Elections in Indo-Pacific: 2019: Introduction to the Special Issue
| Author | Purnendra Jain |
| Published date | 01 March 2020 |
| DOI | 10.1177/2057891120907750 |
| Date | 01 March 2020 |
| Subject Matter | Editorial |
Editorial
Elections in Indo-Pacific:
2019: Introduction to the
Special Issue
Purnendra Jain
University of Adelaide, Australia
Abstract
This special issue presents analyses of the elections in India, Japan, Thailand, the Philippines and
Australia, each written by a specialist with extensive experience of domestic politics and elections
in their country of study. These articles offer detail and rich analysis of the elections in the five
Indo- Pacific countries, all held in 2019. The analyses presented in this issue reveal some clear
trends emerging from these elections. First, the ruling parties in each of these countries were
returned to power or given endorsements, producing continuity in government. Second, in most
cases the opposition forces seem frail and divided. Third, on the Asian political landscape, as in
many other countries around the world, conservative nationalist and right-wing populist leaders
dominate national politics.
Keywords
elections 2019, India, Japan, Australia, Thailand and the Philippines
In 2019, elections were conducted in a number of nations in Indo-Pacific. This special issue
presents analyses of the elections in India, Japan, Thailand, the Philippines and Australia,
each written by a specialist with extensive experience of domestic politics and elections in
their country of study.
1
The elections discussed in this special issue vary in scope from the
general elections in India and Thailand, and the upper house election in Japan, to the mid-
term elections in the Philippines, and the House of Representatives election in Australia. Only
some of these elections have a direct impact on national government formation, but the results
of all serve as barometers of the mood of the electorate endorsing or opposing the national
government.
Corresponding author:
Purnendra Jain, Department of Asian Studies, University of Adelaide, Australia, 5005.
Email: purnendra.jain@adelaide.edu.au
Asian Journal of Comparative Politics
2020, Vol. 5(1) 3–5
ªThe Author(s) 2020
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DOI: 10.1177/2057891120907750
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