ABSTRACT
The chapters in this volume show that while deliberative politics is taking root in many Asian countries, it remains an open question as to whether deliberative democracy is also growing. Deliberative forms of politics have many advantages for political leaders, particularly within fast-developing contexts. Through organised talk, leaders can manage ethnic and other forms of conflict, co-opt resistance, gain information and often develop better public policies. Whether these effects underwrite democracy is another question. The chapters in this volume illustrate a full range of possibilities, advancing not only our comparative understanding of deliberative democracy, but also new and more resilient forms of authoritarianism.
