[Book Discussion] Statelessness in Asia

The Centre for Asian Legal Studies (CALS) hosted a hybrid book discussion on Statelessness in Asia (Cambridge University Press, 2024) on 30 September 2025. The session brought together scholars and participants from across the region to engage in a rich conversation on one of the most pressing human rights issues in Asia today.

Associate Professor Jaclyn Neo (Director, CALS, NUS Law) delivered the opening remarks and chaired the session. The discussion was moderated by Assistant Professor Dian A H Shah (Deputy Director, CALS, NUS Law) and featured Dr Christoph Sperfeldt (Macquarie University, Sydney), Associate Professor Rodziana Mohd Razali (Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia) and Associate Professor Razwana Begum (Singapore University of Social Sciences) as speakers.

The book, offers an interdisciplinary and comparative analysis of statelessness across Asia—home to the majority of the world’s stateless populations. Through a series of country studies, the contributors examined the intersections between statelessness, minority status, exclusion, religion, conflict, and citizenship, providing fresh insights into the meaning of belonging and legal identity in diverse Asian contexts. D

During the discussion, the speakers reflected on the key themes of the book, highlighting the complex and context-specific nature of statelessness in the region. Professor Rodziana Mohd Razali drew on her research on birth registration and legal identity frameworks in Southeast Asia, while Professor Razwana Begum discussed the social implications of statelessness and the importance of inclusive policy frameworks that address the vulnerabilities of affected communities.

Participants joined both in person and online, contributing to an engaging exchange on the legal, political, and humanitarian dimensions of statelessness. The event underscored the need for further regional dialogue and collaboration in addressing the challenges of statelessness in Asia.

The discussion concluded with a Q&A session, during which participants raised thought-provoking questions on citizenship laws, international norms, and the role of academia in shaping policy responses.