Civil Society in Myanmar’s New Democracy

iPACE

Civil Society in Myanmar’s New Democracy

Recent years have witnessed remarkable changes for civil society in Myanmar – from the level of openness in which to operate, to the sector’s role within society, its interaction with policy makers, and its sophistication. Some aspects may be getting easier, some more difficult; and some observe that the operating environment is improving while others raise concern that it is backsliding. But one thing is for certain: that the role, and expectations for and by civil society, are changing.

This conference is an opportunity for civil society leaders, government representatives, academics, donors, and other interested stakeholders to pose and examine the biggest questions concerning civil society in Myanmar to further our thinking on how to participate in and contribute to the sector’s role in Myanmar’s ongoing democratic and economic transition.

The Institute for Political and Civic Engagement (iPACE) is an educational resource for Myanmar’s emerging democratic leaders to develop and increase their knowledge and practical application of fundamental democratic principles while promoting civic engagement to foster more representative and accountable governance. Since its founding in 2012, iPACE has trained over 2,200 participants from 800 civil society organizations and 39 political parties throughout the country. iPACE is made possible through a generous grant from the United States Embassy, Burma and is a program of World Learning.

Gretchen Kunze: presenter; Country Representative and iPACE Director, World Learning Myanmar

For more information about the 2017 Civil Society in Myanmar conference, please visit one of the following links:

Civil Society in Myanmar Conference Agenda (002)

Press Release iPACE conference report

Civil Society Report

Pursuit, July 2017: Protest and Democracy in Asia

Protest and Democracy in Asia
author Ben Rodin (University of Melbourne)

Featuring the work of Akihiro Ogawa on the role of civil society within the promotion of democracy and peace in Asia.

Excerpt:

The notion of protest may be very familiar to a Western audience, but it is an under-researched topic in an Asian context, says Professor Akihiro Ogawa from the University of Melbourne. His Asia Institute project, Civil Society in Asia is exploring the role of Civil Society Organisations (CSO’s) in contributing to Asian peace and democracy.

“There is obviously a huge difference between Western and Eastern civil society,” he says. “It is one of the most dynamic and expanding sectors in contemporary Asia.”

He defines civil society as “non-state institutions that are crucial to sustaining modern democratic participation.”

Professor Ogawa, who is trained as a social anthropologist, says ‘civil society’ is traditionally a very Western, ethnocentric concept.

“Observing each Asian nation trying to make its own version of a civil society is something we focus on,” he says.

Read full article at: https://pursuit.unimelb.edu.au/articles/protest-and-democracy-in-asia

For further reading, see:
http://asaa.asn.au/okinawa-road-map-leads-to-another-dead-end/ 
http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/14649373.2013.769760?journalCode=riac20

Philippine Political Science Association Conference (May, 2017)

Democratic Governance in the Vortex of Change

Akihiro Ogawa, panel chair: Civil Society in Asia

Conference presenters:
Jorge Tingo (on the Philippines)
Gillian Koh (on Singapore)
Udan Fernando (on Sri Lanka)
Daniel Kramer (on Migration)

Excerpt from conference description:

Democracy is not meant to be just on paper. It springs to life through the rigors of practice. Democracy deepens through strong institutions of transparent and participatory governance that hold public officials accountable. It thrives on a culture of tolerance, diversity, and plurality of voices. Amid the rise of populism, the rules of the game are evolving. The theory and practice of democratic governance is now the subject of contestation in a society caught in the vortex of change.

For more information, please visit:
Conference Site
2017 Conference CHED Endorsement

Civil Society in Asia: International Conference, Melbourne 2017

Civil Society in Asia: International Conference in Melbourne
February 2017

For more information, please visit the conference site: http://arts.unimelb.edu.au/asiainstitute/research/civil-society-in-asia

Conference Programme

CONFIRMED PARTICIPANTS

FACILITATORS

Name Affiliation
Akihiro Ogawa The University of Melbourne
Jeff Kingston Temple University, Japan Campus

RESEARCH PRESENTERS

Name Affiliation
Simon Avenell Australian National University
Yooil Bae Singapore Management University
Anthony J. Spires The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Bumochir Dulam University College London
Jörg Wischermann German Institute of Global and Area Studies
Dang Thi Viet Phuong Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences
Gaik Cheng Khoo The University of Nottingham, Malaysia
Gillian Koh National University of Singapore
Vedi Hadiz The University of Melbourne
Gretchen Kunze Institute for Political and Civic Engagement, Myanmar
World Learning
Bencharat Sae Chua Mahidol University
Stephen McCarthy Griffith University
Pradeep Taneja The University of Melbourne
Salim Kassim-Lakha The University of Melbourne
Nadeem Malik The University of Melbourne
Mukta Tamang Tribhuvan University
Michiyo Kiwako Okuma-Nyström Independent Scholar
Udan Fernando Centre for Poverty Analysis
Apichai Shipper Georgetown University
Ruth Phillips The University of Sydney
Allison Alexy University of Michigan
Gwyn McClelland Monash University
Claudia Astarita The University of Melbourne
Masayuki Deguchi National Museum of Ethnology, Japan
Satoshi Miyazaki Waseda University
Jennifer Chan The University of British Columbia
Claire Maree The University of Melbourne
Ian Rowen Academia Sinica, Institute of Ethnology and French Centre for Research on Contemporary China (CEFC)
Daniel Kremers German Institute for Japanese Studies
Stefan Rother University of Freiburg
Nobuyo Goto Institute of Basic Economic Science and Fukushima Medical University

ACTIVE LISTENERS

Name Affiliation
Yasuo Goto Fukushima University and Fukushima Nuclear Disaster Information Center
Alexander Bukh Victoria University of Wellington
Gerald Roche The University of Melbourne
Anthony D’Costa The University of Melbourne
Mark Bryan Manantan Australian National University
Hiroko Aihara Abe Fellow Journalist
Kenneth Nyström
Yuko Shibata The University of Melbourne
David Palmer The University of Melbourne
Brigitte Tenni The University of Melbourne
Stacey Steele The University of Melbourne
Jane Munro The University of Melbourne
Jun Ohashi The University of Melbourne
Maila Stivens The University of Melbourne
Ikuko Nakane The University of Melbourne
Tania Miletic  The University of Melbourne
Maki Yoshida The University of Melbourne (Doctoral Student)
Akina Mikami The University of Melbourne (Doctoral Student)
Edward Charles Hyatt The University of Melbourne (Docroral Student)
Stefan Fuchs The University of Melbourne (Doctoral Student)
Sonja Petrovic The University of Melbourne (Doctoral Student)
Ashely Ross The University of Melbourne (Doctoral Student)
Adam Eldridge The University of Melbourne (Doctoral Student)
Theodorus Radja Ludji Monash University (Master’s Student)

 

We appreciate generous support from Japan Foundation as well as The University of Melbourne Faculty of Arts and Asia Institute.