This book examines what citizens think about governance and democracy and the actual practices of governments in Asia, one of the most dynamic and divergent regions of the world. Using public opinion surveys and other evidence, the authors investigate such topics as government perception, human rights, democracy, and political development for a total of seven countries located in East, Southeast, and South Asia-China, India, Japan, Malaysia, South Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand. Governance and Democracy in Asia contains detailed country studies, extensive cross-country comparisons, and a wealth of new data. It will appeal to scholars and students of Asian politics, public opinion, political development, and democratization.

About Editors and Authors

INOGUCHI Takashi is Former President of the University of Niigata Prefecture, Professor Emeritus at the University of Tokyo and Eminent Scholar-Professor at J.F. Oberlin University (Tokyo). He obtained a PhD in Political Science from MIT in 1974, and his career has seen him serve as Member of the UN Headquarters Strategic Planning Committee and Assistant Secretary General of the United Nations assigned to the United Nations University Headquarters. He writes prolifically on Japan, Asia’s quality of life and international affairs. He received the prestigious Suntory Prize for Social Sciences and Humanities in 1982 for his book on the international political economy.