About Us
About
Established on April 1, 2025, World Order Lab is a youth-driven think-tank dedicated to advancing rigorous analysis and producing high-impact insights on the world’s most pressing security and governance challenges, with a particular focus on their implications for Southeast Asia. Across our two thematic areas, security and governance, we pursue the objectives of peace through cooperative security and prosperity through good governance, seeking to contribute to a more stable Southeast Asia for future generations. We are a strictly nonpartisan and non-profit initiative supported by individuals and institutions that value the depth and clarity of our analysis.
World Order Lab is structured into four departments: the Analyst Department, Program Department, Creative Department, and Legal Department, each with distinct functions supporting the organization’s research, programs, communications, and institutional development. Our mission is to empower young voices to engage critically with international affairs and to contribute well-researched perspectives that inform public understanding, policymaking, and academic discourse. We are proud to bring together 54 active members and 29 former members, representing young people from Southeast Asian nations, ASEAN External Partners countries, as well as other states with established or emerging interests in the region. Members of World Order Lab are bound by the Charter of Ethics & Integrity, which establishes the principles and standards that guide our conduct, responsibilities, and institutional commitments.
It is within the prime interest of World Order Lab to engage constructively with governments, diplomatic communities, international and regional organizations, think-tanks, academic institutions, civil society, the private sector, and other relevant stakeholders on matters concerning Southeast Asia, ASEAN, and the region’s evolving political, security, economic, and governance landscape. We seek to connect Southeast Asian perspectives with institutions and stakeholders across ASEAN Member States, ASEAN Dialogue Partner countries, and the wider international community, while providing our members with greater opportunities to engage directly with policymakers, diplomats, academics, practitioners, and other actors shaping Southeast Asia’s future.
Research
The Analyst Department of World Order Lab, the core component of our organization, is responsible for conducting research, producing policy analysis, monitoring geopolitical developments, and contributing to institutional publications and programs. Our Analysts write analysis articles in the form of commentaries/op-eds, which are then published in online media platforms. Analysts also contribute to biannual regional reports assessing key geopolitical, security, and governance developments across their respective regions and examining their implications for Southeast Asia.
Southeast Asia
The Southeast Asia Desk focuses on monitoring and analyzing political, security, and governance developments across the Southeast Asian region, alongside its political institution of ASEAN and ASEAN-led forum. Members of the Southeast Asia Desk contribute to research publications, policy commentary, and analytical discussions that aim to enhance understanding of the region’s evolving strategic landscape.
East Asia
The East Asia Desk focuses on tracking and assessing political, security, and governance dynamics across East Asia, while also examining the region’s evolving relations with Southeast Asia. Its members contribute to research outputs, policy commentary, and analytical discussions that seek to provide deeper understanding of the region’s shifting strategic landscape and its role in shaping the future of the Asia- Pacific.
Transatlantic
The Transatlantic Desk monitors and analyzes political, security, and governance developments across the transatlantic region, while also examining evolving cooperation between North American and European actors. Members contribute to research publications, policy analysis, and strategic commentary aimed at advancing understanding of the region’s security architecture and the role of NATO and EU in shaping transatlantic governance and cooperation with partners in Southeast Asia and ASEAN.
Middle East & North Africa
The MENA Desk tracks and assesses political, security, and governance developments across the Middle East and North Africa region. Members produce research publications, policy analysis, and strategic commentary that deepen understanding of the region’s complex security landscape, regional governance structures, and the role of key institutions such as the League of Arab States, the GCC, and OIC, while also examining emerging avenues of cooperation between MENA actors and Southeast Asian partners.
Program
The Program Department at World Order Lab, the supporting instrument of our organization, is responsible for supporting the organization of events and managing the organization’s external outreach activities. The department plays a key role in coordinating activities such as webinars, online workshops, publication review, working groups, and other agendas that advance youth public engagement on regional and global affairs. We also actively establish partnerships with external organizations to expand the reach and impact of our work.
Global Order, Statecraft, and Contemporary
Security Discourse
The webinar series advances World Order Lab’s mission to produce high-impact insights on the world’s most pressing security and governance challenges, with particular focus on their implications for Southeast Asia and the region’s evolving role in the global order. We bring together scholars, policymakers, practitioners, and emerging voices through candid and constructive dialogue, critically assess contemporary geopolitical developments, and explore practical solutions to pressing global and regional challenges.
