Democracy, Human Rights and Big Power Competition
Introduction
Welcome to the Global Governance Perspective, a podcast presented by the Global Governance Institution. I am retired Captain Andy TIAN, the Founder and President of the Global Governance Institution.
On December 9 and 10. The U.S. President Biden convened a virtual “Summit for Democracy” to show the U.S. leadership. While which countries were invited reflects American politics more than democratic values, It is no secret that the United States seeks to build a global coalition of democracies to counter China. In addition to State actors, NGOs are not wasting this opportunity to raise theirs profiles. UK lawyer Sir Geoffrey Nice QC delivered the Uyghur Tribunal’s judgment on December 9th. Is this a mere coincidence or a well-coordinated and concerted effort of the West to disrupt and contain the rise of China under the umbrella of the Summit for Democracy? How much will the big power competition play up for Biden’s summit for democracy？What do different countries, regions and NGOs make of the summit? Is Joe Biden’s Summit for Democracy all that democratic?
To answer all those and other related questions, in collaboration with the CNIA, Center for New Inclusive Asia, a Malaysia-based Think Tank, the Global Governance Institution hold a virtual international event on Democracy, Human Rights and Big Power Competition whereby we invited a great group of serious international scholars to join us for an answer.
I divided this event into two episodes. The first episode deals with the Geopolitical approach to the Summit. The second episode will analyze the legal approach of the Summit for Democracy by taking the Uyghur Tribunal’s judgement as an example. Now let’s listen to the first part of the conversation with a group of serious scholars.
Agenda (Session 1)
Moderator:
- Mr. Xu Qinduo (Distinguished Research Fellow, Centre for New Inclusive Asia)
0. Welcome Address by Mr. Koh King Kee (President, Centre for New Inclusive Asia, Malaysia)
1. Geopolitical Approach to Human Rights, Democracy and Big Power Competition
1.1 Human Rights, Democracy, and Big Power Competition — EU and Russian Perspectives
- Dr Gal Luft
(Co-director, Institute for the Analysis of Global Security, Washington, USA Professor at Ostim Technical University, Turkey)
1.2 Democracy, Middle-Power Muslim Countries and Big Power Competition — ASEAN and Muslim Perspectives
- Dr. Chandra Muzaffar
(President of the International Movement for a Just World (JUST), Malaysia Admiral)
- Prof. Jayanath Colombage
(Director General, Institute of National Security, Sri Lanka)
Timeline
00:19 Introduction
04:00 Welcome Address by Mr. Koh King Kee
11:39 Dr Gal Luft
24:48 Dr. Chandra Muzaffar
39:40 Prof. Jayanath Colombage
47:15 Ending
For more information about Global Governance Institution and the transcript of this episode, visit www.gginstitution.org and follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube.
Background Music: Behind the sword - Alexander Nakarada
Editor: Jiang Lin
