112WATCH interviews James Gomez of Asia Centre on his mission to promote democracy and human rights in Asia
The Regional Director of Asia Centre analyzes the February 2026 Thai elections as a consolidation of "electoral authoritarianism," where conservative forces successfully leveraged nationalist sentiment and local patronage to secure a mandate.
April 13, 2026
This shift has led to the "securitization" of politics, shrinking civic space and increasing hostility toward marginalized groups and neighbors like Cambodia. In response, the Asia Centre employs a "hybrid approach" rooted in "freedom from academia," producing independent, civil society-led research to bridge the gap between grassroots activism and policy impact while maintaining financial and intellectual autonomy.
Read the interview below –
