Emerging Influences on Political Behavior and Party Politics in East Asia: Media, Partisanship and Technological Innovations

This panel explores the evolving factors reshaping political parties, electoral preferences and participation across East Asia, both from a case study and a comparative perspective. It focuses in particular on the interplay between media landscapes, social values, non-traditional affiliations and emerging voter assistance tools. Presentations address the rise of fringe and influencer parties, shifting attitudes on social issues like same-sex marriage and innovations in survey methodology. Additionally, the panel examines non-partisan engagement trends in Taiwan and the influence of Voting Advice Applications (VAAs) through experimental evidence from Japan. Together, these studies offer fresh insights and a comprehensive view of how alternative media, social change, and technological innovations impact party preferences, voter engagement and political systems in the region and beyond.