Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs
Encyclopedia
The Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS) is a Malaysian libertarian
think tank
dedicated to promoting market-based
solutions to public policy challenges. It was founded in February 8 2010. IDEAS is headquartered at Bukit Tunku, Kuala Lumpur
.
, Tunku 'Abidin Muhriz
, and Wan Mohd Firdaus Wan Mohd Fuaad in early 2006, who thought there was a need to promote libertarian
(classical liberal) ideas to Malaysians in a more strategic and organised fashion.
In October 2006 the organisation was registered as a non-profit company limited by guarantee in England and Wales. The ‘working name’ of the organisation was Malaysia Think Tank London (MTTL). It was established in London because all three founders were residing in England at that time. However, when organising activities in Malaysia, they dropped the word 'London' and used just Malaysia Think Tank (MTT).
In May 2009 the Executive Board decided that sufficient groundwork had been laid and that it was time to take the next step, with all operations moved fully to Malaysia. It was decided that Wan Saiful Wan Jan will be the Chief Executive from 1 October 2009. The company in London was wound up.
After a comprehensive situational review, on 14 December 2009, the Executive Board decided to relaunch the organisation with a new name that clearly reflects the areas of their work — Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS). IDEAS is currently partnered with the Atlas Economic Research Foundation
in Washington, D.C.
and receives grants from the International Policy Network
and the Friedrich Naumann Foundation
.
In the 2010 Global Go-To Think Tank Report, a joint University of Pennsylvania
–United Nations University
index, IDEAS is ranked as the 18th best new think tank in the world. In Asia, it is the 2nd best new think tank.
, the first Prime Minister of Malaysia, who stated in the 1957 Proclamation of Independence that Malaysia should:
They achieve this mission through:
that flies freely in the sky – hence its name “Wau Bebas” or the Kite of Freedom. The traditional Wau Bebas motif symbolises IDEAS’ belief that the principles of Rule of Law (Kedaulatan Undang-Undang), Limited Government (Kerajaan Terhad), Free Markets (Pasaran Bebas), and Free Individuals (Individu Merdeka), are deeply rooted in Malaysia’s tradition and heritage.
Their task is to rediscover these truly Malaysian values and to re-present them to contemporary Malaysian society so that their heritage will help Malaysia to prosper in a globalised world. A wau is only complete and functional when it is rooted to the ground via a string, depicting our call for abidance to the rule of law within a small, limited state.
: Those who are ruling the society and those in positions of power are not the ultimate source of authority. They too are subject and accountable to the law. As libertarians IDEAS call for everyone to be subjected to the same set of rules and laws, with no one being above the law. IDEAS believe a system of government in which all persons, including those in positions of power, are accountable under the law is the best safeguard against dictatorship and totalitarianism.
: The government is an institution to which citizens delegate the authority to rule. It is that delegation that gives government its power. But the government is a powerful institution and it can easily become a dangerous one, especially when it coerces citizens into obedience, subverting the very people who bestowed upon them the authority to rule. To prevent such coercion, the powers of the government must be limited, usually through a written constitution that both enumerates and limits executive power with checks and balances.
: is a summary term for an array of exchanges that take place in society which respects and enforces private property rights. Each exchange is undertaken as a voluntary agreement between two people or between groups of people and/or their agents. All parties undertake the exchange because each expects to gain from it. Also, each will repeat the exchange next time (or refuse to) because his expectation has proved correct (or incorrect) in the recent past. Trade, or voluntary exchange, is engaged in precisely because both parties benefit; if they did not expect to gain, they would not agree to the exchange. Government intervention only makes exchanges involuntary and the market unfree.
: Society or ‘the collective’ is in reality a collection of individuals. Each individual must respect the dignity of other individuals regardless of race, religion or gender. This means respecting the differences between people and not trying to impose uniformity. It also implies that individuals have both rights and responsibilities, such as the right to be respected by others, and the responsibility to respect others.
