The late renowned Muslim scholar Azyumardi Azra had unlimited optimism about Southeast Asia’s position as the future of Islam.
Category Archives: Commentaries
The G20 Summit: Who Makes the World’s Rules?
The Group of 7 are relatively aligned in their perceptions of global challenges, particularly when it comes to strategic competitors such as China and Russia, but the same perceptions do not hold true when it comes to the remaining members of the bigger Group of 20.
ASEAN’s Season of Summitry: More Hits or Misses?
Going into 2022, ASEAN flew into a perfect storm of challenges within and without. With the annual ASEAN summits over, the grouping is none the worse for the wear.
“P225” TikTok: Malaysia’s New Constituency?
Malaysia’s youngest constituents might be swayed by TikTok videos but social media popularity might not be the silver bullet that draws new votes.
Worldview of the Nusantara: Indonesians More Nuanced on Foreign Policy Concerns
While domestic concerns remain topmost on Indonesians’ minds and will still drive diplomacy, results from a survey in July 2022 hint at a more complex worldview.
Sino-Indonesian Relations: Getting Closer or Further Apart?
China’s trade and investment in Indonesia have grown substantially since the early 2000s but the Indonesian public does not share Jakarta’s desire to wholeheartedly embrace Beijing.
NasDem’s Endorsement of Anies Baswedan: Brilliant Gambit or Political Blunder?
The race for Indonesia’s 2024 presidency might be narrowing in the wake of a bold move by a small party.
Food, Floods and Finance at COP27: Southeast Asia Must Act
Southeast Asian governments should support the call to set up a new global loss and damage (L&D) financing facility, empowered with a broad and responsive mandate. It is insufficient to merely strengthen old institutions. An L&D facility is in every country’s interest.
Identity Politics Might Undermine Malay/Muslim Unity
Three broad coalitions are gunning for the Malay/ Muslim vote in Malaysia’s general election. The question is whether voters still regard the issues of race and religion as important.
Putting Sustainability at the Heart of the ASEAN Community Post-2025 Vision
If ASEAN’s Coordinating Council comprising its foreign ministers and their High-level Task Force manages to influence their national leaders to make the right moves despite global uncertainty, ASEAN’s environmental, socio-economic and cultural future can be set on the right, albeit steeper, trajectory.