State of Democracy and Governance in Asia Pacific · PDF file ·...

State of Democracy and Governance in Asia Pacific

G. Shabbir Cheema

Senior Fellow and Director

Asia-Pacific Governance and Democracy Initiative

East-West Center

Table of Contents

1) Introduction

2) Democratic Transition in Asia

3) Urban Governance Challenges

4) The Way Forward

Introduction

Democratization and Urbanization

are two of the most significant

transformations in Asia and the

world over the past 50 years

Part 1: Democracy In Asia: Transition and Deepening

Support for Democracy in Asia: Asia Barometer Survey Data 2016

57.5

55.1

58.5

71.8

0 20 40 60 80

EA

SA

LA

Africa

PREFERENCE DEMOCRACY

Democracy Issues: Perception of Corruption

• How governments govern crucial, e.g. representation and fairness

• Main problem area in Asia remains endemic corruption

• Majorities view governments as corrupt, with shocking numbers in Pakistan and Malaysia

52.9

53.5

58.2

50 55 60

EA

SA

Arab

CORRUPTION

Transparency International Country Rankings

Singapore 7 Korea (South) 43 Malaysia 50 Samoa 50 Mongolia 80 India 85 Philippines 85 Sri Lanka 85 Thailand 85 China 100 Indonesia 107 Vietnam 119 Nepal 126 Pakistan 126 Timor-Leste 133 Bangladesh 145 Laos 145 Papua New Guinea 145 Cambodia 156 Myanmar 156 Afghanistan 172

Corruption Perceptions Index (Country rank out of 175)

State of Asian Democracy

Asia was at the forefront of the third wave of

democracy decade and a half ago, with

important transitions beginning in South

Korea, Taiwan and the Philippines

Outside of Europe, Asia is the only region in

which a large set of consolidated

democracies has emerged in the third wave


Freedom House Survey includes both analytical reports and numerical ratings, measures freedom according to two broad categories: political rights and civil liberties

Freedom Rating is just the average of the other 2 listed scores

Scored 1-7 with 1 being “best” and most-free and 7 being least-free


Political rights ratings are based on an evaluation of three subcategories: electoral process, political pluralism and participation, and functioning of government.

Civil liberties ratings are based on an evaluation of four subcategories: freedom of expression and belief, associational and organizational rights, rule of law, and personal autonomy and individual rights.

Freedom in Asia 2016

Country Civil Liberties Political

Rights

Freedom

Rating

Japan 1 1 1

Mongolia 2 1 1.5

Indonesia 3 2 2.5

India 3 2 2.5

Republic of

Korea 4 2 3

Philippines 3 3 3

Nepal 4 3 3.5

Freedom in Asia 2016

Country Civil Liberties Political

Rights

Freedom

Rating

Malaysia 4 4 4

Singapore 4 4 4

Bangladesh 4 4 4

Pakistan 5 4 4.5

Thailand 5 6 5.5

Myanmar 5 6 5.5

Cambodia 5 6 5.5

China 6 7 6.5

Snapshots of Democracy

Practice in Asia

Mongolia

Mongolia a consolidated democracy in the shadow of two giants

Free and fair parliamentary elections in 2012, further confirming Mongolia’s status as Asia’s only post-socialist democracy

Republic of

Korea

Korea is an OECD member entering its third decade of

democracy

“people power” emerged in 1987, building a coalition of labor movements, student groups, and a middle class upset by the heavy-handed governance of the Chun Doo Hwan regime.

Homogenous society with spectacular economic performance

Indonesia

The leading consolidated (not fully) democracy

in the largest Muslim majority country with free

elections, civilian oversight of the military,

engaged civil society, “big bang” decentralization

Challenges: continued religious intolerance,

extremism, human rights, corruption

Myanmar

Htin Kyaw was sworn in as president in March 2016, ushering in the

first democratically elected government into office after decades of military rule

The military retains considerable amount of power in the government and parliament

Under reforms introduced in 2011, international news websites and YouTube were unblocked. In 2012, it lifted pre-publication censorship for the press and allowed privately-owned daily newspapers to publish.

