The planned resignation of British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who announced his decision last week, is an ideal time to take stock of international leaders of all types and ideologies, including those from this region. Unlike many other leaders, Blair is taking the Middle East peace process seriously. As prime minister, he has gained tremendous credibility in peace-making in Northern Ireland. To maintain the momentum, he recently set up the Blair Foundation to handle his future efforts in the troubled region. The foundation would help promote inter-faith dialogue.

Blair is not the only one who has his future cut out for him long before he has handed over the reins of power. Other world leaders now active in the international community also derived their expertise and knowledge from years of experience and service on issues they identified with or were compassionate about.

Former US president Bill Clinton has become known as a leader who cares the most for HIV/Aids victims around the world. The William Clinton Foundation is at the forefront of this battle and has been fighting to reduce the price of drugs for poor patients so they could have access to them. He also played a role in alleviating the plight of the tsunami victims in 2004. He helped to oversee the rehabilitation of people who were affected by the catastrophe.

Former Soviet president, Mikhail Gorbachev, the man who ended the Cold War and nuclear confrontation, also has his own Gorbachev Foundation, set up in 1992. When it first started, two years after he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, it was thought to be a platform to launch his global initiatives to promote political and economic liberalisation, which could have an impact on world peace and stability. That turned out to be easier said than done. His work was focused in the Eastern European countries and the US, where he is an icon. But elsewhere, he seldom makes news now.

Nobel peace laureate Jimmy Carter probably launched the most remarkable comeback by a former leader. Since leaving office, he has maintained a high profile in the area of conflict resolution and electoral politics. He has travelled all over the world with his fact-finding teams to ensure that elections held in developing countries are free and fair. It is a far cry from his days in the presidency, when he was hamstrung by the hostage crisis in Iran back in 1979. In that sense, Carter has been exceptional as one of a handful of leaders who became more popular after leaving office than ever before.

Kjell Magne Bondivek, the former Norwegian prime minister, has been prominent as a strong supporter of democracy in Burma. He is the only Western leader who is passionate about Burma. He has continued his campaign till today for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been incarcerated for the past 14 years by the military junta. His latest effort includes a joint letter signed by two dozen former world leaders demanding Suu Kyi's freedom.

In comparison, retired Asian leaders have different attitudes and modes of thinking. Doubtless, after leaving the political stage, most of them simply disappear, except a few who manage to stay afloat and in the headlines. The Asian mindset dictates that they stay benign to show contentment with their accomplishments. Any activism, or for that matter enthusiasm, can be construed as conspiracy. They repeatedly reject the interventionist tendency and messiah-liked missions of their Western colleagues. For instance, retired Chinese leaders are mostly spending their time quietly, trying not to stir things up. They still need to watch their backs to prevent any backlash. Personal vengeance in China can be fierce and unpredictable. Former Chinese president Jiang Zemin's and premier Zhu Rongji's legacies are under constant scrutiny now. Other undertakings beyond immediate families and circles of friends are not advisable.

In the past two decades, Japanese prime ministers have come and gone in great numbers, most of the time without any fanfare. But one leader stood out - Yasuhiro Nakasone - who has been the chairman of the Institute of Inter-national Policy Studies since 1988. He wants to transform Japan's global role. A strong Japan as an unsinkable aircraft carrier that can defend itself, he believes, will be good for the country and world stability as a whole. Despite strong criticism against him and anti-Japan sentiment, he continues unfazed with this line of thought.

Closer to home, while quite a few Asean leaders have chosen different paths, some are destined to suffer. After being purged by a popular democratic uprising in 1998, former Indonesian president Suharto has spent most of his time confined to his home and bed because of illness. Suharto was succeeded by his close aide BJ Habibi. Habibi loved publicity and envisaged Indonesia as a country that could rival Germany. Unfortunately, people tend to remember him as the leader who let go East Timor, after 26 years under Indonesian rule.

In the Philippines, former housewife-turned-president Corazon Aquino was last seen protesting against the government of President Gloria Arroyo. She continues low-profile social works. But her successor, General Fidel Ramos, is different: he has been engaging on issues related to regional peace and security, from the situation in Burma to the North Korean peninsula. But his role is effective when it deals with issues at home or within Asean. His comments on the need to open up Asean and broaden its decision-making process were very well taken. As a member of the eminent persons group preparing recommendations for the Asean Charter, Ramos wanted to include democracy and respect for human rights in the charter.

Singapore Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew is by far the region's most active former leader. He continues to comment on world affairs and advises others, including the Singaporean government under his son, Lee Hsien Loong. He set up the Lee Kuan Yew School of Government at the University of Singapore to promote his style of leadership and governance. Former Malaysian premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad continues to carp about his successor, Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi, as if he has nothing worthwhile to do after his retirement from politics. But Mahathir's interest in promoting solidarity among Muslim countries and his strong anti-Israel stand could land him a prestigious position in the near future.

Back home, no Thai leaders can match the others. As the country's longest serving leader, former prime minister Prem Tinsulanonda wanted to do things that were larger than life. He tried new ideas and initiatives but somehow they did not take off. Instead, he set up the Prem Foundation in 2002, which has now become one of the wealthiest charity organisations in Thailand. But the foundation's agenda is still narrow and inward-looking, focusing on Thai values and patriotism. Other former Thai leaders have little in the way of achievements to show, with the exception of former prime minister Anand Panyarachun.

Anand is still the most impressive among those who sat in country's biggest chair. His knowledge and diplomatic finesse are useful both at home and abroad. He was instrumental in preparing the report of the National Reconciliation Commission concerning the situation in southern Thailand. Three years ago, he chaired a high-level UN task force recommending key UN reforms and effective ways to cope and settle international conflicts.

Finally, there is Thaksin, who was purged by a coup last September. He is unique and completely different from other Thais. With his inordinate wealth, he has been able to do lots of things other leaders could only dream of. He has made more international news headlines, and covers of magazines - of course with the aid of PR firms and lobbyists - more often than any other Thai leader. His business acumen and spin teams have been used today to undermine his own country so as to protect his reputation and vested interests. He does not have any intellectual pursuits or good causes to support.

Kavi Chongkittavorn