You are cordially invited to join the United States Studies Centre (USSC) at the University of Sydney and National Endowment for Democracy (NED) for a special event to hear from leaders across the region to learn about the state-of-play for democracy and how aligned countries can work together. The event will feature a keynote address followed by a panel discussion.
Keynote address
Australian economist Professor Sean Turnell spent much of his professional career studying the Myanmar economy and moved there to advise State Counsellor of Myanmar Aung San Suu Kyi. After the February 2021 coup d’état toppled that democratically- elected government and the military assumed control of the country, Turnell was detained and imprisoned for nearly two years along with nearly 6,000 others while more than 800 people were killed in the violent uprising.
Panel discussion: Regional approaches to supporting democracy
- Ambassador Yukio Takasu, Chair, Future of Democracy Study Project and Former Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations
- Dr Sook Jong Lee, President Emeritus, Senior Fellow and Professor of Public Administration, Sungkyunkwan University
- Dr Henry Ivarature, Deputy Director, Strategic Engagement, Australia Pacific Security College, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University
- Moderated by Dr Michael Green, CEO, United States Studies Centre
The panel will report on the Sydney round of the Sunnylands Initiative co-sponsored by the NED and USSC to assess the state of democracy in the Indo-Pacific and identify pathways to strengthen democratic partnership. Other participants in the conversation will include representatives of Freedom House, the International Republican Institute, the National Democratic Institute, and thought leaders from across the Indo-Pacific.
What are the biggest threats to democracy in the Indo-Pacific and what are the stakes? How can regional democracies work together to advance democratic aims?
Register now to reserve your spot.
