9:30 – 10:00

Sook Jong Lee, East Asia institute
Kaustuv Bandyopadhyay, PRIA
Carl Gershman, National Endowment for Democracy

10:00 – 12:00

Opening Session

“Threats to Democracy and What to Build Coalition”

This session will diagnose the current threats to democracy in Asia, such as
polarization and fragmentation on social media, anti-globalization backlash, raw
majoritarianism, native nationalism and illiberal populist leaders, and seek how
to strengthen the democratic solidarity especially among four actors –
governments, legislators, media and think tanks. What are the most daunting
threats to Asian democracy? Despite the obstacles, how to translate the
democratic ideas into the actual policy? What are needed for the four actors to
build a democratic coalition?

Moderator          Yun-han Chu, Academia Sinica/Asian Barometer & 
                          Chiang Ching-kuo Foundation For International Scholarly Exchange

Presenter           Larry Diamond, Stanford University

Discussants      Chin-en Wu, Academia Sinica & Asian Barometer
                          Thawilwadee Bureekul, King Prajadhipok’s Institute
                          Francisco A. Magno, Jesse M. Robredo Institute of Gov.
                          Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu, Centre for Policy Alternatives 
                          Euiyoung Kim, Seoul National University

12:00 – 13:30

13:30 – 15:00

“Strengthening Asia’s Media Environment and Building Coalitions for Reform”

High quality media and information systems are critical to meeting the growing
threats to democracy. Yet many countries are facing a rapidly changing media
environment that threatens to increase the influence of non-democratic forces.
A growing number of media organizations are spreading false information, divisive
rhetoric, and hate speech. How can Asian nations work together more effectively
to ensure strong, democratic media environments that focus on producing high

quality news and information that serves the public interest?
How can governments improve their role in sharing information and creating legal
frameworks that protect access to information, freedom of expression, and a
level playing field for media organizations? Finally, how can ADRN work more
closely with media reform activists and civil society to improve knowledge and
research about democratic media coalitions and needed reforms?

Moderator           Thawilwadee Bureekul, King Prajadhipok’s Institute

Presenters          Mark Nelson, CIMA 
                            Hiroki Sugita, Kyodo News 
                            Young-jin Oh, The Korea Times

Discussants        Boldbaatar Sodchimeg, Academy of Political Education 
                            Irfan Mufti, SAP-PK 
                            Tricia Yeoh, Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs 
                            Khine Win, Sandhi Governance Institute 
                            S.M. Zubair Ali Khan, Manusher Jonno Foundation 
                            Hassan Akbar, Jinnah Institute

15:00 – 15:30

15:30 – 17:00

“Donors and Democracy Promotion”

Grant-making organizations are key actors in strengthening the democratic
solidarity and democracy research. What role do grant-making organizations
play in protecting and promoting democratic space? Which approaches have
contributed positively? What have been the challenges (including internal
governance and decision-making and external context) and how can these be
addressed? How do grant-making organizations measure the policy impact?

Moderator            Kausutuv BandyoPadhyay, PRIA

Presenters           Yun-han Chu, Academia Sinica/Asian Barometer & 
                            Chiang Ching-kuo Foundation For International Scholarly Exchange 
                            Hyung-sik Shin, Korea Democracy Foundation 
                            Szu-chien Hsu, Taiwan Foundation for Democracy

Discussants        Eric Yu, Taiwan Foundation for Democracy 
                            Sabrina Esufally, Verité Research 
                            S.M. Zubair Ali Khan, Manusher Jonno Foundation 
                            Myat Thu, Yangon School of Political Science 
                            Hassan Akbar, Jinnah Institute

9:30 – 9:45

"South Korea’s Past and Future in Promoting Asian Democracy"
Hong-koo Lee, Former Prime Minister of the ROK

9:45 – 10:00

Keynote Speech

“Asia’s Role in Deepening Democracy””

Carl Gershman, President, National Endowment for Democracy

10:00 – 11:15

“Legislatures’ Roles in Promoting Democracy”

Legislatures play a crucial role in making the democratic ideas into the reality.
With the incumbent legislatures from Asian countries, this session will provide
the opportunity to share the legislatures’ vivid experience, their success/failure
narratives in translating the democratic ideas into the actual policy.

Moderator                           Carl Gershman, NED

Presenters                          Kyung-won Na, Liberty Korea

                                           Nikorn Chamnong, Chartthaipattana Party of Thailand

                                           Md. Israfil Alam, Parliament from Bangladesh

Discussants                       Eric Yu, Taiwan Foundation for Democracy
                                           Francisco A. Magno, Jesse M. Robredo Institute of Gov.
                                           Kausutuv BandyoPadhyay, PRIA
                                           Maria Cleofe Gettie Sandoval, INCITEGov
                                           Tricia Yeoh, Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs
                                           Khine Win, Sandhi Governance Institute
                                           Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu, Centre for Policy Alternatives    
                                           Thawilwadee Bureekul, King Prajadhipok’s Institute

11:15 – 12:30

“Promoting Democracy in the National Policy”

This session aims to find out how Asian governments are promoting democracy
through public policies. Comparing the policy areas such as fighting against
corruption, civic education, and minority right protection emphasized by each
government, we expect to learn what to consider when introducing or reforming
public policies of democracy promotion.

Moderator                      Sook Jong Lee, EAI

Presenters                     H.E. Manisha Gunasekera, Sri Lankan Ambassador to the ROK 
                                      H.E. Vikram K. Doraiswami, Indian Ambassador to the ROK
                                      Won-seok Choi, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the ROK

Discussants                 Boldbaatar Sodchimeg, Academy of Political Education 
                                     Chin-en Wu, Academia Sinica & Asian Barometer
                                     Maria Cleofe Gettie Sandoval, INCITEGov
                                     Irfan Mufti, SAP-PK
                                     Sabrina Esufally, Verité Research 
                                     Nikorn Chamnong, Chartthaipattana Party of Thailand
                                     Myat Thu, Yangon School of Political Science
                                     Hiroki Sugita, Kyodo News