The State of Southeast Asia Survey
America is Back – For Now At Least
Choi Shing Kwok
The advent of the new Biden Administration has sparked high hopes for US engagement by Southeast Asians. Still, Uncle Sam has a mountain to climb.
Articles
Gus Baha: Rising Star Challenging Islam’s Conservative Establishment
A'an Suryana
His style might appeal less to social media users, but Ahmad Bahauddin Nursalim has gained a following in Indonesia for his intellectual capacity.
The Hijab in Indonesian Public Schools: Individual Rights vs. Identity Politics
Ahmad Najib Burhani
Regulating the hijab has long been a tool for both sides in Indonesia’s identity politics struggle.
How Successful Will the Protests in Myanmar Be?
Su-Ann Oh
The ongoing anti-coup protests are qualitatively different and pose a bigger challenge to Myanmar’s military rulers than earlier protest movements.
Lunar New Year, Chinese New Year or “China’s New Year”? The Rise of (China’s) Identity Politics
Leo Suryadinata
In multi-ethnic Southeast Asia, the term “Lunar New Year” is more befitting than “Chinese New Year”. The traditional celebration has always transcended ethnicity and national identity.
Not Welcome Home – Vietnamese Abroad and Tết in the Year of the Buffalo
Ivan V. Small
Vietnam’s border closures keep families apart and economic opportunities unrealised.
New Covid-19 Strains: Domestic Surveillance, Not Selective Travel Bans, Will Go A Longer Way
Jayant Menon
In the ensuing fight against new strains of Covid-19, countries should rely more on intensified domestic surveillance protocols than travel bans.
State of Southeast Asia Survey: Hopes Brighten Over US Amid Covid-19 Gloom
Terence Chong
Covid-19 is the biggest challenge facing Southeast Asia even as regional confidence in the new Biden Administration grows, according to the latest State of Southeast Asia Survey published by the ISEAS - Yusof Ishak Institute.
Agent Orange: Vietnam’s ‘Struggle for Justice’ Continues
Phan Xuan Dung
Agent Orange remains a barrier to closer Vietnam-US relations. To lower this barrier, the Biden administration should treat Vietnamese victims the same as American ones.
Southeast Asia and America: Biding for Biden
William Choong
Some Asian states have gushed over the new Biden Administration’s return to foreign policy normalcy. However, the last “normal” American administration had a mixed bag of outcomes in the region.