The upcoming General Elections in Thailand have underscored the growing fragility of political parties. An irony is that growing polarisation persists despite similarities in policy inclinations.
Author Archives: blackbox
Will Thailand Become More Democratic After the Vote?
A more democratic Thailand after the 8 February elections must mean more than another competitive poll. It requires change in the constraints that determine whether popular mandates can be exercised and renewed.
Pheu Thai in Decline? Its Northern Push Suggests Otherwise
The Pheu Thai Party’s energetic campaign in Thailand’s Northern region shows the party remains a contender in February’s election.
Myanmar’s Digital Authoritarianism: Building a Surveillance State with Chinese Technology Transfers
Chinese technology has augmented the junta’s ‘Big Brother’ capability in Myanmar, even if old surveillance tactics die hard.
The Roots of the People’s Party’s Pragmatism
As the People’s Party moves towards elite accommodation and electoral pragmatism, it is facing a growing crisis of identity and legitimacy.
Between Rivalry and Rapprochement: The Trials and Trajectory of India-China Relations
After five years of tensions, India–China relations have entered a phase of cautious and fragile re-engagement. However, deeper structural faultlines remain. Meaningful progress will depend on whether Beijing chooses to accommodate India’s strategic interests – but given the power asymmetries between the two countries, this Long Read argues that the prospects are dim.
Indonesia’s Regional Elections (Pilkada) as Democracy’s Last Line of Defence
While the Prabowo Subianto government and its coalition partners in parliament have temporarily shelved their plans to abolish direct local elections due to public discontent, this years-long initiative is not dead.
Will Indonesia’s National Mandate Party Move Further Away from Its Religious Roots?
Eyeing the 2029 legislative elections, Indonesia’s National Mandate Party has rebranded itself as the “party of the youth” and looks set to jettison its image as the “Muhammadiyah party”.
Clothed in Uncertainty: Southeast Asia’s Garment Exports and the US–China Trade Tensions
The garment industry might come under US scrutiny for its high use of Chinese inputs. Countries should negotiate with the US administration for a reasonable and tempered approach to the transshipment question.
The Case of Palawan: When Typhoons and Floods Batter Local Memory
The case of Palawan province in the Philippines highlights the importance of local memory of the timelines and contexts through which disasters unfold. Such memory can shape how communities prepare for future events.