Countering polarisation in Asia requires a firm commitment to democratic principles – pluralism, accountability and non-violent political engagement – to ensure lasting and effective outcomes. In contrast, authoritarian notions of “peace” and “harmony” often suppress dissent, forcibly shut down genuine concerns and deepen divisions - undermining the conditions necessary for genuine social resilience.This was the key message presented by Dr James Gomez, Regional Director, Asia Centre, during the 2026 East Asia Democracy Forum (EADF) on 1 June 2026, as a speaker in the first session “Polarisation and Its Regional Fallout”. During the presentation, Dr Gomez elaborated on this message by…

Between 17 October 2025 and 23 May 2026, Asia Centre successfully delivered a series of Digital Security Training (DST) sessions in Malaysia, directly engaging a total of 172 participants and end-beneficiaries. This strategic training aimed at strengthening digital resilience, promoting safer online practices, and enhancing awareness of digital threats among university students, lecturers, civil society actors, and grassroots communities. Conducted in collaboration with university partners and community networks, the programme sought to equip participants with practical digital security knowledge and skills needed to navigate an increasingly complex online environment marked by cyberattacks, misinformation, surveillance, scams, and online harassment.The training also…

Fragmentation in collaboration and uneven access to digital knowledge continue to shape how civil society organisations (CSOs) in the Southern Region engage with issues of digital democracy and civic space. Despite a diverse ecosystem of grassroots organisations, indigenous groups, independent media, and youth initiatives, limited coordination and knowledge-sharing mechanisms have constrained sustained and collective engagement. These dynamics were explored during the convening “Establishing a Southern Region CSO Network’, held on 23 May 2026 at the Asia Centre Media Hub in Iskandar Puteri, Johor, Malaysia. The convening brought together approximately 40 participants from civil society organisations, community-based groups, independent media, advocacy…

Asia Centre has played an active role in advancing digital security and online resilience across East Asia for 91 participants, working in close collaboration with a diverse range of partners, including democracy foundations, universities, media institutions, and regional learning platforms. The aim of the digital security initiative was to strengthen the capacity of activists, youth leaders, journalists, and emerging advocates to navigate digital spaces safely. At the end, all participants were able to enhance their awareness of online risks including those linked to artificial intelligence, and promote secure and informed digital participation across diverse communities.Digital Security Training (DST) sessions were…

Building and sustaining civic space requires more than advocacy, it depends on how civil society tells its stories. In an era shaped by information overload, misinformation, digital risk, and shrinking freedoms, narratives play a critical role in shaping public understanding and strengthening collective action. These ideas were explored during the CIVICUS-Asia Centre’s co-convening of  Building Pro-Civic Space Narratives: Communicators for Civic Action, held from 21 to 24 April 2026 in Ibis Riverside Hotel Bangkok, Thailand. The convening brought together 14 representatives from the Asian civil society organisations, communicators, and activists to strengthen their narrative strategies and amplify grassroots voices, drawn from…

In his remarks on “Sources of Democratic Resilience in Asia,” Asia Centre’s Regional Director, Dr. James Gomez, underscored the role of civil society as a key pillar in sustaining democratic systems and said this is best done in partnership with democracy supporting political parties. He made this point during the Policy Roundtable on Democratic Resilience in Southeast and East Asia, as a speaker in Panel I: “Analyzing Democratic Resilience: Sources and Challenges,” on 27 March 2026. From 26 to 28 March 2026 in Manila, Philippines, Dr. Gomez participated in a multi-day programme convened by the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats…

On 17 March at the 2026 Yushan Forum, Asia Centre’s Regional Director, Dr. James Gomez expounded on the concept of “civic power” (view the TikTok video) as the critical voice of civil society that speaks out when democratic processes are challenged during Session VII: NGO Corridor-Mobilizing Civic Power to Connect Free Societies.He further elaborated that civil society has a central role as the “heartbeat of democracy” and serves as an important barometer of democratic resilience. Hence, from the Asia Centre’s perspective, there is a need to strengthen regional networks and support civil society organisations (CSOs) as key actors in advancing…

Asia Centre has played an active role in advancing digital security and online resilience in Indonesia, working in close collaboration with a diverse range of partners, including civil society organisations, non-governmental organisations, learning centres, community-based platforms, and underrepresented groups. Its initiatives seek to empower youth advocates, women’s groups, and other stakeholders to navigate digital spaces safely, promote online safety, and counter cyber threats, thereby fostering inclusive and secure digital participation across communities.These activities, initiated in 2024 in partnership with Google Asia and the Pacific and sustained throughout 2025 into early 2026, have received encouraging feedback from partners and participants. Key…

In the Philippines, attacks against Indigenous Peoples (IPs) are increasingly legitimised by climate disinformation which falsely labels their environmental defence as terrorism, enabling the continued use of ancestral lands for industrial expansion.This was the central finding presented at a national convening reviewing the preliminary outcomes of Asia Centre’s forthcoming report Climate Disinformation in the Philippines: Legitimising Attacks on Indigenous Peoples. Attended by over 70 people, the convening took place on 24 March 2026 and was organised by Asia Centre, in partnership with International Media Support (IMS) and the Center for Dialogue, Research and Collaboration (Tagpuan Ateneo) at Ateneo de Manila…