Asia
The Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom (FNF) promotes democracy, human rights, economic freedom, and curbing climate change. In Asia, we have offices in Bangkok, Jakarta, Manila, New Delhi, Seoul, and Taipei. 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, Collective of Applied Law and Legal Realism (CALR), a pro bono initiative by AmerBON Advocates, 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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Chinese Interests at Risk
Iran is an important partner for China in the Middle East. Despite the war, Beijing is trying to avoid political escalation with the US.
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BRICS Should Avoid Deepening Global Geopolitical Divisions
As India is holding the BRICS rotational presidency for 2026, it is expected to advance a people-centred agenda that prioritises digital public infrastructure, climate and clean energy transitions, and reforms of multilateral institutions while carefully avoiding an overtly anti-Western posture.
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Gendered Disinformation: FNF Research series on International Women's Day
Gendered disinformation aims to push women out of politics—through defamation, threats, and harassment. On International Women's Day, the FNF presents calls for action based on country studies.
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Violence Against Women Leadership
“Women need safer digital space to participate more in public discourse and governance,” a recent study commissioned by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom in the Philippines highlights. “Reinforcing established laws and creating new ones specifically to prevent online violence against them will form safer environments in politics, and most importantly, mitigate the weakening of democratic institutions.”
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Navigating India’s Role: Security, Geopolitics and Trade
A new survey conducted by Kalinga Kusum Foundation in New Delhi in cooperation with the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom shows that economic growth is seen as the most important objective of foreign policy. For India to rise in next 20 years, those questioned in the survey believe its diplomacy must serve development at home.
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Why Malaysia’s Economic and Political Outlook Matters to Germany
Following the 2026 Malaysia Outlook Conference, hosted by IDEAS Malaysia in partnership with FNF Malaysia, Dr. Stewart Nixon drew up an analysis highlighting Malaysia’s growing strategic importance and calling for deeper Southeast Asia-Europe connectivity across economic, security, technological, and environmental fronts. As Malaysia and Germany confront shared challenges, from decarbonisation to democratic resilience, the path forward points toward stronger cooperation in an increasingly complex geopolitical landscape.
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ASEAN GOES BRICS
Indonesia has joined BRICS as a full member. Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam have partner status. What drives ASEAN’s biggest countries towards BRICS?
