Mr Francesco Montresor
Learning with South East Asia: Civil Society Organisations and the Co-creation of Public Space in an Age of Shrinking Democracy
Across Southeast Asia, where democratic freedoms have long been constrained, civil society organisations have played a crucial yet understudied role in expanding civic space. As states pursued rapid, market‑driven urban development, public spaces became increasingly privatised and controlled. In response, civil society actors developed alternative practice models that addressed unmet socio‑ecological needs while reshaping relationships between citizens, the state, and the economy.
This research examines how these organisations enlarge civic space through community‑based environmental management and neighbourhood‑level interventions. Their actions reclaim public spaces, foster cooperation, and build local capacity for self‑empowerment, offering important lessons for societies experiencing democratic contraction. The inquiry gains urgency in today’s global “age of shrinking democracy”, marked by declining public trust, technocratic governance, and heightened state control.
The study asks: Through which practice models and processes do civil society organisations in Southeast Asia expand civic space? And what elements of these practices are transferable to contexts where democratic space is narrowing? By analysing both successful and unsuccessful cases, the research aims to identify mechanisms that enable or limit civic action and to distil insights that can strengthen democratic life and inform new theories of civic urbanism.
Civic Space, Civil Society, community participation, participatory design practices
Associate Professor Silvia Micheli
Dr Dorina Pojani
f.montresor@uq.edu.au
https://francescomontresor-arch.xyz/
Researcher biography
Following graduation from Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL) in 2016, Francesco worked as an architect for 10 years in Hanoi, Vietnam. First at G8A architects & Urban Planners, then with Think Playgrounds social entreprise working with community based initiatives. Through that experience, he gained knowledge in community projects around South East Asia with a focus on developing sustainable building techniques and fostering participatory practices.
In parallel to his work as a designer, Francesco has also contributed and led research teams focusing on accessibility in the city for people with disabilities, public space maintenance, as well as joining research groups, assist teaching, or present research papers in seminars.
Francesco keeps nourishing his practice by participating in community workshops, residencies, training and symposiums on topics often related to urban conditions in South-East Asia.
In 2026, he started a Higher Degree by Research at the School of Architecture, Design and Planning, with a focus on civil society organisations and the co-creation of public space.