Dien Nguyen An Luong
Hanoi’s efforts to enlist social media influencers to spread positive narratives risk hurting their credibility, encountering platform pushback, and ultimately backfiring at home and abroad.
Jared Bissinger
Shielded by ultra-low wages and duty-free access to the EU market, Myanmar’s garment industry may be able to weather President Trump’s steep “reciprocal” tariffs.
Firda Amalia Putri|Iim Halimatusa’diyah
Violence is a persistent problem in the Indonesian police force. Recent brutalities against peaceful demonstrators underscore the imperative of reform to enhance accountability and restore public trust.
Nuurrianti Jalli
TikTok Live’s anticipatory suspension during nationwide protests in Indonesia last month shows the influence of Jakarta’s interventionist digital governance. Such suspensions hurt small businesses and can fuel misinformation.
Elyssa Kaur Ludher|Paul Teng
Southeast Asia’s agriculture sector’s growth rates are not keeping pace with population and national economic growth due to chronic underinvestment. Southeast Asian nations need to prioritise actions that help ensure its food security, especially amid increasing challenges from climate change.
Alvin Ang|Aries A. Arugay
The Philippines has remained divided in reaction to a massive corruption scandal. Filipinos must overcome differences and cohesively apply public pressure.
Wannaphong Durongkaveroj
Thailand’s previous administration massively allocated funds for infrastructure. The new government needs to prioritise strategic industries and adopt a coherent long-term plan to address the adverse impacts of Trump’s tariffs.
Dien Nguyen An Luong
The coordinated pushback against a Vietnamese influencer who had lamented the passing of a cultural icon shows that the state values displays of patriotism, but only if such displays toe the party line.
Iim Halimatusa’diyah
In a country long rich with visual symbolism, the use of colour to express one’s dissatisfaction with the government seems to be gaining popularity.
Napon Jatusripitak
Fulcrum editor Dr William Choong speaks to Dr Napon Jatusripitak, Acting Coordinator of the Thailand Studies Programme at ISEAS - Yusof Ishak Institute, about the recent political shifts in Thai domestic politics. They examine the rise of Thailand’s Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul of the Bhumjaithai Party (BJP), the BJP’s awkward partnership with the People’s Party (PP), and competition between the country’s political left and right.