The Myanmar junta is casting the upcoming elections as a “reset” and transition towards normalcy. Such rhetoric should be taken with a dollop of salt.
Author Archives: blackbox
Thailand’s Deterrence Failure Against Cambodia: A Focus on Structural Hindrances
The border confrontation between Thailand and Cambodia stems from the former’s failure to deter the latter. There is a resolve gap on the part of the Thai elite; in addition, the lack of resolve stems from structural pressures such as the imperative of a limited war and Thailand’s long borders. Changing these entrenched structures will be difficult, if not impossible.
Why ASEAN Must Hold the Line on Myanmar’s Election
ASEAN needs to march to the tune of its own drummer and insist that Myanmar’s ruling regime toes the line, sham elections or not.
Court Ruling Against Former PM Will Haunt Thailand’s Cambodia Policy
The Constitutional Court’s ruling against a former Thai premier will constrain how conciliatory the kingdom will be in times of conflict.
Beyond Autonomy: The Ripple Effects of Sabah Elections on Federal Power
Pakatan Harapan’s poor performance at the Sabah state elections has weakened its bargaining power vis-à-vis ruling coalitions in Sabah and Sarawak. It will need their support to form the next federal government.
Critical Mass: The Complexity of Malaysia’s Nuclear Reboot
Malaysia is re-considering the use of nuclear power. But the government will need to tackle questions about trade-offs.
ASEAN Business Entity: Integration at the Cost of Inclusion
The ABE initiative professes to promote regional economic integration via greater intra-ASEAN investments, but ASEAN should focus on attracting high-quality investment, enhancing industrial upgrading, and mitigating geopolitical risk.
ASEAN Power Grid: Gleaning Best Practices from Worst Cases
As Southeast Asia focuses on building the ASEAN Power Grid, there will be a higher chance of success if interconnections are designed to be modular and embedded within a broader regional integration agenda.
Private Investment, Public Burden: Indonesia’s ‘Whoosh’ Lesson
Indonesia’s first high-speed train project is historic but its government now has to prevent it going off the rails as costs spiral and boomerang onto the state and taxpayers.
Islamic Soft Power: Malaysia Well-Positioned to Consolidate its Global Leadership on Halal Branding and Governance
Malaysia has successfully transformed halal governance from religious compliance into a strategic tool of soft power. Through the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM) and the Halal Industry Development Corporation (HDC), halal became both a moral brand and an economic driver across food, finance, tourism, cosmetics, and logistics.