Southeast and East Asia
The Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom (FNF) promotes democracy, human rights, economic freedom, and curbing climate change. In Southeast and East Asia, we have offices in Bangkok, Hanoi, Jakarta, Manila, Seoul, Taipei, and Yangon. We also work in Malaysia. The FNF regional team works with the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats, the Working group for an ASEAN Human Rights Mechanism, the Asia Centre, and the ASEAN Prosperity Initiative, which is part of the Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs. Should you have questions or suggestions about our work, please contact us. You can also meet our team here.
News
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Dictator's son Marcos Jr. sworn in as Philippine President
36 years after the fall of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr, his son Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr, took his oath as the 17th Philippine president. During the election campaign, the Marcos family embellished their image and revised the narrative of the dictatorship. Thus, Marcos Jr. presented himself as an inclusive personality and focused on the motif of unity and oneness. But is this how he will govern his country in the future?
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FNF SEEA Journalist Training Program 2022
The Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom (FNF) would like to cooperate with five freelance journalists (or teams) in Southeast and East Asia by supporting their research and their publication of a multimedia feature article about “LGBTQ+ Life in Southeast and East Asia”. Our Program includes training by high-profile journalists and a 2,000 Euros honorarium for your multimedia article.
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ASEAN-EU Conference
The year of 2022 marks 45 years of partnership between the ASEAN and the EU. Much progress has been made; such as the elevation to a strategic partnership in 2020, and the EU’s recognition of ASEAN´s significance in the EU strategy for the Indo-Pacific. Now, in light of the global COVID-19 pandemic and political tensions in both Europe and Asia, there is an urgency to strengthen the partnership between the two entities even further
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China's influence in Europe
Over the past decade the impact of China's economy has been increasing consequently with far reaching dependencies worldwide. While China has not been using traditional military force to expand its power, we can see clear instances where China uses political and economic coercion to reach its goals. This has led many counties to label China as a “systemic rival”. And that begs the question: What does China’s rise mean for the world?
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Norm Entrepreneurship
A Norm Entrepreneur are "agents of social change" seeking to challenge societal problems to bring about political change. FNF has cooperated with the Working Group for an ASEAN Human Rights Mechanism for more than 25 years. This booklet highlights successes and contributions of the Working Group.
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Thailand Decriminalizes Marijuana
The government has removed cannabis from the list of prohibited narcotics in an effort to help the country's struggling economy. However, the legality around the recreation use of marijuana remains entirely murky.
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Four waves of the digital currency and the future money
Since the start of the global financial crisis, the global economy has been influenced by two concurrent trends: Fewer people are using cash in favor of digital forms of payment and digital transactions. Digital forms of payment have been on the rise and the significance of cash as a means of payment has been falling for years – and the conventional financial world is trying to keep up. An in depth analysis will give insight into the future of digital currencies.
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FNF FactsCollabTH Event to Celebrate International Fact Checking Day
FNF was honoured to be part of an event that continues to internationally pave the way forward in recognizing the importance of fact checking. Frederic Spohr, Head of Thailand and Myanmar for FNF, opened the forum for discussion with a clear message “There is always a necessity to search for facts. Journalist acts as frontline gatekeepers for ensuring that the message is accurate and the public is well-informed”
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New Publications on Regionalism in Southeast Asia
We´re proud to present two new Southeast Asia publications. First, an FNF-Asia Centre cooperation: "Media Freedom in Southeast Asia", which looks at how media freedom is curtailed in the region through repressive laws, prosecution of or attacks on journalists as well as by shutting down Media Outlets.
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Neck-and-Neck Race: Presidential Election in South Korea
With only a few days left ahead of South Korea's presidential election on March 9, the presidential race remains unpredictable. Depending on the polls, either the leading candidate of the ruling left-wing liberal party or his rival from the conservative opposition party is found to be ahead. However, the bitter election campaign has generated little public enthusiasm.
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For a world free of bias, stereotypes and discrimination: International Women’s Day 2022
In 2022, let’s acknowledge women’s achievements and raise awareness against bias: #BreakTheBias.
The Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom (FNF) wants you to meet five extraordinarily brave women in Southeast and East Asia to celebrate Women’s Day.
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“Pounding the rock”: the legacy of the late Filipino human rights defender Chito Gascon
A documentary produced by FNF Philippines and Rappler tells the story of the late Commission on Human Rights Chairman Chito Gascon’s legacy in the fight for democracy and human rights.
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ASEAN in disarray
Consensus-based policies and unity are supposed to be the hallmarks of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Now a freewheeling ASEAN-chair has plunged the regional block into a crisis of unity and direction.
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Media Freedom in Southeast Asia Report is out
Media Freedom in Southeast Asia: Repeal Restrictive Laws, Strengthen Quality Journalism is a collaborated project between Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom Southeast and East Asia and Asia Centre to research through the situations that affected journalism in this region.
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World’s largest free trade agreement kicks off
From January 1st, 2022 on, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) will govern trade between China, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Australia and the 10 member-states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), including the major economies of Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Philippines, Malaysia and Vietnam.
