The Evolving Crisis of Democracy in Asia:
Challenges and Resolutions  

Date: September 19 (Fri.), 2025  
Venue: Room 903, 9F, Teaching Complex Building, NCHU  
Organizers:  
Advanced Research Center for Social Sciences and Humanities, NCHU
Taiwan-Asia Exchange Foundation  
Asia Centre, Thailand  
Sponsors:  
National Science and Technology Council
Taiwan Foundation for Democracy 

10:00-10:15 Registration  
 
10:15-12:00 Opening Roundtable: Democracy in Crisis and Possible Ways Forward
Moderator:  
Hsin-Huang Michael Hsiao, Taiwan-Asia Exchange Foundation  
Discussant:  
James Gomez, Asia Centre  
Tung-Chieh Tsai, National Chung Hsing University
Tsung-Yen Chen, National Sun Yat-sen University
Yung-Ming Yen, Tung Hai University    

12:00-13:30 Lunch Break    

13:30-15:00 Panel A: Populist Tropes and the Spread of Autocratic Leadership
Moderator:  
Pei-Hsiu Chen, National Chi Nan University  
Discussant:  
Bernadett Szél, Former Legislator & MP, Hungary
Inaya Rakhmani, Asia Research Center, Universitas Indonesia
Anthony J. Spires, University of Melbourne  
Khoo Ying Hooi, University of Malaya  
Olimpia Kot, European Values Center for Security Policy

15:00-15:30 Coffee Break    

15:30-17:00 Panel B: Democracy as a Geopolitical Battleground: Hybrid Warfare and Foreign Influence Operations
Moderator:  
Ming-Sho Ho, National Taiwan University  
Discussant:  
Sasha Chhabra, Institute for National Defense and Security Research
Kim Chan Ho, Korea Democracy Foundation  
Hsin-Hsuan Lin, National Cheng Kung University
Yavor Kostandinov, Mingchuan University
Atena Feraru, National Chung Hsing University    

17:00-17:10 Closing Remarks