Civic spaces, globalisation and pacific Asia cities

Eight types of civic spaces are identified as a way of assessing trends in the vitality of civil society. In Pacific Asia, with its traditions of strong, 'developmental' states, the emergence of civic spaces has largely taken place through resistance and insurgence. However, ongoing political reforms lead to new possibilities for the routine provision of civic spaces that are open to all and are protected against state abuse by the rule of law. At the same time, the impacts of globalisation on civic spaces are emerging, as cities compete for international investment and as urban spaces become fragmented by global linkages and privatisation for commercial interests. Agendas for civic space policies thus need to pay attention not only to progressive reforms in state-civil society relations, but also to ways in which relations between localities and globalisation are transforming the contents and uses of urban spaces.