Contributor(s): Professor Conor Gearty, Raymond Li, Professor Danny Quah, Isabella Steger | The Umbrella Revolution has re-ignited a global debate on democracy. Why have the dynamics in this small ex British Colony captured the imagination of the world? Conor Gearty (@conorgearty) is Director of the Institute of Public Affairs and Professor of Human Rights Law at LSE. Raymond Li is BBC Chinese Editor since 2009. Danny Quah (@DannyQuah) is Director of the Saw Swee Hock Southeast Asia Centre and Professor of Economics and International Development at LSE. Isabella Steger (@stegersaurus) reports for the Wall Street Journal in Hong Kong. Dr Mukulika Banerjee is Associate Professor in LSE’s Department of Anthropology and Director Designate for LSE’s South Asia Centre. The Institute of Public Affairs (@LSEPubAffairs) is one of the world's leading centres of public policy. We aim to debate and address some of the major issues of our time, whether international or national, through our established teaching programmes, our research and our highly innovative public-engagement initiatives. Established in 2014, the Saw Swee Hock Southeast Asia Centre (@LSESEAC) is an inter-disciplinary, regionally-focused academic centre within the LSE. Building on the School's deep academic and historical connections with Southeast Asia, the Centre serves as a hub at LSE for public debate and engagement, and research dissemination on issues relevant to the region.