“Shrinking civic space” has become a catchphrase for a deeply worrying global phenomenon that can be observed in different political regimes across the globe. At its core is the wilful reduction of political and human rights as well as civil liberties. Increasingly restrictive regulations and the harassment and public vilification of individuals and organisations are but some of its manifestations. Local civil society organisations, including NGOs, have borne the brunt of relevant state-directed or state-instigated activities. But the phenomenon also poses severe and urgent challenges to Western and international organisations involved in democracy promotion, development, and other cooperation with local partners in the affected countries. Shrinking civic space comes in different stripes and colours, taking on different local manifestations, but in any case limits domestic and international actors’ room for manoeuvre.
In this GIGA Talk we will discuss how shrinking civic space is playing out in various parts of Asia and what can be done in the face of it. We will address the contours of the phenomenon, its recent manifestations in Mainland China, Thailand and the Philippines, and possible strategies for those affected in different ways by it.
Speakers:
Dr. Janjira Sombatpoonsiri, Assistant Professor, Thammasat University, Bangkok, and Associate, GIGA Institute of Asian Studies
Bertram Lang, Research Fellow, Goethe University Frankfurt
Commentary:
Katrin Altmeyer, Director, Asia Department, Heinrich Böll Foundation
Moderation:
Prof. Dr. Patrick Köllner, GIGA Vice President and Director of the GIGA Institute of Asian Studies
Information on participating / attending:
Please confirm your attendance by 1 October 2018 by sending an e-mail to berlin-registration@giga-hamburg.de.
The Chatham House Rule applies to this event. Unfortunately, the venue is not wheelchair accessible.
Date:
10/04/2018 18:00 - 10/04/2018 19:30
Registration deadline:
10/01/2018
Event venue:
GIGA Berlin Office
Friedrichstraße 206
- Entrance Zimmerstraße -
10969 Berlin
Berlin
Germany
Target group:
Journalists, all interested persons
Email address:
Relevance:
transregional, national
Subject areas:
Politics
Types of events:
Presentation / colloquium / lecture, Seminar / workshop / discussion
Entry:
09/24/2018
Sender/author:
Verena Schweiger
Department:
Fachabteilung Kommunikation
Event is free:
yes
Language of the text:
English
URL of this event: http://idw-online.de/en/event61643
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