Commentaries | FULCRUM

The Race is On! Indonesia’s 2024 Presidential Candidates Assessed

President Joko Widodo invited three presidential candidates for the 2024 presidential election -- Anies Baswedan (R), Ganjar Pranowo (L), and Prabowo Subianto (2R) -- to have lunch together at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta. (Photo. by Joko Widodo / Twitter)

It will be a tough fight in next February’s presidential election in Indonesia. There is time for the race odds to shift but the stakes are already clear.

Impact of Gaza Crisis on China’s Interests in the Middle East and Asia-Pacific

China would seek to prevent a wider escalation in the conflict between Israel and Hamas. It is also monitoring whether U.S. involvement in the conflict will affect Washington’s focus on constraining Beijing in Asia.

Vietnam’s Rare Earth Ambitions: Economic and Strategic Drivers

Rare earth elements are a group of 17 elements many of which are crucial for use in technology such as catalysts, magnets, special alloys, glass and high performance electronics. China has 37.9% of the world's reserves of rare earth elements. (Photo by Wang chun lyg / Imaginechina / Imaginechina via AFP)

Vietnam is seeking to develop its rare earth industry at a time when global demand for such minerals is increasing. Its motivations are not merely economic, but also strategic.

Russia’s Memory Diplomacy is Paying Dividends in Southeast Asia

Russia is employing the selective use of history to further its goals in Southeast Asia.

Out of the “Elektabilitas” Mire Comes the Push for Dynastic Power

Presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto (R) and vice presidential candidate Gibran Rakabuming Raka (L), son of Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo, pose for photographs during the registration for the 2024 election in Jakarta on October 25, 2023. (Photo by ADEK BERRY / AFP)

The lack of real political difference among the various contenders for the top political job in Indonesia has paved the way for the culture of political dynasties to strengthen. Will this culture win out? The votes will tell.

Strengthening Cyber Resilience in Southeast Asia

ASEAN is not ready for the onslaught of future cyberattacks against its fast-growing internet market. Intra-regional differences complicate the search for an effective regional cybersecurity response.

Saving Myanmar’s Post-coup Economy: Strategic and Pragmatic Solutions

A woman smiles after she received a bag of rice distributed by the World Food Programme (WFP) as part of food aid efforts to support residents living in poor communities on the outskirts of Yangon. Myanmar's economy and banking system have been paralysed since the military's power-grab in early February, leading to disaster for millions of people who the World Food Programme has warned could go hungry in the coming months. (Photo by AFP / STR / MYANMAR-COUP-POLITICS-FOOD, FOCUS)

Myanmar’s State Administration Council (SAC) regime has been unable to stem continuous economic woes since the February 2021 coup. However, the situation calls for balanced approach of supporting the democratic movement while advocating for policies that ameliorate the economic condition of Myanmar households.