Public Governance in Asia and the Limits of Electoral Democracy

Edited by Brian Bridges, formerly Professor, Department of Political Science, Lingnan University and Lok Sang Ho, Dean, Faculty of Business, Chu Hai College of Higher Education , Hong Kong

This book documents the search for a workable model of democracy in Asia. It begins with two conceptual chapters that explore the role of electoral democracy as a governance mechanism in the light of other governance mechanisms, then reviews the various forms of Asian democracy, including those that many may consider to be in name rather than in substance, that have been practiced to date, and indicates where these models may have failed or succeeded. Underpinned by extensive case studies, valuable insights into governance and democracy in Asia – arguably one of the most fascinating and dynamic regions in the world – are provided.

‘The global financial crisis has demonstrated that good governance is not guaranteed by democracy; it has also shown that the capacity of electoral democracies to manage major issues of public policy has varied widely. This excellent comparative collection probes these questions through analysis of ten political systems in Asia, all of which have experienced major changes in recent years. By focussing on the concept of public governance as the key to preventing abuses of power and promoting the public interest, Bridges, Ho and their co-authors have moved the debate on Asian democratization beyond the narrow focus on electoral machinery to the wider issue of governance as the principal means to serve the public good.’
– James Cotton, Australian Defence Force Academy, Australia