The United States often stresses the need to uphold the rules-based international order. With its recent economic actions, however, the advocate of the rules may be guilty of undermining them.
Category Archives: Commentaries
Digital Repression Deliberated: The Importance of Parliamentary Scrutiny
One effective check on the Thai military-led regime’s use of repressive tactics online has come in the form of parliamentary oversight.
Criminalising Sin? Indonesian Society Not As Conservative As Elites Imagine
Those who worry that the recent criminal code revision in Indonesia might portend a conservative Islamic tide may take heart in some survey findings showing a more tolerant, moderate, and multicultural citizenry.
The Cianjur Earthquake Reveals the Inadequacy of Disaster Resilience in Indonesia
The aftermath of the Cianjur earthquake which claimed more than 330 lives calls for Jakarta to seriously review its disaster reduction and prevention efforts. Much more needs to be done to reduce future losses.
Locating Strategic Imperatives in ASEAN-EU Relations 45 Years On
The ASEAN-EU Summit in Brussels highlighted potential areas for closer cooperation between the two regional blocs, provided leaders can surmount strategic and other differences at this tricky juncture in world politics.
Digitally Connected Youth as Potential Agents for Brunei’s Socio-cultural Change
Just like young people in other nation-states who are digital natives, Brunei’s youth are making their presence felt online and off, in culture, politics, and society.
Fact-checking in the Philippines: The Quest to End Disinformation in Elections
The 2022 presidential election in the Philippines saw fact-checkers fighting an uphill battle against widespread efforts to misinform and disinform Filipino voters, but some key lessons were learned.
Digital Disinformation and Anti-Chinese Resentment in the Philippines
In the Philippines, digital disinformation campaigns have become central to electoral politics. Unfortunately, their use of vitriolic and socially divisive techniques has become increasingly normalised in the country’s politics, as these techniques are put into play even between national voting seasons.
Can Hanoi Afford the Reputational Costs of Friendship with Myanmar’s Military Regime?
While Vietnam has not criticised Myanmar’s ruling regime about its violence against the Myanmar people and the Rohingya, Hanoi should recognise that its staunch support and use of non-interference as a fig leaf could undermine Vietnam’s own quest to become more significant regionally and internationally.
A Peaceful Election at Muhammadiyah’s 48th Congress Can Be an Example for Indonesia
Muhammadiyah’s smooth running of its recent leadership election shows that democratic choice can be exercised by letting candidates’ reputations speak for themselves.