Asia Centre Podcast

Asia Centre
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Asia Centre is social enterprise that operates on a not-for-profit basis. It undertakes evidence-based research on contemporary affairs across Southeast Asia and the wider region. It aims to enhance its partners’ communications capacity, global networking, knowledge base, research skills and training capacity. Get in touch with Asia Centre by email: info@asiacentre.org or via Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/asiacentre.org/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/asiacentre_org/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/asiacentre_org LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/asiacentre/

  1. Jul 1

    S1E3 | Competence, Culture, and Competition: The Operational Code of Asia Centre

    Asia Centre's Big Ideas: Competence, Culture, and Competition: The Operational Code of Asia CentreWhat does it take to build a "bubble of competence in a sea of incompetence"? For Dr James Gomez, founder and Regional Director of Asia Centre, the answer led to expanding across four countries and multiple hubs — while holding the line against shrinking civic space, aid collapse, and an information ecosystem increasingly flooded by AI-generated disinformation. He returns to the show to unpack the operational reality of running a multinational CSO in Asia: the talent challenges, the cross-border fault lines, and the high-stakes question of whether AI can be trusted to support — rather than distort — civil society research. Hosted by Kelvin Param.

    S1E3 | Competence, Culture, and Competition: The Operational Code of Asia Centre

  2. Apr 2

    S1E2 | Freedom from Academia: How Unencumbered Research Empowers Civic Action

    Asia Centre's Big Ideas: Freedom from Academia ─ How Unencumbered Research Empowers Civic Action What happens when academic conventions get in the way of speaking truth to power? Dr James Gomez walked away from the ivory tower to build something more agile — founding Asia Centre on the principle of "freedom from academia." By replacing the strictures of academic institutions with collective expertise and real stakeholder input, he's created a model that's faster, sharper, and that can be harnessed for advocacy and capacity-building bringing the research closer to the ground — and one that's actively equipping civil society leaders in Asia to challenge power on their own terms. Hosted by Kelvin Param.

    S1E2 | Freedom from Academia: How Unencumbered Research Empowers Civic Action

  3. Feb 12

    S1E1 | The Donut Model: A Self-Funding Architecture for Civil Society in the Trump 2.0 Era

    Asia Centre's Big Ideas: The Donut Model ─ A Self-Funding Architecture for Civil Society in the Trump 2.0 Era The return of the Trump administration in 2025 triggered a $60 billion reduction in U.S. foreign aid, dismantling the USAID structure and leaving a 'seismic disruption' in its wake. So when the grants stop, how does the work continue? As legacy INGOs retreat, local organisations are stepping up with a new, adaptive financial model. Dr James Gomez, founder of the Asia Centre, explains how his organisation bypassed the donor mentality through self-funding infrastructure and diversifying into a range of revenue-generating activities to overcome the funding crunch. Hosted by Kelvin Param

    S1E1 | The Donut Model: A Self-Funding Architecture for Civil Society in the Trump 2.0 Era

  4. 06/05/2025

    The U.S. Foreign Aid and The State of Democracy in Asia

    What happens to democracy when the funding stops? In this session, we explore the crucial role U.S. foreign aid has played in promoting democratic values and human rights across Asia, and what’s happened since that aid was suspended. Discover which local organisations once received U.S. support, the challenges they now face, and how they’re adapting. We’ll also assess the shifting landscape of democracy in the region, and what this means for the future of democracy in Asia.

    The U.S. Foreign Aid and The State of Democracy in Asia

  5. 02/28/2025

    Young Voters in Sri Lanka: and the Role of Youth in South Asia’s Politics

    In this episode of the Asia Centre Podcast, recorded on 2 October 2024, host Fatin Arwaeputeh explores the critical role of youth in shaping democratic developments across South Asia, with a special focus on Sri Lanka’s 2024 Presidential Election. Joined by guest speaker Saritha Irugalbandara, they discuss how young voters are emerging as a driving force in the region’s political landscape, with their participation playing a crucial role in influencing electoral outcomes and shaping governance. This episode examines the challenges young people face in engaging with the electoral process—from low voter registration in India to Sri Lanka’s relatively high youth turnout. We explore the barriers limiting youth participation, the impact of their involvement in elections, and strategies to strengthen their role in democratic processes. Join us as we analyse youth engagement trends, discuss policy solutions, and highlight the power of young voices in shaping South Asia’s evolving democracy.

