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Civil Society Participation and Sustainable Regional Development in Asia: Selected Case Study

Wed, July 17, 11:00am to 12:30pm, TBA

Abstract

Economic research on volunteering has first started in the 1960s with Wolozin’s work in assessing volunteering value in the United States (More-Hollerweger et al. 2016:1075). However, few studies have been conducted in third sector or the civil society organisations in development where the presence of civil society in national and international affairs is becoming important over time (Bekkers et al. 2016: 1187; Wilson et al. 2016:1287). The lack of research on the cross border relationships particularly civil society participation in sustaining regional development is needed to be addressed in filling the knowledge gap as well as practical implications (Berger et al. 2016:1181; Wilson et al. 2016:1301).The lacking of information in research may limit the potential and understanding in the role of civil society in cross border relationship that contribute to sustainable regional development at present and in the future. Hence, it is significant to investigate their roles beyond national level into cross border relationship in sustaining regional development.
Key respondents are participants and organisations that have involved in international civil society activities. It includes members and committees of civil society organisations CSOs that their organisations have had engagements with another foreign organisations and/or organised activities with foreign participants held in Malaysia or other countries; and participants that have international exposure of civil society activities that was held in any foreign country. In that, this paper focuses on the Ship for Southeast Asian and Japanese Youth Programme (SSEAYP) that fits the criteria of respondents.
This paper utilises Survey Questionnaire and Interviews. In order to design a comprehensive questionnaire, Focus Group Discussion is conducted prior to the questionnaire design. For interviews, ‘multi-track strategy’ is employed (Pierce 2008: 86, 119; Nga 2009: 82). In addition, non face-to-face interviews is used, including non-verbal communication interviews (Blaxter et al. 2006: 173; Bouma & Atkinson 1995: 81; Nga 2009: 83). The method of analyses employed in this study includes descriptive, cross-tabulation and regression methods, as well as Cost-Benefit Analysis for the civil society activities.
This paper provides empirical evidence of the civil society activities for their quality and contribution in sustainable regional development. It provides quantitative evidence on the sustainability topic to fill in a research gap on cross border relationships for the case of civil society and its activities. It also presents quantifiable information on the level of awareness among civil society towards their roles in sustainable development enables civil society organisations to reflect on their relevance and existence in sustaining regional development.
While this paper is using the experiences in the Ship for Southeast Asian and Japanese Youth Programme as its specific case study, it is potentially expanded to other kind of civil society activities or organisations, and/or in other parts of the world to gain more evidences on civil society participation towards sustainable regional development.

References

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