Human Rights in Uncertain Democracies: Rethinking Governance in Asia with Special Reference to India

The changing relationship between democracy, governance and human rights in Asia in general and India in particular has been debated across the world. Asian democracies are experiencing significant political, social, economic, technological and geopolitical transformations that are reshaping institutions, citizenship, participation, and the protection of fundamental rights.
India as the world’s largest electoral democracy which provides an important case for understanding these developments because its constitutional framework combines democratic representation with fundamental rights, judicial review, federalism, secularism, equality, and the rule of law. At the same time, contemporary debates concerning civil liberties, freedom of expression, minority rights, institutional accountability, digital surveillance, social inequality, and the shrinking space for dissent raise important questions about the resilience and inclusiveness of democratic governance.
The proposed panel explores whether electoral democracy alone is adequate to ensure substantive human rights and democratic accountability. It seeks to examine how institutions such as legislatures, courts, human rights commissions, civil society, media, and political parties contribute to protecting rights and strengthening democratic resilience.
Particular attention will be given to constitutionalism, decline in democratic norms, minority and marginalized-group rights, gender equality, freedom of expression, media freedom, digital rights, artificial intelligence, migration, social and economic rights, environmental justice, and access to justice. The theme also encourages comparative perspectives from other Asian countries to identify common challenges, diverse institutional responses, and possible pathways for democratic renewal.
The papers on following sub-themes are invited:
- Digital Surveillance and Right to Privacy
- Dynamics of Electoral Democracy in Asian Democratic Nations
- Freedom of Expression ,Media Freedom and Democratic Norms in India
- The Role of Electoral Democracy in Human Rights
- Constitutionalism and Legislation in India
- Human Rights and Migration in South Asia
- Right to Life and Environmental Justice
- Minority and Human Rights in Bangladesh
- The Social, Economic and Digital Rights in South Korea