Women human rights defenders in shrinking civic spaces: Struggle, strategy, and strongman rule in Southeast Asia

A new wave of authoritarianism appears to have emerged in recent years, with widespread restrictions on fundamental freedoms hindering the capacity of civil society in many places. But how should this apparent trend, often referred to as ‘shrinking civic space,’ be conceptualised? How do those affected by it understand the term, and how are they responding? While an increasing number of academics from diverse theoretical backgrounds are exploring these issues, few have focused on the impact on women human rights defenders (WHRDs) in Southeast Asia. This thesis seeks to provide two contributions: firstly, it examines the particular manifestations of shrinking civic space in Cambodia, Thailand, and the Philippines, and puts forward a new framework for conceptualising the dynamic and intersecting features of the trend. These features are categorised under four mutually-compounding ‘spheres of repression,’ namely lawfare, disinformation, corporate capture, and state violence. Together, these four intersecting categories provide a theoretical contribution towards elucidating and delimiting the increasingly popular term that is ‘shrinking civic space.’ Secondly, the thesis explores the practical impact of shrinking space on Southeast Asian WHRDs, and the response strategies that they have adopted in what are uncertain and rapidly shifting operating environments. Overall, the study aims to contribute towards a more nuanced and rooted understanding of the challenges faced by WHRDs in contexts where the space to promote and defend human rights has considerably narrowed