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:  
Sasha Chhabra, Institute for National Defense and Security Research
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:  
Bernadett Szél, Former Legislator & MP, Hungary
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