ABSTRACT
Electoral debates take place in a wide range of democracies outside Europe and the Americas. The countries included here have adopted electoral debates as a regular practice in regions in which democratic elections are more the exception than the norm. Although both countries share core democratic values, to a noteworthy degree the incumbent candidate in New Zealand wields a great deal of influence over such matters as debate format and production details. In Japan, despite a stable electoral history, debates experienced a 30-year hiatus after one candidate was assassinated during a televised debate in 1960. Debates in both cases have acquired a prominent status for candidates and voters alike. They have incorporated new communication platforms to enhance inclusiveness among the public. In a similar vein the Philippines has also adopted a forward-looking approach while making social networks a major ally of televised debates.