Thoughtcraft Series on Global Affairs
The workshop series strengthens World Order Lab’s role as a capacity-building platform for young people to deepen their understanding of international affairs and engage confidently with complex policy issues. Through interactive sessions that bring together young people and subject-matter experts, the series equips participants with critical knowledge and practical skills in three essential areas: thinking, writing, and speaking. We also provide a space to build the confidence to contribute constructively to discussions on pressing global and regional challenges.
Distinguished Lecture Series on Global Governance
The lecture series is a biannual initiative that brings distinguished figures from government, regional and international organizations, think tanks, and academia to discuss contemporary issues in global governance. Through this lecture series, we seek to deepen understanding of emerging policy challenges, assess their implications for Southeast Asia and the wider international order, and identify opportunities for constructive policy engagement and international cooperation.
Geostrategic Development Review
Our flagship publication advances our objectives of peace through cooperative security and prosperity through good governance, with the aim of contributing to a more stable Southeast Asia for future generations. We bring together a broad range of perspectives on security and governance from young people, representatives of regional and international organizations, scholars, and government officials to assess contemporary global developments relevant to our areas of interest and offer forward-looking assessments.
Working Group
The Working Groups, under the auspices of the Program Department of World Order Lab, are thematic, solution-oriented platforms that bring together analysts and associates with shared interests and expertise to conduct focused research, exchange perspectives, develop policy recommendations, and organize initiatives addressing emerging regional and global challenges. The six Working Groups are organized across our two thematic areas: Security and Governance, with three Working Groups under each area. Each Working Group provides members with a dedicated platform to deepen their expertise, collaborate on research, and contribute to World Order Lab’s policy outputs.
Group of Two Affairs
The Group of Two (G-2) Affairs Working Group focuses on the strategic and security dynamics surrounding the United States and China, and their implications for Southeast Asia and the wider Indo-Pacific region. The Working Group examines U.S.-China rivarly, bilateral relations, foreign and security policies, economic and technological competition, military developments, and their impact on regional order.
Maritime Security
The Maritime Security Working Group focuses on maritime security dynamics in Southeast Asia and the wider Indo-Pacific, with particular attention to the South China Sea, Straits of Malacca, Sulu and Celebes Seas, Lombok and Makassar Straits, and other strategically significant maritime spaces across the region, while examining both traditional and non-traditional maritime security challenges.
Non-Proliferation
The Non-Proliferation Working Group focuses on the proliferation of nuclear, chemical, biological, radiological, and other WMDs, as well as their delivery systems, in Southeast Asia and the wider Indo-Pacific region. It examines nuclear developments and nuclear-possessing states, arms control, disarmament, non-proliferation regimes, and emerging security challenges associated with advanced technologies.
Anti-Corruption
The Anti-Corruption Working Group focuses on corruption, integrity, transparency, and accountability issues in Southeast Asia. The Working Group examines anti-corruption policies, institutional integrity, public- sector governance, transnational corruption, and emerging corruption risks associated with technology and digitalization in the region.
Women Empowerment
The Women Empowerment Working Group focuses on advancing women’s empowerment, participation, and leadership across Southeast Asia. It examines the opportunities and challenges shaping women’s roles in governance, politics, peace and security, and decision-making processes, while exploring other factors influencing women’s roles in public and political life
Climate Action
The Climate Action Working Group focuses on climate change, environmental sustainability, and climate-related challenges in Southeast Asia. It examines the impacts of climate change on governance, economic development, food and energy security, public health, livelihoods, natural resources, and regional stability, as well as national and regional responses to the climate crisis.
News & Announcement
Join Us
Be part of World Order Lab’s growing network of young people across Southeast Asia and ASEAN External Partners countries. Join a community where you can strengthen your research and professional skills, expand your regional network, gain practical experience, and contribute to research, publications, events, and initiatives shaping conversations on international affairs and the evolving global order.
Subscribe to World Order Lab Newsletter
To stay up to date on World Order Lab’s latest research, analysis, publications, events, engagements, and announcements, subscribe to our mailing list below. Through our research and initiatives, World Order Lab examines the world’s most pressing security and governance challenges, with a particular focus on developments across Southeast Asia, East Asia, the Transatlantic, as well as the Middle East and North Africa. Our work also spans a range of thematic areas under our Group of Two Affairs, including Maritime Security, Non-Proliferation, Anti-Corruption, Women’s Empowerment, and Climate Action.
© 2026 World Order Lab. All Rights Reserved. | Terms and Conditions | Privacy Policy | Charter of Ethics & Integrity
World Order Lab is a youth-driven, nonpartisan, and non-profit think-tank dedicated to advancing rigorous analysis and producing high-impact insights on the world’s most pressing security and governance challenges, with a particular focus on Southeast Asia.