Myanmar

Challenges: However, the state still controls the main broadcasters and

publications and has a monopoly on telecommunications

During last year's election campaign changing the constitution to reduce the political power of the Burmese army was one of Ms Suu Kyi's key pledges. Now she appears to have accepted that the constitution is a "red line" for the army that could threaten her government's survival

Ms Suu Kyi’s party didn't field any Muslim candidates in last year's election and at the time her officials explained it as necessary pragmatism to avoid upsetting hard-line Buddhist monks

Malaysia

Malaysian democracy may be healthier than it has been in

decades: repeal of Internal Security Act, the movement for

transparency, competitive elections

Challenges: Peaceful Assembly Act used to impose limits

on a large demonstration calling for clean elections,

government retains powers to curb civil liberties and

media

Cambodia

Democracy in Cambodia is backsliding. The flawed elections of July

2013 led to severe restrictions on freedom of expression, freedom of

assembly, and freedom of speech

19 governments, including the U.S., signed the Paris Peace

Agreements on October 23, 1991, following the defeat of the Khmer

Rouge, a brutal Communist political regime that killed an estimated

1.7 million Cambodians. The signatories of the Agreements promised

to hold Cambodia accountable if the state of democracy was under

threat

Cambodia

Challenges: In recent months, the erosion of democratic institutions in

Cambodia has become increasingly apparent. In November 2015, Prime

Minister Hun Sen resurrected defamation charges against one of the

leaders of the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party, leading to his

self-imposed exile. Hun Sen removed Rainsy from his parliamentary seat

and called for his arrest.

Later that month, Cambodian state security forces allegedly assaulted and

beat two CNRP parliamentariansNow the CPP lodged charges against

CNRP second-in-command on allegations human trafficking. These

charges are viewed as largely political and an attempt to silence the CNRP.

India

A consolidated democracy with regular elections, multi-

party coalition governments, independence of the

judiciary, Access to Information Act, active civil society

Challenges: Intrastate conflicts and ethnic violence in the

northeastern state of Assam, corruption, inadequate

access to basic services

Pakistan

Peaceful transfer of power from one civilian government to another for the first time in Pakistan’s history; more space for civilian government; national consensus on the need for the continuity of democratic process

Challenges: Extremism and violence; weak writ of the State in some areas; attacks against religious minorities; threats against journalists and human right defenders

Pakistan

Majority of Pakistanis (54%) satisfied with Overall Quality of Democracy in Pakistan:

Satisfaction with the overall quality of democracy in Pakistan has remained consistently positive during the past three years

In a negative trend, democracy as the preferred system of government witnesses an 11% point decrease in popularity at the end of the 3rd year

PILDAT national survey 2016

Thailand

The government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, elected

in 2011, consolidated its grip on power during 2012. However,

links to deposed former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra,

remained a matter of contention, and new opposition protests

called for another military coup.

Military coup in 2015 and dismissal of the elected government

Part II: Urbanization Trends and

Urban Governance Challenges

Introduction: Urbanization Trends

Urbanization Trends

Offers an alternative and broader approach

Governance

Governance comprises the complex

mechanisms, processes, relationships, and

institutions through which citizens and

groups articulate their interests, exercise

their rights and obligations, and mediate

their differences.

STATE CIVIL SOCIETY

PRIVATE SECTOR

FOSTERING Interaction Relationships

Roles Capacities

Governance: A Broader Concept than Government

Creates

Enabling

Political and

Legal

Environment

Generates Jobs,

Income, Goods

and Services

Facilitates

Political and

Social

Interaction

Why Urban Governance Matters

Traditional overreliance on technocratic

approaches and resource constraints have led to

urban exclusion/poverty; the need for the

“governance for all”.

