We are pleased to announce and invite you to join us for this year’s Panel Discussion 1, taking place on Friday, November 21 at Yasuda Auditorium, UTokyo.

｜Exploring Democracy and Capitalism｜

Panel Discussion 1
Prosperity Without Democracy: Rethinking Modernization Theory in the 21st Century

Modernization theory posits that economic growth fosters democracy. Yet recent global developments cast doubt on this assumption. Non-democratic regimes such as China and Vietnam have achieved sustained growth, while countries like India and Turkey have experienced democratic backsliding. Even within established democracies, far-right parties have been gaining ground. In much of the Global South, hybrid regimes that combine electoral practices with authoritarian measures are increasingly prevalent, further complicating the relationship between prosperity and democracy. This session reconsiders the contemporary relevance of modernization theory and examines new perspectives on the evolving interplay between capitalism and political systems.

| Moderator |
MUKOYAMA Naosuke
Associate Professor, Institute for Future Initiatives, the University of Tokyo

| Panelists |
Erica FRANTZ
Associate Professor, Political Science, Michigan State University

KIM Sunhyuk
Professor, Department of Public Administration, Korea University

KAWANAKA Takeshi
Professor, Faculty of International Relations, Asia University

AKO Tomoko
Professor, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, the University of Tokyo