC)
Host: The Asia Centre
The Asia Regional Forum 2025, titled “Youths, Democracy & Electoral Legitimacy in Asia,” is a pivotal gathering organized under the umbrella of the Global Democracy Coalition Forum. Set to take place on 4 April 2025 in Bangkok, Thailand, this one-day hybrid event seeks to address the unique challenges and opportunities faced by the region’s youth in engaging with democratic governance and electoral processes.
Background
The Asia-Pacific region is a diverse tapestry of political systems, encompassing democracies, hybrid regimes, and authoritarian states. According to the Economist Intelligence Unit’s Democracy Index 2024, only five countries in the region qualify as “full democracies,” while others fall into categories such as “flawed democracies,” “hybrid regimes,” and “authoritarian states.” A consistent decline in democratic standards, particularly free and fair elections, has been noted by International IDEA’s Global State of Democracy 2024 report.
Researchers from Asia Centre, in their March 2025 special issue of the Kyoto Review of Southeast Asia, identify the erosion of electoral integrity as a significant driver of this democratic backsliding. Amidst these challenges, the role of youth—constituting over 700 million people aged 15-24 in the region—emerges as critical to revitalizing democracy. However, significant barriers persist, ranging from legal and institutional obstacles to systemic underrepresentation in political structures.
This forum builds on discussions from the 2024 Global Democracy Coalition Forum and seeks to create actionable solutions for empowering youth to play a more active role in the region’s political processes.
Objectives
The forum is designed with three key objectives:
- Regional Dialogue: Facilitate discussions to identify the unique challenges and opportunities for democratization in Asia-Pacific.
- Strategic Agenda Development: Formulate a regional action plan for youth engagement in democracy.
- Movement Building: Foster collaboration between regional and international partners to promote and sustain democratic values across the region.
Event Format
The forum will be conducted in a hybrid format, allowing both in-person and virtual participation. Approximately 30-40 participants, including youth activists, civil society leaders, policymakers, and other stakeholders, are expected to attend. The event will be live-streamed on YouTube, with recordings made available post-event for broader accessibility.
Key Features of the Forum:
- Panels: Two panel discussions featuring expert speakers will address the critical themes of youth participation in elections and overcoming barriers to youth engagement in politics.
- Group Discussions: Participants will collaborate in small groups to analyze challenges and develop action plans for increasing youth involvement across the electoral cycle.
- Plenary Session: Group representatives will present their findings and strategies in a plenary session, fostering shared learning and collective goal-setting.
Programme
- 8:30 AM | Registration
- 9:00 AM | Welcoming Remarks
- Dr. James Gomez, Regional Director, Asia Centre
- Representative, Global Democracy Coalition (GDC)
- 9:15 AM | Ice-breaker and Introductions
- 9:30 AM | Panel 1: Youth, Democracy & Elections in Asia – Issues & Challenges
Speakers will explore the regional challenges young people face in engaging with electoral processes and political systems. - 10:30 AM | Tea Break
- 11:00 AM | Panel 2: Breaking Barriers for Youth Participation in Politics (Global Panel)
This session will highlight global best practices and strategies to dismantle barriers to youth political participation. - 12:00 PM | Lunch Break
- 1:30 PM | Group Discussions: Analyzing Issues & Action Planning
Participants will form 3-4 groups to strategize on fostering youth engagement in elections. - 3:00 PM | Tea Break
- 3:30 PM | Plenary Session: Group Sharing & Steps Forward
Groups will present their discussions and propose actionable next steps. - 4:15 PM | Closing Remarks
- Dr. James Gomez, Regional Director, Asia Centre
- GDC Representative
Partners
The Asia-Pacific Regional Forum 2025 will engage a robust network of partners, including:
- Korea Democracy Foundation (KDF)
- Taiwan Foundation for Democracy (TFD)
- Bali Democracy Forum (BDF)
- International Republican Institute (IRI) Thailand
- National Democratic Institute (NDI) Thailand
- ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR)
- Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD)
- Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL)
Support from diplomatic agencies, media groups, and international development organizations such as USAID and SIDA will further bolster the forum’s impact.
Key Takeaways
The Asia-Pacific Regional Forum 2025 represents a timely and significant effort to address youth disenfranchisement in democratic processes. By fostering dialogue, building partnerships, and developing actionable strategies, the forum aims to empower young people to become active agents of democratic change in the Asia-Pacific region. This collective endeavor will not only strengthen democracy but also ensure its resilience and inclusivity for generations to come.