This book examines democratic struggle, namely resistance to authoritarianism and the potential for democratic revival, across Myanmar, Thailand, and beyond. Focused particularly on Asia, it brings together scholars researching displacement, media, human rights, armed conflict, and foreign policy, pairing in-depth country case studies with comparative regional analysis to trace how democracy erodes and endures under strain.

Organised into three parts, the volume moves from Myanmar’s post-coup crises — including the 2021 military coup, conflict, and atrocities — to Thailand’s guided-democracy regime, youth protest movements, and online disinformation, before widening to Laos, Bangladesh, Japan, South Korea, Mongolia, and the United States. Further chapters offer regional reflections — ranging from ASEAN’s response to Myanmar to youth movements across Asia.

A timely companion for readers, students, practitioners, and scholars tracking Myanmar, Thailand, and Asia’s fight to defend democracy.

Catherine Renshaw is Professor and Dean of the School of Law at Western Sydney University. Her research focuses on Southeast Asia, regionalism, human rights, democratisation, and Myanmar. Her recent books include Human Rights and Participatory Politics in Southeast Asia (2019) and Nonsense on Stilts? Rescuing Human Rights in Australia (2019).

Chosein Yamahata is Professor of Global and Area Studies at the Graduate School of Policy Studies, Aichi Gakuin University, Japan, specialising in Burma/Myanmar, ASEAN in the Indo-Pacific, democratisation, and human security. He co-edited Youth, Community, and Democracy in India, Myanmar, and Thailand (2025) with Makiko Takeda, published by Palgrave Macmillan. 

Takashi Tsukamoto is Associate Professor in the Faculty of Foreign Language Studies at Seinan Gakuin University, Japan. He previously held teaching and administrative roles at Thammasat University, Yamanashi Gakuin University, Meiji University, and Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University. His research focuses on international and comparative politics in the Asia-Pacific region.