Henning Glaser, Director of CPG, had the pleasure of meeting Professor Andreas Klinke of the Environmental Policy Institute at Memorial University of Newfoundland for an extensive academic exchange on August 4.

The discussion centered on Professor Klinke’s current research project on cosmopolitanism, governance and democracy in Asia. It explored how cosmopolitan ideas are understood in different Asian political and cultural contexts and how they relate to questions of political community, sovereignty and regional cooperation.

A second focus was the changing role of ASEAN and APEC amid geopolitical fragmentation and Asia’s growing importance in the international order. The exchange considered how both institutions are affected by intensifying strategic competition, whether their existing structures remain suited to changing regional conditions, and how they can continue to support cooperation across political and economic divides.

The discussion also addressed the pressures currently facing liberal democracy and the question of how democratic institutions can be reformed while preserving their constitutional foundations. Particular attention was given to political legitimacy, institutional resilience and the capacity of established democratic structures to respond to technological, social and geopolitical change.

CPG thanks Professor Klinke for the stimulating discussion and looks forward to continuing the exchange.