How Stablecoins Could Destabilise Southeast Asian Economies
David Lam
For all the recent excitement around stablecoins, they bring significant risks that warrant proactive policy responses.
Articles
Floating Prices, Fearing Backlash: Economics and Politics of Malaysia’s Petrol Subsidy Reform
Lee Hwok-Aun
Malaysia’s persistently narrow tax base and declining oil and gas revenue underscore the case for fuel subsidy reform. The Long Read assesses the political context and constraints that shape the policy options available to Anwar Ibrahim’s Madani administration.
Anutin’s Rise and the People’s Party’s Test
Eugene Mark
By supporting the Bhumjaithai minority government, the People’s Party has embarked on a political gambit: working with the party’s erstwhile enemy in exchange for some degree of reform in the medium term.
Scarborough Shoal Standoff: More Deterrence, Less Trust
Zhihua Zheng|Jiawei Wang
The dispute over Scarborough Shoal reflects a fragile balance sustained by deterrence and symbolism rather than trust.
‘Gangster’ Politics? Examining Protest, Power, and Poverty in Indonesia
Ian Wilson
Fulcrum editor and Coordinator, Indonesia Studies Programme, Julia Lau speaks to Dr Ian Wilson about power, politics, and popular culture, including the phenomenon of 'preman' in today's Indonesia.
Securing the ASEAN Economy in an Over-securitised World
Julia Tijaja|Muhammad Habib Abiyan Dzakwan|Rania Teguh
Julia Tijaja, Muhammad Habib Abiyan Dzakwan, and Rania Teguh analyse how ASEAN can navigate the growing overlap between economic and security concerns while preserving regional resilience.
Energy Trade in Southeast Asia: The Need to Address Resource Nationalism
Mirza Sadaqat Huda
Resource nationalism can impede energy cooperation in Southeast Asia. ASEAN can use a mix of carrots and sticks to deal with it.
The Intangible Yet Unmistakable Costs of Myanmar’s Political Crisis
Sharon Seah
The protracted Myanmar crisis is now everyone’s problem. The time for ASEAN to act is now.
A Gathering Storm: How Prabowo’s Fiscal Centralisation and Out-of-Touch Elites Fuel Discontent and Protests
Kennedy Muslim|Burhanuddin Muhtadi
Almost a year into office, Indonesia’s central government must balance its ambitions against rising public discontent. There is still time to right the ship.
Crypto Safer than Traditional Banking? Not According to the Data
David Lam
Crypto transactions are not definitively safer than their traditional forebears. In fact, they are often the preferred route for people who want to transact in the shadows.