Bangladesh’s history since independence in 1971 has changed the global sphere. United by one language, Bangla, Bangladesh serves as a story of a people’s self-determination, but also persistence of the long-term fight for democracy. Despite Sheikh Mujibur Rahman being revered as the “Father of Nation,” his enactment of a quota system became the trigger to a long standing struggle of human rights violations facilitated by his daughter, the longest serving Prime Minister in Bangladesh. From July to August 2024, the protests led by university students led a mass movement to dethrone an authoritarian government in favor of democracy and human rights.

The People's Power Revolution against the rule of the dictator of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos that brought about the return to democracy in the Philippines occurred only a few decades ago. Following the strongman rule of President Rodrigo Duterte, Filipinos voted to elect President Ferdinand "Bong Bong" Marcos Jr. into the presidency in 2022. With Marcos' dictatorial pedigree and the dangerous precedents of Duterte, the future of Filipino democracy is gravely at risk and the potential for a new rise in authoritarianism in the Philippines is on the horizon.