In recent years, it has been pointed out that numerous countries throughout the world, including Asian countries, face a “crisis of democracy.” Japan has been working to strengthen its ties with other Asian countries in a variety of areas, including military affairs; understanding how the concept of democracy is reflected in the foreign and security policies of these countries therefore represents an urgent issue for Japan's future. 

In considering the crisis of democracy in Asian countries, we can identify three common threads with European politics. The first is the dissolution of the existing political order. In European countries, the existing two major political parties are losing support due to issues such as globalization and the hollowing-out of domestic industry. This dissolution and transformation of the party order can also be seen in Asian countries. Second, we can observe an expansion of populist politics, which rejects rule “from above” and seeks to institute a politics “from below.” Populism as a force has recently been gaining ground in Europe and the United States, mobilizing support among unaffiliated voters for anti-establishment politics and political parties. A similar trend can be seen in countries such as Pakistan and Thailand. The third common thread is the political role of religion. In many European countries, Christian democratic parties are the dominant political parties, and Christian views regarding society and the state have been reflected in their policies. Religion has a similar political importance in Asian countries, but in countries such as India and Myanmar, an increasing “religionization” of politics is leading to religious chauvinism.

Given that Asia is a major center of growth, political instability in the region has an international impact. How Japan engages with Asia, and how it appeals to and develops the concept of democracy will be the key to the nation’s future.

*This is a translation of a paper originally published in Japanese in February, 2025.