Thailand’s Senate: Why 2021 Demonstrators Want it Reformed
Paul Chambers
The protest movement’s progressive political reform agenda requires an elected Senate, or no Senate.
Articles
Zahid’s Sources of Stress: The Clobbering of UMNO’s “Court Cluster”?
Francis E. Hutchinson
UMNO president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi is typically the embodiment of calm. Going forward, however, Zahid and his faction will have to hunker down to confront multiple challenges.
Covid-19 Economic Recovery: ASEAN’s Mixed Pattern
Jayant Menon|Sithanonxay Suvannaphakdy
Half of the ASEAN members have contained the Covid-19 pandemic, but not Indonesia and The Philippines. Myanmar, Malaysia and Thailand are dealing with new waves of infection. For countries that have controlled local transmission of the virus, a V-shaped recovery looks likely. For the others, the possibility of a delayed or W-shaped recovery increases the longer reintroduced containment measures stay in place.
Jokowi’s Dilemma: Spirit Versus Sharia
Syafiq Hasyim
President Jokowi Widodo’s cancellation of a presidential decree on alcohol investment underscores a long-running contestation between the powers of the state and sharia law.
Why the United States is an Unreliable Partner to Southeast Asia
Shaun Narine
As long as the Republican Party remains a viable political party capable of gaining power, the US will be politically unstable, and as a result, be an unreliable ally in the future.
Governor’s Arrest a Wake-up Call for Indonesia’s Flawed Electoral System
A'an Suryana
High profile arrests expose the costs and corruption of Indonesian democracy.
Cambodia Embraces China’s Controversial Confucius Institutes
Chheang Vannarith
China’s Confucius Institutes have been vilified in the West, but they have gained much traction in Cambodia. This is not surprising, given Cambodia is one of China's closest allies in Southeast Asia.
Criticising Indonesia’s Anti-Criticism Law: Irony of Ironies
Max Lane
Indonesia’s president Joko Widodo has called for criticism of his administration. He got more than he bargained for.
Vietnam’s Mekong Middle Power Diplomacy
Phan Xuan Dung
Hanoi is applying its South China Sea playbook to the Mekong.
Malaysia’s Digital Economy Blueprint: More is Not Better
Tham Siew Yean
This 100+ page plan may hinder more than help the country’s digital economy transformation.