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Federalism is a constitutional mechanism for dividing responsibilities between different levels of government in a country. It grants constituent units (i.e. substate territorial entities that may be called states, regions, provinces, Länder or cantons) a certain degree of autonomy (or self-rule) in regulating some policy areas.

Former Reuters environment correspondent and author of The Great Melt Alister Doyle talks about the role of the United Nations, especially the COP conferences, in dealing with the threat of climate change.

The Taliban stormed to power and took back control of Afghanistan in August 2021. They have apparently reintroduced an autocratic Islamic Emirate, not unlike the system of governance that defined their first spell in power from 1996 to 2001. The Taliban’s swift military triumph put an end to the frail peace negotiations between the late Afghan government and the Taliban.

International IDEA conducted three webinars exploring corruption in the region as part of the “Democratic Development in the Melanesian webinar series 2022”. Absence of Corruption is one of the key attributes used to monitor the quality of democracy under International IDEA’s Global State of Democracy Indices.

International IDEA, in collaboration with the European Commission (EC) and the Youth Political and Civic Engagement Cohort of the Summit for Democracy (S4D), held on 15 November 2022, an online peer-to-peer dialogue, Promoting the role of youth in political and democratic spaces. The event explored commitments on youth presented by governments at the S4D, drawing lessons learnt and identifying opportunities for further engagement for the Year of Action.

On 30 November 2022, International IDEA launched two new knowledge products under the Global State of Democracy Initiative:

The year 2020 was very challenging for electoral stakeholders and administrators Indonesia; direct local elections were held simultaneously in all regions of the country amid the Covid-19 pandemic. Compounding this challenge, the 2020 direct local elections were held on 9 December, which coincides with the peak period of the rainy season in Indonesia.

Half of democratic governments around the world are in decline while authoritarian regimes are deepening their repression.

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Myanmar is rich in natural resources and a global biodiversity hotspot. Myanmar is also one of the countries worst affected by climate change and one of the least equipped to improve its resilience without external support. How to manage natural resources has always been at the heart of Myanmar’s history and learning how to manage economic development sustainably became a central question of Myanmar’s democratic transition.

This Report provides a study of the ethnic composition of Myanmar’s subnational units together with an analysis of the historical evolution of the administrative units that existed under the 2008 Constitution.

Transforming Constitution-building

The 2022 Fiji general election, for 55 seats in the Parliament, will take place on 14 December 2022. So far 316 provisional candidates have been named from 8 of the 9 political parties of which 55 are women—17 per cent of the total number. The figure is likely to increase with more provisional names expected to be announced soon. A political party may nominate up to 55 candidates by midday of 14 November 2022.

At home in the Asia-Pacific region, Australia lives alongside some of the world's most populous and diverse democracies. As we all emerge from two years of acute COVID-19 restrictions, some things look a little different in our neighbourhood.

Myanmar’s military junta has sought to justify the 1 February 2021 coup d’état with dubious allegations of electoral fraud surrounding the 8 November 2020 general elections. The State Administration Council perpetuates this narrative of electoral fraud and claims to be preparing fresh elections, including by making changes to election and political party laws, implementing a new electoral system, and updating the voter list.

The Digital Campaigning and Political Finance in the Asia and the Pacific region report, co-authored by Professor Joo-Cheong Tham, Director, Electoral Regulation Research Network, Professor Andrea Carson, Department of Politics, Media and Philosophy, La Trobe University, Adhy Aman Senior Programme Manager, International IDEA, and Amy Chinnappa, Lawyer and Policy Consultant, was launched on Tuesday 25 October 2022 at Melbourne Law School by Dr K

Successive Australian governments, for many years now, have not had an explicit policy for fostering and promoting democracy. One is needed, now more than ever.

Disclaimer: Opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the institutional position of International IDEA, its Board of Advisers or its Council of Member States.

This report studies the intersection between digital campaigning in elections, and political finance and its regulation in the Asia and the Pacific region. In so doing, it connects the digital disruption with an existential threat to democracies across the world―money in politics. Political finance poses the danger of not only ‘policy capture’ but also, in worse scenarios, state capture by monied interests. 

More than one year after the Myanmar military staged an attempted coup d'état, democracy defenders both inside and outside of Myanmar remain committed to restoring legitimately elected leaders and returning the country to the path to federalism.

International IDEA is saddened by the passing of Professor Dr Azyumardi Azra on 18 September 2022, at the age of 67.

We wish to convey our deepest sympathies to Dr Azra's family and loved ones. Professor Azra served as a member of International IDEA's Board of Advisors from 2007 until 2013.

Emerging from the most chronic impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, countries in Asia and the Pacific region are facing challenges as governing systems in the region grapple with the stressors associated with the pandemic.