Libertarianism
Libertarianism, in the strictest sense, is the political philosophy that holds individual liberty as the basic moral principle of society. In the broadest sense, it is any political philosophy which approximates this view...
think tank
Think tank
A think tank is an organization that conducts research and engages in advocacy in areas such as social policy, political strategy, economics, military, and technology issues. Most think tanks are non-profit organizations, which some countries such as the United States and Canada provide with tax...
dedicated to promoting market-based
Free market
A free market is a competitive market where prices are determined by supply and demand. However, the term is also commonly used for markets in which economic intervention and regulation by the state is limited to tax collection, and enforcement of private ownership and contracts...
solutions to public policy challenges. It was founded in February 8 2010. IDEAS is headquartered at Bukit Tunku, Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is the capital and the second largest city in Malaysia by population. The city proper, making up an area of , has a population of 1.4 million as of 2010. Greater Kuala Lumpur, also known as the Klang Valley, is an urban agglomeration of 7.2 million...
.
History
The idea to establish an institute to promote libertarian ideals was first mooted by Wan Saiful Wan JanWan Saiful Wan Jan
Wan Saiful Wan Jan is the Founding Chief Executive of the Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs. He received his education at boarding school Sekolah Alam Shah, Kuala Lumpur, before heading to Tonbridge School, England...
, Tunku 'Abidin Muhriz
Tunku 'Abidin Muhriz
Yang Amat Mulia Tunku Zain Al-‘Abidin ibni Tuanku Muhriz, more popularly known as Tunku 'Abidin Muhriz, is the Founding President of the Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs , Malaysia...
, and Wan Mohd Firdaus Wan Mohd Fuaad in early 2006, who thought there was a need to promote libertarian
Libertarianism
Libertarianism, in the strictest sense, is the political philosophy that holds individual liberty as the basic moral principle of society. In the broadest sense, it is any political philosophy which approximates this view...
(classical liberal) ideas to Malaysians in a more strategic and organised fashion.
In October 2006 the organisation was registered as a non-profit company limited by guarantee in England and Wales. The ‘working name’ of the organisation was Malaysia Think Tank London (MTTL). It was established in London because all three founders were residing in England at that time. However, when organising activities in Malaysia, they dropped the word 'London' and used just Malaysia Think Tank (MTT).
In May 2009 the Executive Board decided that sufficient groundwork had been laid and that it was time to take the next step, with all operations moved fully to Malaysia. It was decided that Wan Saiful Wan Jan will be the Chief Executive from 1 October 2009. The company in London was wound up.
After a comprehensive situational review, on 14 December 2009, the Executive Board decided to relaunch the organisation with a new name that clearly reflects the areas of their work — Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS). IDEAS is currently partnered with the Atlas Economic Research Foundation
Atlas Economic Research Foundation
The Atlas Economic Research Foundation, also known as the Atlas Network, is a non-profit organization based in the United States which organizes and convenes workshops, offers training, runs prize programs, and provides advisory services in order to continue growing and strengthening an informal...
in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
and receives grants from the International Policy Network
International Policy Network
The International Policy Network is a global think tank headquartered in the City of London. It defines itself as a non-partisan, non-profit organization, but has also been described as a "corporate-funded campaigning group"...
and the Friedrich Naumann Foundation
Friedrich Naumann Foundation
The Friedrich Naumann Foundation is a German foundation for liberal politics, related to the Free Democratic Party. Established in 1958 by Theodor Heuss, the first president of the Federal Republic of Germany, it promotes individual freedom and liberalism.The Foundation follows the ideals of the...
.
In the 2010 Global Go-To Think Tank Report, a joint University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
–United Nations University
United Nations University
The United Nations University is an academic arm of the United Nations established in 1973, which serves purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations. The UNU undertakes research into the pressing global problems of human survival, development and welfare that are the concern of...
index, IDEAS is ranked as the 18th best new think tank in the world. In Asia, it is the 2nd best new think tank.
