⚡️ NEW WORKING PAPER

Can constitutional courts resist autocracies on the rise worldwide? What factors boost or impede their resilience? These are the questions addressed by this NB new Demoptimism Working Paper by Gábor Halmai, Ágnes Kovács and Max Steuer

➡️ www.demoptimism.org/working-paper-series

⚡ CAN THIS IDEA SAVE AMERICAN DEMOCRACY?

On International Day of Democracy I am delighted to announce the re-launch of the ERRN Working Paper series. Don’t miss our re-launch paper: ‘The Australian to Save American Democracy - and America’s Potential to Return the Favour’
▶️ go.unimelb.edu.au/8d3p

⚡ BOLSONARO'S VERDICT: WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR BRAZIL, AND THE WORLD?

The verdict is in: #Bolsonaro has been sentenced to 27 years for his attempted coup d'état in 2023. in our latest Demoptimism Update we reflect on what the verdict means for repairing democracy in #Brazil.

➡️ shorturl.at/GjTho

⚡ DEMOCRACY NEEDS CHAMPIONS

With autocrats wreaking havoc worldwide, #democracy needs champions. We also need to more fully recognise the courage and leadership of those who have done the hard work of standing up for democratic values when times are tough.

➡️ shorturl.at/17Kli

Just realised it's 20 years to the day since I started working for the Chief Justice of Ireland. How can it be that long ago? I was a very green 25-year-old, but wow I learned a lot in the following 6 years. Here we are on an official visit to the Supreme Court of Canada in April 2011

My report overview was followed by a lively Q&A session with representatives of almost 20 embassies.

Key members of the International IDEA team also attended: Leena Rikkilä Tamang (Asia-Pacific Director); and Dr Anna Dziedzic (Programme Officer, Constitution Building Processes, and session chair).

I was honoured to be hosted by the Embassy of #Switzerland in #Thailand for a Diplomatic Briefing on the new report I authored for @internationalidea.bsky.social on #Democracy in #Asia (lnkd.in/gyB9mGku).

#democracy #Asia #resilience

➡️ Focusing on Resistance and Resilience

The report concludes with reflections on enhancing institutional resilience to counter governmental attacks, as well as suggestions for a research and policy agenda in this space.

#democracy #Asia #democraticbacksliding #resilience

➡️ 8 Case Studies

The report analyses 8 countries — India, Indonesia, Mongolia, the Philippines, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan and Thailand — to capture the patterns, dynamics and diversity of democratic challenges facing countries in Asia, which both align with, and depart from, global trends.

If constitutional law can be used to erode a democratic system, can it also be used to make it more resilient? My new intensive Master's subject, starting April, will analyse case studies incl the USA, Australia, Sweden, Brazil, India, S.Korea and Poland
▶️ handbook.unimelb.edu.au/subjects/law...

You can see the end of our tribute here, where we encourage other scholars to engage with his work:

Today is the anniversary of my dear friend Dr Julius Yam, who left us far too early on 19 March 2024. He was such a warm, fiercely intelligent, and wickedly funny man. Many of us are working to make sure that he and his leading work are remembered in the field of comparative constitutional studies.

2024 was a very busy and mixed year, but more than anything it will always be the year that we lost our dear friend Julius Yam. Thinking of you my friend and wish you could be here with us still.

#friends #2024

Our final Demoptimism newsletter of the year is on ‘Entrenching Democracy: 
How is Democracy Built, Maintained and Kept?’
⚡️New open-access book
⚡️Sample chapters
⚡️Op-ed on Syria
⚡️Updated South Korea InfoHub
shorturl.at/S5IDZ

The day has arrived! Looking forward to kicking off the 2-day Electoral Regulation Forum today www.elecregforum.org. Such a great group of practitioners and scholars to discuss challenges, opportunities and innovation.
➡️ Don’t miss our public panel at 6pm Melbourne time today: go.unimelb.edu.au/h7k8

JOIN US ONLINE

For this panel discussion on lies + elections: an issue worldwide

🗓️ Monday 2 Dec

Melbourne 6-7.30pm

International times (all 2 Dec)
New Delhi 12.30-2pm
London 7-8.30am
Cape Town 9-10.30am
New York 2-3.30am
Brasília 4-5.30am

➡️ Register go.unimelb.edu.au/mb98

We’re legit now we’re on the Law School events screen - and look at the beautiful foyer where we’ll have a reception beforehand
🗓️ Monday 2 December 18.00-19.30 (Melbourne)
➡️ Register go.unimelb.edu.au/mb98
🌎 You can also join online
#elections #democracy #auspol #auscon

Hello Bluesky!
I've finally joined. My first post is to tell you about this NB event. Join us at Melbourne Law School for what promises to be a compelling panel discussion on lies, law and elections, moderated by Jon Faine.
🗓️ Monday 2 Dec 18.00-19.30 (Melbourne)
➡️ Register go.unimelb.edu.au/mb98