Beyond Brotherhood: Vietnam’s New Playbook for Laos
Nguyen Khac Giang
In an attempt to prevent the latter from drifting too far into China’s orbit, Vietnam has made overtures to Laos in the form of functional cooperation.
Articles
Malaysia’s Negeri Sembilan: An Effective Regulatory Model for Sufi Movements and Tarekat Teachings
Mohd Faizal Musa
Negeri Sembilan’s religious authorities have found a balanced way to allow Sufism to thrive while respecting Islam’s orthodoxy.
Bhumjaithai-Led Government’s Platform Promises Financial Prudence but Needs Industrial Direction
Archanun Kohpaiboon
The Bhumjaithai Party’s election manifesto indicates policy continuity with modest additional fiscal spending. The incoming BJT-led government should decisively provide direction for Thailand’s manufacturing sector.
From Production Platforms to the Techno-Electric Stack
Marco Kamiya
China and the US are building new industrial structures known as techno-electric stacks. Southeast Asian economies need to think less about choosing sides and more about shaping and owning a piece of these stacks.
The Supreme Court and Trump’s Tariffs: Restrained or Resurgent?
Stephen Olson
Fulcrum editor Lee Hwok-Aun speaks with Stephen Olson, Visiting Senior Fellow at ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute, on the implications of the US Supreme Court declaring Trump’s IEEPA-based tariffs illegal.
Enhancing ASEAN–EU Cooperation on Subsea Cable Security
Barbora Valockova
ASEAN and the EU could transform their shared subsea cable vulnerabilities and complementary security approaches into practical resilience through closer interregional cooperation that eases the pressures of great power competition.
Thailand’s Upper South: The Conservative Swing State
Tita Sanglee
While the 2026 Thai elections were marked by a win by conservative elements, the situation in the Upper South was marked by the lack of a hegemon among conservative parties.
Myanmar’s “Election” Reveals Hairline Cracks in Military Rule
Ben Dunant
A closer look at the vote raises doubts about whether the generals can hold the country hostage in the long term.
Religious Elites and the Management of Islamic Affairs in Sarawak: A Mixed Scorecard
Mohd Faizal Musa
Political rather than religious authority still calls the shots in multi-religious Sarawak.
Navigating Our Future Together? The Philippine Chairmanship in a Year of Strategic Tension
Joanne Lin|Aries A. Arugay
Joanne Lin and Aries Arugay assess the first quarter of the Philippines’ ASEAN chairmanship and the challenges that still lie ahead.