Elite Capture in Asia, drawing on experiences of eight Asian countries, explores the functioning of power in practice to demonstrate how public policy across South and Southeast Asia is influenced, directed, and often subverted by elites whose interests diverge from the broader public good. The book also makes efforts to venture beyond the state of elite capture to explore instances of resistance, reform, and potential for addressing the problem. Researchers in political economy, public policy, and development, policymakers and practitioners, students and engaged citizens can benefit from the empirical studies used in the book. This volume does not offer a single model or universal solution. Instead, it advances a shared analytical lens for understanding the extent of the challenge of policy capture and its consequences. The book aims to contribute to ongoing debates about governance in South and Southeast Asia.

Ahmed Shafiqul Huque is Professor of Political Science at McMaster University (Canada). His research and teaching interests are in public administration and management, public policy, development, South Asian government and politics, governance and climate change. He has published thirteen books and numerous research articles in leading international journals including Public Administration Review, Governance, Public Management Review, International Review of Administrative Sciences, International Journal of Public Administration, Journal of Comparative and Comparative Politics, Pacific Affairs and Asian Survey. Dr. Huque was the Editor-in-Chief of the journal Public Administration and Policy, and Contributing Editor for Southeast Asia for the on-line Encyclopedia of Public Administration and Policy. He has provided consulting services to various organizations including the Companies Registry of Hong Kong Government, United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA) and Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA) and assessed grant applications for NORAD and DFID.

Ma. Victoria R. Raquiza is Professor of the National College of Public Administration and Governance (NCPAG), University of the Philippines Diliman, where she teaches courses on poverty, inequality, the developmental state and governance as well as on social policy.  She received her MA degree in Development Studies from the Institute of Social Studies, The Hague, Netherlands, where her thesis garnered a distinction award. Her PhD degree was obtained from the City University of Hong Kong where her dissertation problematized Philippine underdevelopment and the role of the state in promoting inclusive development at both economic and social spheres.

Mohammad Mizanur Rahman is a civil service practitioner with 27 years of professional experience. As a pracademic he has published books, book chapters and articles. His books are Development Agenda and Donor Influence in South Asia (Routledge, 2018) and Foreign Aid and Bangladesh: Donor Relations and Realpolitik (Routledge, 2024). Currently he leads the South Asian Network for Public Administration (SANPA) as its Secretary-General.