Background:

Asia Pacific is a vast region accommodating more than half of the world population which enjoyed a broad range of socio-cultural and political diversities. Besides de-colonization after the World War II, while many nations succeeded their independence, after sometimes many countries still under the authoritarianism and militarism. However, Cold War became the new controversial issues until 1990s when democratization taken place in many countries both in Europe and Asia and brought about the new chapter after it ended almost 30 years ago. However, democratization and popular uprisings in the 1970s -2000s onward had brought about positive changes in many countries. For instances, Thailand in October 14, 1973; resistance Movement in Kwangju, South Korea in 1980; and later South Korea in 1986; EDSA Revolution against Marcos Dictatorship after the sham election in the Philippines in1986; Burmese Uprising against Burmese military regime knowing as 8.8.88 in August 1988; Student led Demonstrations and ended up with bloody massacre at Tian an Men Square in 1989; Democratic Movement in Nepal in 1990; INTIFADA Uprising of Palestinian students and people in 1991; May 1992 Uprisings against military intervention in Thailand; the Reformasi Movement in Indonesia and Malaysia in 1998; and the pro-Independence Movement for East Timor gained more momentum in 1998 until its referendum and later gain independence in 2002. Of course, many more things had happened in the last 3-4 decades of the new modern history of the people movement. These valuable lesson had inspired and giving hope for other movement to continue their efforts and move forward their people' struggle to achieve peace, social justice, and genuine democracy. So, the challenges of social movement laid on their political history, power structure, socio-economic and political complexity as well as their courage and many other factors. This APSF Workshop will be the platform for many like-minded social movement to learn from each other and likely to work together in solidarity.