    Young Voters in Sri Lanka: and the Role of Youth in South Asia’s Politics

  6. 02/21/2025

    Young Voters and the Trajectory of East Asia’s Politics

    In this episode of the Asia Centre podcast, host Fatin Arwaeputeh examines the vital role of youth in shaping democratic developments across East Asia as part of #ThankYouDemocracy campaign by Global Democracy Coalition. As the region undergoes rapid change, young voices are increasingly influencing legislative and political spaces, driving a shift towards more inclusive governance. This episode explores how youth activists and leaders are challenging traditional norms, advocating for progressive policies, and reshaping political futures. Joining us is Chaehyun Kim from the Korean Democracy Foundation, who shares insights into the successes and challenges of youth-led initiatives in Korea and across East Asia. Together, we discuss the barriers young people face in political participation, including economic inequality and the rise of autocratic tendencies, while also considering their impact on key contemporary issues such as democracy, climate change, and social justice.

    Young Voters and the Trajectory of East Asia’s Politics

  7. 09/29/2023

    COVID-19 Measures and the Derogation of Rights in Southeast Asia

    Emergency measures imposed by governments across Southeast Asia during the COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacted human rights and democracy in the region. This resulted in civic spaces shrinking across the region, which challenged the advocacy and activities of human rights activists, CSOs, and journalists, among others. Although these measures were implemented to keep the spread of the virus at bay and ensure public health, many governments also used them to curb civic freedoms. Some examples include laws that were used to criminalise people's calls for public accountability, decrease electoral integrity, and allow for increased state surveillance. In this podcast episode, Asia Centre’s Marc Piñol Rovira and Ekmongkhon Puridej explore how governments used different tactics to derogate civil rights during and beyond the pandemic. This episode is based on Asia Centre's report "Moving Beyond COVID-19 Restrictions in Southeast Asia: Pushing Back Against Authoritarian Pandemic Governance”, supported by International Center for Not-for-Profit Law.

    COVID-19 Measures and the Derogation of Rights in Southeast Asia

  8. 06/12/2023

    The Threat of State-sponsored Disinformation to the Integrity of Election

    This podcast episode is part of the report “State-Sponsored Online Disinformation in Thailand: Impact on Electoral Integrity in Thailand”. The report examines government-backed disinformation campaigns, known as information operations, and assesses their impact on the integrity of elections. The report identifies key actions domestic and international state actors contribute to false information campaigns. Based on the evidence of information operations in Thailand and the absence of effective legal and non-legal measures to address them, the 2023 Thai General Election is expected to experience its share of state-sponsored disinformation over social media platforms. So what happened? This episode examines these issues.  Our discussant for this episode is Akarachai Chaimaneekarakate, a Harvard Law School graduate. Akarachai is a Legal Fellow at Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR). The main focus of his work is to explore ways in which international human rights law can be used to promote and advance the protection of human rights in Thailand. Before TLHR, Akarachai worked as a legal advocate for refugees in Bangkok. He also worked with the Office of the Co-Prosecutors at the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia, focusing on prosecuting senior military officers in Cambodia accused of crimes against humanity, war crimes, and genocide.

    The Threat of State-sponsored Disinformation to the Integrity of Election
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About

Asia Centre is social enterprise that operates on a not-for-profit basis. It undertakes evidence-based research on contemporary affairs across Southeast Asia and the wider region. It aims to enhance its partners’ communications capacity, global networking, knowledge base, research skills and training capacity. Get in touch with Asia Centre by email: info@asiacentre.org or via Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/asiacentre.org/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/asiacentre_org/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/asiacentre_org LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/asiacentre/

Information

  • Creator
    Asia Centre
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    25
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Asia Centre
  • Show Website
    Asia Centre Podcast