In September 2025, "Gen-Z Protests" fueled by frustrations with governance, corruption and economic opportunity toppled Nepal's government. As the country's interim leaders prepare for March elections, questions remain about addressing the root causes of youth frustration. The country has made substantial progress since its civil war, but much work remains. Dr. Annamaria Prati (New York University) joins the pod to discuss her research on strengthening state capacity through monitoring by local community leaders.

For more on Annamaria's research see: https://afprati.github.io/

Newly-arrived CAD doctoral fellow Khasan Redjaboev joins the pod to discuss his research on governance in Central Asia, with a special focus on Soviet colonial legacies in the region. What are the prospects for democratization in the region, and how do regimes maintain their legitimacy? How do Soviet-era agricultural policies continue to impact the region's politics, especially related to gender? How has China's geopolitical rise recast the region's politics? Khasan's research brings this diverse region into focus.

Why did the Dalai Lama's 90th birthday celebrations get international headlines? The observances involved not only communal celebration, but also important announcements from the Dalai Lama about his future reincarnation, a matter of both spiritual and political significance. The future of the Dalai Lama is central not only to the Tibetan community, but also to Chinese interests and the balance of power in Asia. Dr. Tenzin Dorjee (Columbia University) joins the pod to discuss how his research helps make sense of the Dalai Lama's 90th birthday.

For more on Tendor's research see:

https://www.foreignaffairs.com/china/beijings-dangerous-game-tibet

https://www.nonviolent-conflict.org/blog_post/dying-in-the-truth-closer-look-at-self-immolations-freedom-struggles/

https://www.tenzindorjee.net/

Why have protests provoked a violent reaction from Indonesia's government in the past month, and what does this teach us about the health of democracy in the world's largest Muslim-majority country? Protests drew on long-standing popular frustrations, but focused particular ire on proposed policy changes by President Prabowo Subianto. Prabowo has shuffled his cabinet in the face of popular anger, but questions remain about the long-term impact of the protest movement. Dr. Alexander Arifianto (S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies at Nanyang Technological University) joins the pod to discuss how his research helps make sense of democracy's prospects in this Southeast Asian giant.

For more of Dr. Arifianto's work, see his website: https://rsis.edu.sg/profile/alexander-raymond-arifianto/

How do Buddhist monks impact politics across South and Southeast Asia? Buddhist nationalist movements have fueled democratic backsliding in places like Myanmar. Yet monks were among the pro-democracy protesters in Sri Lanka in 2022, setting the stage for that country's surprising 2024 elections. Other monastics may limit their political activities, for diverse reasons. Prof. Benjamin Schonthal (University of Otago) joins the pod to discuss how his work on "sangha capture" and legal pluralism can help make sense of the diverse roles of Buddhist clergy in the region's politics.

For more information on Prof. Schonthal's publications, see: https://otago.academia.edu/BenSchonthal

For our deep dive on the 2024 Sri Lanka presidential election, listen to: https://rss.com/podcasts/cadpodcast/1685690

In early May, voters in the Philippines will head to the polls for the country's midterm elections. These races are always seen as a referendum on the incumbent president, and this year, they take on added importance given the pending impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte and the detention of her father, former-president Rodrigo Duterte, at the International Criminal Court. Prof. Nicole Curato (University of Birmingham) joins the pod to discuss the forces shaping the campaign's final stages, as well as how her work on deliberative democracy speaks to opportunities for strengthening institutions in these challenging times.

In early December, South Korea President Yoon Suk Yeol shocked the world by declaring martial law. The declaration was swiftly challenged in the legislature and reversed by the administration. Impeachment and criminal charges now face Yoon, and the country confronts entrenched polarization. Prof. Sanghoon Kim-Leffingwell, Assistant Professor at the University of North Texas, joins the pod to discuss the fallout from martial law, and how "authoritarian nostalgia" shapes the country's democracy.

Episode image by Hashflu under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.

In late-November, several dozen pro-democracy activists received criminal sentences in Hong Kong. Pro-democracy media mogul Jimmy Lai is in the midst of his individual criminal trial. The trials and convictions reflect the latest stage of Beijing's crackdown, which reached a new stage under the 2020 national security law. Dr. Yan-ho Lai (Eric), research fellow at Georgetown Center for Asian Law (GCAL), joins the pod to discuss the trials and the potential for resistance through the legal system in Hong Kong.

On October 27th, Japan’s voters headed to the polls for a snap election called by the ruling coalition. The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), the country’s governing party and dominant power, under-achieved, dogged by financial scandal and low voter enthusiasm. Prof. Charles McClean (Yale University) joins the pod to discuss the likely future of the LDP coalition, the opposition politicians who had the most to gain from the results, and what the election has to teach us about questions of youth participation and representation in the rapidly-aging country.

In August 2021, Kabul fell to Taliban forces, as the militant groups finalized its return to power in Afghanistan. Three years later, how does Taliban governance compare to earlier periods in power? And what lessons are to be learned from the failure of the republic period in the country? Dr. Omar Sharifi (University of Minnesota, Humphrey School of Public Affairs) joins the pod with CAD research fellow Riaz Nassiry to analyze Taliban rule and reflect on his work in Afghanistan to strengthen democracy.