Vertical Accountability in Asia: Cases from India, Indonesia, Mongolia, Pakistan, South Korea, and Thailand

Active citizen participation in democratic decision-making processes—through formal mechanisms, such as elections and political parties, as well as the roles of media and civil society organizations—is crucial for ensuring government accountability. The Asia Democracy Research Network (ADRN) has undertaken research to evaluate existing gaps between vertical accountability institutions and their implementation across the region while identifying necessary reforms for the future. The research highlights the critical importance of safeguarding the autonomy of electoral management bodies and political parties, as well as fostering active citizen participation and oversight to prevent governance from being dominated by authority alone. Drawing on a rich array of resources and data, this report offers country-specific analyses, highlights areas of improvement, and suggests policy recommendations to fulfill methods of vertical accountability in their own countries and the larger Asia region.

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