Democracy and development models in Asia: Theory and Practice

The conference brought together many scientists from well-known Australian universities such as Prof.John Keane from (Sydney Democracy Network, University of Sydney, Australia); Prof. Nguyen Hong Hai (Queensland University, Australia); Dr Kim Huynh (Australian National University) etc. The Vietnamese scholars participating in this conference were Assoc.Prof.Dr Pham Quang Minh (Vice Rector of USSH, VNU); Prof. Hoang Chi Bao (Vietnam's Central Theoretical Committee); Prof. Luu Van Sung (Ho Chi Minh National Political Academy) etc.

Prof. John Keane, Sydney Democracy Network, University of Sydney, Australia had a speech 

The conference is an occasion for Vietnamese and international scientists to meet and have academic discussions about important issues of democratic promotion in the context of international integration. Flat world is no longer a new concept, and yet there are still barriers and obstacles to the development of countries and humanity. To create a sustainable and connected world, scientists today have to discuss solutions to solve the remaining problems and bring the countries closer. This was emphasized by Assoc.Prof.Dr Pham Quang Minh.

Assoc.Prof.Dr Pham Quang Minh presented his paper "From Economic Liberalization to Political Democratization: Vietnamese Case"

The conference took place on two days with eight panels surrounding the following issues:

"Asia and Democracy" with the following papers: Francis Fukuyama’s Challenge to Theories of Democratization; National sovereignty and popular sovereignty; Democracy and human rights in the historical development process; Towards a democracy in Southeast Asia; From Thailand to Vietnam: the process of democratization and its impact on a developing country.

The topic of “Democracy in Vietnam” was divided in three panels, with 15 papers such as: Implementing democracy and promoting people’s mastery of it in the context of innovation and international integration of Vietnam; Improving the institution for implementing democracy in Vietnam today; The foundation of the political thought “people are the bases” in Vietnam; Civil society and the implementation of the people’s mastery in Vietnam.

The topic of “Perspectives on democracy in Asia”: Representative Democracy and Confucian Political Thought; The models of democracy in Indonesia, 1945-2014 – From Parliamentary Democracy to Guided Democracy, Pancasila Democracy and New Democracy; Experience against corruption of Singapore and suggestion for Vietnam; Some political changes in Southeast Asia today.

The topic of “Political institutions and democracy” was divided into 2 panels and had 10 papers such as: The Role of Vietnam Fatherland Front in Regime Building; The state institutions of ASEAN countries; Agricultural production with social structure and behavioral culture in Southeast Asia, etc.

The last theme involves communication, technology and democracy. The notable papers were: Technology and the Power of Weakness: A Chinese Perspective, The press and the formation of public sphere in Vietnam: history and present; Solutions for promoting the people’s mastery of democracy in the period of international integration of Vietnam today; The role of political communication in upholding democracy in Vietnam today, etc.