Niranjan Sahoo, Senior Fellow at the Observer Research Foundation, examines India's precarious democratic trajectory as it shifts from a moment of recovery following the 2024 elections toward a state of "authoritarian resilience." He details how the consolidation of a "super executive" has systematically weakened vital checks and balances, utilizing state agencies and strategic legal interpretations to suppress dissent and marginalize political opposition. Analyzing the rise of majority-rule politics and its impact on India's secular fabric, Sahoo highlights the critical role of civil society, a unified opposition, and multi-party federalism as the primary mechanisms of democratic resilience and potential recovery.

Francisco A. Magno and John Arzil E. Manabat, both of De La Salle University, examine the Philippines’ transition from the severe democratic backsliding and "electoral autocracy" to a phase of uneven, "fragile stabilization" under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. While there have been improvements in media freedom and instances of judicial independence, the authors point out that fundamental vulnerabilities including entrenched corruption, pervasive disinformation networks, and weak legislative oversight continue to obstruct a comprehensive systemic transformation. Ultimately, Magno and Manabat underscore that the country’s democratic trajectory depends on coordinated institutional reforms to prevent a renewed slide into autocratization, such as safeguarding the information ecosystem and enforcing strict anti-corruption measures.

Hans H. Tung, Professor at National Taiwan University, and Lev Nachman, Associate Professor at National Taiwan University, examine the signs of democratic backsliding and institutional stress in Taiwan following the 2024 election, highlighting the gridlock between the Legislative Yuan and the Constitutional Court. They point out that this internal polarization, combined with external pressures such as the PRC’s military threats and disinformation campaigns, is undermining Taiwan’s democratic foundations. Ultimately, they underscore that civil society's resilience and international linkages remain the core strengths sustaining Taiwan's democracy, suggesting that protecting the rules of fair competition will determine its future course.