This event will explore the wave of recent major political protests across several Asian countries. We hope to cover the themes of authoritarianism, populism, corruption, dynastic politics and crisis of political authority and legitimacy as well as intergenerational inequality, discontent surrounding labour, employment and education, and the role of social media and new political idioms. The discussion will include: Bangladesh, Indonesia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, South Korea, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.
Programme
9.15 am - 12.30 pm
Chris Chaplin (London School of Economics)
Political Dynasties and Protest in the Digital Age: Platformed Youth, Legitimacy, and Indonesia’s 2025 Protests.
David Jackman (Oxford Department of International Development)
The Politics Behind Bangladesh's Gen-Z Revolution: Corruption, Youth Crisis and the Military
Adnan Nassemullah (Oxford School of Global and Area Studies)
Redeeming the Establishment? Naya vs Purana Pakistan
Nyi Nyi Kyaw (University of Bristol)
Hybridity, Progressiveness, Radicalism: Rethinking Resistance in Myanmar’s Spring Revolution
Oliver Walton and Waradas Thiyagaraja, (University of Bath)
From the Street to the System: The Aragalaya, Political Change and Marginalised Groups in Post-2022 Sri Lanka
1.30 pm - 4.15 pm
Fraser Sugden (University of Birmingham)
Youth protest in Nepal, migration and the agrarian question
Tat Yan Kong (School of Oriental and African Studies, London)
The failure of labour inclusion in South Korea and its implications
Duncan McCargo (Nanyang Technological University, Singapore)
‘Let it End in Our Generation’: Beyond Thailand’s 2020 Youth Protests
Richard Javad Heydarian (Blavatnik School of Government, Oxford)
Political Economy of Corruption”: Authoritarian vs Liberal Populism in the Philippines
General Discussion
Programme
9.15 am - 12.30 pm
Chris Chaplin (London School of Economics)
Political Dynasties and Protest in the Digital Age: Platformed Youth, Legitimacy, and Indonesia’s 2025 Protests.
David Jackman (Oxford Department of International Development)
The Politics Behind Bangladesh's Gen-Z Revolution: Corruption, Youth Crisis and the Military
Adnan Nassemullah (Oxford School of Global and Area Studies)
Redeeming the Establishment? Naya vs Purana Pakistan
Nyi Nyi Kyaw (University of Bristol)
Hybridity, Progressiveness, Radicalism: Rethinking Resistance in Myanmar’s Spring Revolution
Oliver Walton and Waradas Thiyagaraja, (University of Bath)
From the Street to the System: The Aragalaya, Political Change and Marginalised Groups in Post-2022 Sri Lanka
1.30 pm - 4.15 pm
Fraser Sugden (University of Birmingham)
Youth protest in Nepal, migration and the agrarian question
Tat Yan Kong (School of Oriental and African Studies, London)
The failure of labour inclusion in South Korea and its implications
Duncan McCargo (Nanyang Technological University, Singapore)
‘Let it End in Our Generation’: Beyond Thailand’s 2020 Youth Protests
Richard Javad Heydarian (Blavatnik School of Government, Oxford)
Political Economy of Corruption”: Authoritarian vs Liberal Populism in the Philippines
General Discussion