Gaps between plans and their implementation

What and Why of Urban Governance

Focus on economic growth and industrialization

has created space and inclination for much needed

participatory structures and reorientation to engage

all stakeholders

Effective urban governance increases cities

contribution to national development

What and Why of Urban Governance

Cities and Sustainable

Development Goals

17 SDGs are inter-related and inter-

dependent

SDG 11 – “Make cities and human

settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and

sustainable” is the core of the urban

policy

Governance capacity matters in

implementing the SDGs


(1) Inclusive urban policies and

programs that accommodate

marginalized groups in urban

governance


Urban authorities in region have traditionally

relied on technocratic solutions and the use of

performance evaluation and audit methods for

the sake of cost-effectiveness and

accountability


However, experience has shown that

technocratic approaches had limited

efficiency for two main reasons:

- the informal sector “within the city, outside

the system” makes a significant contribution to

local economies;

- urban authorities are chronically short of

capital and operating funds

Some Innovative approaches

KL and Quezon City, urban authorities are building

kiosks for sidewalk vendors in legally sited areas

In Bandung, Bangkok and Manila, community-

upgrading programs now provide housing and basic

services in situ, rather than evicting squatters.

Orangi Pilot Project in Karachi


(2) Supporting Participatory and

Accountability Mechanisms



The need for local participation with

accountability

Formal government programs and the

interests of people living in informal

settlements: mismatch between

administrative and legal reforms and

grassroots realities


Naga City, Philippines: Citizens’ Charter

Mumbai: an online complaint

management system to elicit immediate

feedback from the public

Seoul: Integrity System to promote on-

line procurement and combat corruption


National, regional and global cooperative

networks have grown that enable interested

individuals to exchange ideas, best practice

and lessons learned, sharing them with

municipal officials, administrators and

researchers

UCLG Asia-Pacific; CityNet Asia


(3) The need for the devolution of

power and authority to urban local

governments with revenue raising

and human resource capacity


In Asia, policy statements about urban

decentralization encompass

comprehensive objectives, but in

practice do not blend political devolution

and power-sharing with financial and

administrative capacity of local

governments as catalysts for urban

development


Four cases in Asia Indonesia: “Big Bang” decentralization with expanding

roles of urban local governments

China: Fiscal decentralization as contributor to the rapid

economic growth

India: participatory mechanisms but insignificant funding

and policy authority

Pakistan: Empowering Provinces after 18th Amendment

(4) Urban Land and Housing


Existing laws, zoning regulations, and

policies impede efficient use of land; the

laws and regulations are generally anti-

street, anti-pedestrian, anti-mixed land

use, anti-high use, and anti-public space

LGs and DA use these laws and

regulations to increase revenue


Singapore, the Republic of Korea, and China, have

implemented public housing projects as part of

government housing policies and their vigorous

pursuit of slum-free cities

Civil society has promoted community-led housing

development in Cambodia, India, Indonesia,

Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, Sri

Lanka and Thailand.


(5) Access to Urban Service


Deficiencies in access to basic urban

services, including water supply and

sanitation, urban shelter, waste

management, energy, transport and

health


• Need coordination in managing urban

services, as functionally orientated

government departments compete with

geographically truncated urban

governments

• Driving necessity of collaborative

governance


(6) The Need to Focus on Small

and Intermediate-Sized Cities and

Peri-Urban areas


Asian experience shows that highest rate

of urban growth is in small and

intermediate sized cities

Therefore, the need is to empower them

to manage their own development to

stimulate development in rural areas


Coping with Peri-Urban Issues

Unclear jurisdictions of peri-urban areas

Ecological footprints of cities to spill-over into the

peripheries

Weak or non-existing mechanisms for citizen

engagement in service delivery and access

Multi-agency consultation mechanisms

Factors Affecting Governance

Performance and Way Forward

The Way Forward to Achieve SDGs

Politics: Build the urban local

governments with political

participation and accountability

mechanisms

Finances: Expand resource base of

urban local government to make them

catalyst for local development

The Way Forward

Administration: Strength local capacity,

evidence-based planning, development controls

and coordination

Social Inclusion: Promote an inclusive urban

society with focus on informal settlements,

gender equity, youth engagement and local

partnerships ;

Urban hierarchy: Include small cities and peri-

urban areas in an integrated urban development

framework

Thank You

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