Vision
IDEAS is inspired by the vision of Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra al-HajTunku Abdul Rahman
Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj ibni Almarhum Sultan Abdul Hamid Halim Shah, AC, CH was Chief Minister of the Federation of Malaya from 1955, and the country's first Prime Minister from independence in 1957. He remained as the Prime Minister after Sabah, Sarawak, and Singapore joined the...
, the first Prime Minister of Malaysia, who stated in the 1957 Proclamation of Independence that Malaysia should:
Mission
The mission of IDEAS is to improve the level of understanding and acceptance of public policies based on the principles of rule of law, limited government, free markets and individual liberty.They achieve this mission through:
- Research
- Publication of reports and books
- Seminars, discussions and short courses
- Briefings for federal and state politicians and policy-makers
- Media engagements
Wau Bebas Logo
IDEAS’ logo is the wau bulanWau bulan
Wau bulan is an intricately designed Malaysian moon-kite that is traditionally flown by men in the Malaysian state of Kelantan. It is one of Malaysia's national symbols, some others being the kris and hibiscus. The reverse side of the fifty-cent coin of Malaysia features an...
that flies freely in the sky – hence its name “Wau Bebas” or the Kite of Freedom. The traditional Wau Bebas motif symbolises IDEAS’ belief that the principles of Rule of Law (Kedaulatan Undang-Undang), Limited Government (Kerajaan Terhad), Free Markets (Pasaran Bebas), and Free Individuals (Individu Merdeka), are deeply rooted in Malaysia’s tradition and heritage.
Their task is to rediscover these truly Malaysian values and to re-present them to contemporary Malaysian society so that their heritage will help Malaysia to prosper in a globalised world. A wau is only complete and functional when it is rooted to the ground via a string, depicting our call for abidance to the rule of law within a small, limited state.
Rule of Law
Rule of LawRule of law
The rule of law, sometimes called supremacy of law, is a legal maxim that says that governmental decisions should be made by applying known principles or laws with minimal discretion in their application...
: Those who are ruling the society and those in positions of power are not the ultimate source of authority. They too are subject and accountable to the law. As libertarians IDEAS call for everyone to be subjected to the same set of rules and laws, with no one being above the law. IDEAS believe a system of government in which all persons, including those in positions of power, are accountable under the law is the best safeguard against dictatorship and totalitarianism.
Limited Government
Limited GovernmentLimited government
Limited government is a government which anything more than minimal governmental intervention in personal liberties and the economy is generally disallowed by law, usually in a written constitution. It is written in the United States Constitution in Article 1, Section 8...
: The government is an institution to which citizens delegate the authority to rule. It is that delegation that gives government its power. But the government is a powerful institution and it can easily become a dangerous one, especially when it coerces citizens into obedience, subverting the very people who bestowed upon them the authority to rule. To prevent such coercion, the powers of the government must be limited, usually through a written constitution that both enumerates and limits executive power with checks and balances.
Free Market
Free MarketFree market
A free market is a competitive market where prices are determined by supply and demand. However, the term is also commonly used for markets in which economic intervention and regulation by the state is limited to tax collection, and enforcement of private ownership and contracts...
: is a summary term for an array of exchanges that take place in society which respects and enforces private property rights. Each exchange is undertaken as a voluntary agreement between two people or between groups of people and/or their agents. All parties undertake the exchange because each expects to gain from it. Also, each will repeat the exchange next time (or refuse to) because his expectation has proved correct (or incorrect) in the recent past. Trade, or voluntary exchange, is engaged in precisely because both parties benefit; if they did not expect to gain, they would not agree to the exchange. Government intervention only makes exchanges involuntary and the market unfree.
Individual Liberty
Individual LibertyLiberty
Liberty is a moral and political principle, or Right, that identifies the condition in which human beings are able to govern themselves, to behave according to their own free will, and take responsibility for their actions...
: Society or ‘the collective’ is in reality a collection of individuals. Each individual must respect the dignity of other individuals regardless of race, religion or gender. This means respecting the differences between people and not trying to impose uniformity. It also implies that individuals have both rights and responsibilities, such as the right to be respected by others, and the responsibility to respect others.