Part I: Introduction.- 1. Introduction: The Idea of Open Government and Freedom of Information.- 2. The Context of Open Government and Freedom of Information in Asia.- Part II: Southeast Asia.- 3. Leaning Toward the Light? The Path to Open Government in Taiwan.- 4. Open Government and Freedom of Information: The Philippine Experience.- 5. Open Government in Hong Kong.- 6. Waves of Democratization in the Malaysian Political Space: Access to Information.- 7. Open Government in Thailand: Implications for Democratic Governance.- 8. Open Government Data and Smart Nation in Singapore.- 9. Right to Information and Open Government in Indonesia.- Part III: South Asia.- 10. Toward a Framework for Social Equity and Inclusion in Right to Information Legislation: The Case of India.- 11. The Practice of Open Government and Right to Information in Bangladesh.- 12. Open Government in Federal Nepal: Challenges, Constraints, and Opportunities.- Part IV: The Middle East andCentral Asia.- 13. An Analysis of the Digital Transformation in Public Organizations: The Case of the United Arab Emirates.- 14. Open Government in Kazakhstan: Does It Ensure Freedom of Information?.- 15. Open Government Data Initiatives in the GCC Constituents.

“This is an essential volume for scholars and practitioners interested in open government.  It includes an unprecedented range of case studies from across Asia and the Middle East.  This book reminds us why open government is so important at a time when transparency and democracy are under pressure around the world.” —Alasdair Roberts, Professor of Public Policy, University of Massachusetts, USA “Open Government and the associated requirement of freedom of information are inextricably linked to good governance. This collection of country case studies spanning those which embrace open government to those with much to learn, offers a fascinating tour de force of Asian countries from diverse historical, political, and cultural backgrounds.”—Colin Knox, Professor of Public Policy, Nazarbayev University, Kazakhstan;  Emeritus Professor, Ulster University, UK  The book examines the state of Open Government in Asia. Drawing on thirteen country case studies and one regional study, it analyses the application of Freedom of Information methods and assesses their implications for democratic governance, particularly transparency, accountability, participation, collaboration, inclusive policymaking and technology. The book also considers the usefulness of open participatory platforms that enable citizens’ ‘right to information’, and help them monitor and scrutinize governmental activities to ensure accountability, integrity and the quality of democracy. Contributors to the volume evaluate Open Government and Freedom of Information arrangements and relevant issues in a particular country and adjudge their performance. The book will appeal to scholars and students of public policy, digital governance and technology.   Habib Zafarullah is Adjunct Faculty at the University of New England, Australia, where he served as Chair of Public Policy. He was previously Professor of Public Administration at Dhaka University, Bangladesh.   Noore Alam Siddiquee is Professor of Public Policy at Nazarbayev University, Kazakhstan. His research interests include ethics and integrity, performance management, and digital governance.  

“This is an essential volume for scholars and practitioners interested in open government.  It includes an unprecedented range of case studies from across Asia and the Middle East.  This book reminds us why open government is so important at a time when transparency and democracy are under pressure around the world.” (Alasdair Roberts, Professor of Public Policy, University of Massachusetts, USA)“Open Government and the associated requirement of freedom of information are inextricably linked to good governance. This collection of country case studies spanning those which embrace open government to those with much to learn, offers a fascinating tour de force of Asian countries from diverse historical, political, and cultural backgrounds.” (Colin Knox, Professor of Public Policy, Nazarbayev University, Kazakhstan  Emeritus Professor, Ulster University, UK)  “Any discussion of a working democracy without reference to an informed citizenry is a non sequitur. An open government provides citizens with timely, accurate, and reliable information, unlike the typical use of ‘official secret’ measures to protect national security, but usually to escape accountability. In this collection, an eclectic group of scholars explore this issue and contributes to the literature.” (Krishna K. Tummala, Professor Emeritus, Kansas State University, USA)  “In recent decades, intensive debates emerged on diverse models of governance, often without adequate attention paid to their implications for citizens’ right to information. This edited volume makes a valuable contribution to highlight the significance of open government and freedom of information by exploring certain country cases in Asia.” (M Shamsul Haque, Professor of Political Science, National University of Singapore)

Examines open government in Asia and the Middle East, with a specific focus on freedom of information practices Provides a comparative overview of participatory democracy across the regions Includes fifteen country-specific case studies

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