Brussels, Liberal Visions Series
Dr. Manikas started his presentation by outlining Asia’s diversity in political development stating that Asia holds the largest democracy (India) as well as the largest dictatorship (China). He continued that Asia could be playing a determining factor in the development of global democracy, for its increasing influence world wide through trade and political engagement. Dr. Manikas observed two big threats to democracy building in Asia: the appeal to governments of the Singapore model, a soft form of authoritarianism with sustained economic growth and political stability with low levels of corruption, but without space for political party development. The second threat identified by Dr. Manikas is radical Islam. He stressed that security building should play a large role along side the democratic process. He concluded stating that even respecting certain Asian values related to governance systems, democracy will not be easily adopted by the people of Asia.
Mr. von Welck explained the role of political parties within democracies in general and the development of political parties within Asia. He remarked that the Asian political landscape has developed into opposite directions ranging from a one party (military) rule to democratic multiparty governments. Mr. von Welck expressed several concerns regarding democratic development in Asia, the largest being the lack of peaceful change from one government to another after elections and mentioned India as the success story in the region so far. A second concern he analyzed is the misuse by governments of important democratic institutions such as freedom of press, rule of law and the judicial system, crucial to political party improvement, as tools to slow down the development and reform of political parties in their respective countries. But not only governments are responsible for worrisome developments concluded Mr. von Welck: One distress observed within parties is the disregard by the elite in control of the party leadership for the democratic participation of citizens and party members in general and of minorities and women specifically.
After both presentations Mr. Nereus Acosta, Secretary General of the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD), who was in town for the 2008 annual meeting of CALD with ALDE – the liberal group in the European Parliament- was invited to kick off the debate. Mr. Acosta pointed out that various parts of Asia have made progress in different areas, such as technology, economy or politics, and identified certain regional patterns.
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