Call for Papers – Civil Society in Asia 5 (CSA 5): International Conference

Civil Society in Asia 5 (CSA 5): International Conference

Early 2026, Location: TBA

Conference Theme: Youth and Civil Society

The CSA 5 conference focuses on youth, which was identified as an area requiring further research during a strategic meeting at the CSA 4 conference in November 2022 at the University of Melbourne Asia Institute. 

We set forth three pillars for addressing youth issues across Asia

1. Youth Activism: The Arab Spring led to an “Asian Monsoon”: Eager to be heard, Asia’s young generation is no longer content with the passive observance of societal issues. Rather, they are taking to the forefront, raising their voices and shaping the future they envision. Akin to the manner in which the Arab Spring was characterized by transformative protests across the Middle East, a similar narrative is unfolding across the diverse landscapes of Asia. From the streets of Hong Kong and Myanmar to the socioeconomic and political arenas of Sri Lanka and Thailand, the emergence of an “Asian Monsoon” is evident, as youth seek to create a better world for themselves and future generations. The idea of an “Asian Monsoon” captures the general sense of renewal and awakening that is reverberating throughout the complex fabric of the Asian region. Asia is currently experiencing its own version of these transformative waves, similar to how youth-led movements in other parts of the world have fought for political reforms, social justice, and human rights. Youths are vehemently demanding change and accountability and play a significant role in determining policies that will inevitably impact their lives.

2. Youth in Climate Action: Recent studies (Lawler and Patel 2012; Treichel 2020; van der Merwe et al. 2022) have shown that young people are relatively more vulnerable to climate change and less adaptive to disasters than adults. Particularly in developing countries and rural regions in the Global South, where parents have to leave home to find alternative jobs elsewhere because of climate-related crop failure, the effects of climate change pose serious threats to children’s education, health, family security, safety, and survival (UNICEF 2015). This effect lasts throughout a considerable portion of their lives. However, in the extant literature, there is a notable gap regarding the role of youth in climate adaptation and disaster reduction. We specifically call for more scholarly works to investigate efforts in the Asia-Pacific to empower young people with a “voice” in addressing climate change and civil society advocacy work or policy initiatives. This approach will help create a new space to engage the youth in climate action and adaptation decisions.

3. AI and the Empowerment of Young Women: Our world economy is diversifying with advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR). With the spirit of sustainable development of leaving no one behind, there is a need to rapidly empower young women to ensure their inclusion in future economic transformations such as financial technology (FinTech) and wearable technology. Since gender imbalance is prevalent in the technology industry, narrowing the technology gap between men and women, especially between boys and girls, is critical. In addition, studies (Cummings and O’Neil 2015; Micheni et al. 2021) have pointed out the opportunities that 4IR and AI can bring to young women who are restricted by distance and limitations enforced by communities or cultural norms. These opportunities include the ability to develop their confidence; expand their economic strength via online platforms; and stay connected with online collaborators to learn, resolve problems, share information, and build unity. We call for further research to identify the obstacles posed and potential realized by AI for young women to improve their social, cultural, and educational environment to become digitally savvy and active contributors to future human development and economic transformation.

CSA 5 will invite the selected scholars to present their papers based on the diverse geographical and thematic backgrounds in which they position one of the above pillars. In your paper, the primary intention is to provide readers with information that they can use to convince others of the need for and benefits of considering and consulting youth when making planning or policy decisions. Thus, each paper will have three components that promote youth inclusion in generating systemic or community-wide changes: (1) civic techniques, (2) policy recommendations, and (3) recommended activities. We are open to any approach in the social sciences and would like to gather interesting case studies aiming to identify the best policymaking practices for youth inclusion.

The goal is to provide a platform for reflection on developing and promoting a supportive public environment for young people and to lead feasible policymaking, thereby influencing the shift in how civil society considers youth inclusion. Young people represent a vital citizen group with legitimate rights to shape civil society. Their ideas, opinions, and needs should be considered essential in the policymaking process proposed by civil society.

If you have ideas for a paper, please contact Professor Akihiro Ogawa at akihiro.ogawa@unimelb.edu.au and A/Professor Anthony J. Spires at anthony.spires@unimelb.edu.au by April 30, 2025, with the title and abstract (250 words).