Commentaries | FULCRUM

Thai Constitutional Court Decision on Move Forward is Judicial Overreach

The recent Constitutional Court decision on the Move Forward Party is unprecedented and will have a significant impact on opposition parties in Thailand.

Indonesia’s Presidential Election: The Limitations of Surveys on Electability

Surveys prior to election day can reveal a lot but not everything, including whether Indonesia will know who its next president is by next week or in late June.

Questioning the Neutrality of Nahdlatul Ulama in Indonesia’s 2024 Election

Despite declarations of the mass Muslim organisation’s political neutrality, there are misgivings on the ground about the Nahdlatul Ulama leadership’s true inclinations for next week’s election.

Can Prabowo-Gibran Win Outright Against a Ganjar-Anies Alliance?

The odds of a one round knockout by frontrunner candidate Prabowo Subianto might be narrowing, with less than a week to go before polling day.

PAS’ Efforts to Attract Non-Muslims: An Exercise in Futility?

PAS has stated that it needs to redouble its efforts to win non-Muslim support. However, its exclusivist stance on many policy issues remains a significant impediment.

India and China’s Volatile New Status Quo

Sino-Indian relations have languished in a state of suspended animation for four years. A return to stability in the relationship would require, at the least, sustained high-level engagement.

The Evil, Stupid and Arrogant in Malaysian Politics: Who is Jadong?

A leading opposition figure in Malaysia has resorted to firing deprecatory epithets at the administration led by Anwar Ibrahim. The reality is that that the Malay portmanteau “jadong” could apply to politicians of all stripes.

COP28: Enhanced Food Security in Southeast Asia?

In line with their climate change plans, Southeast Asian countries need to mitigate carbon emissions in their agrifood systems.

Unemployment, Poverty and Corruption: Young Indonesian Voters’ Top Economic Concerns

People attend a job fair held by the Confucius Institute at University of Al-Azhar in Jakarta

Indonesian Millennials and Gen-Z would like their next president to create jobs, eradicate poverty and combat corruption. While personality dominates the Indonesian election, policy platforms will impact the country’s future – and may tilt the election outcome.