ASEAN leaders will finally meet US President Joseph Biden at the long-awaited US-ASEAN summit in Washington. Whether ASEAN and US can find convergence on regional issues, such as Washington’s desire to manage the rise of China, will be a pressing challenge.
Category Archives: Commentaries
A Victory for the Social Opposition: Upping Protection for Victims of Sexual Violence
Indonesia’s social opposition has notched an important victory with the passage of a landmark law against sexual violence. The victory was propelled by a unified campaign and the fact that the legislation did not pose a threat to economic interests.
Princess Sirivannavari’s Textile Initiative and Royal Power: Will Thai People Take the Hook?
A textile motif designed by Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana, the
daughter of King Vajiralongkorn, is becoming popular across Thailand,
raising questions about the power and purchase of the monarchy.
The Liberal Order’s Illiberal Turn: Implications for Southeast Asia
The clash of online opinions surrounding Russia’s invasion of Ukraine reveals support for pro-Russia, pro-Putin narratives in Southeast Asia. Untangling why such rhetoric is attractive points to deep dissatisfaction with the existing liberal international order. Southeast Asia can play a part in helping the world avoid worse alternatives.
Sustaining Malaysia’s FDI Rebound: Promotion is Good, Facilitation Better
A better way forward is to continue to enhance investment facilitation measures, making it easier for investors to establish and expand their operations, and conduct their day-to-day business in host countries. In this regard, boosting post-investment, after-care services will grow in importance.
The New FPI: Don’t Buy the Same Horse Twice
The neo-FPI, the latest reincarnation of the Islamic Defenders Front, has sought to make a clean break from its controversial predecessor. Indonesians should take it with a dollop of salt.
Local Matters in the 2022 Philippine Elections
With most eyes on the national posts in the May 2022 Philippine elections, it is easy to overlook important governance issues at the local level. A new Supreme Court ruling will allocate more fiscal resources to but also demand more responsibilities from local governments. Yet lingering structural and political challenges prevent them from efficiently delivering basic services, initiating local development, and empowering the people.
Indonesia’s New Food Agency: No Fast Food Solutions
Indonesia’s food policy management has received a potential boost as it has set up a new National Food Agency (NFA), but vast challenges lie ahead as NFA’s leader figures out how to feed the world’s fourth most populous country in the face of growing external shocks to its food supplies.
Liberation Technology? The Digital Era and Indigenous Survival in West Kalimantan
The survival of the Sungai Utik people and their customary forest needs deliberate imagining in this digital era. The community must think carefully about the future they want for themselves and their forest and seize opportunities to use digital technologies to their advantage.
The ‘Malay Protector’ Debate: Spirited But Short on Substance
Half of all Malaysians and 81 per cent of Malays deem ‘Malay special rights and privileges’ a ‘core feature’ of Malaysian society. Many Malays are anxious about ‘fair competition’, but perhaps encouragingly from the perspective of reform, there are indications of openness to change.