Tragedies like the collapse of an Islamic boarding school in mid-September in West Java require nuanced solutions and hard soul-searching. Hope and inspiration may come from within the country, indeed, within the same province.
Category Archives: Commentaries
Economic Gravity: The Rise of Asian Cities’ Powerhouses
Urbanisation in Southeast Asia is now one of the region’s most powerful yet under-recognised industrial policy tools. Urban planners and economists need to work together to unlock the potential of the region’s cities.
Malaysia’s Social Media Ban for Under-16s: Protection or Overreach?
Like some other countries, Malaysia intends to ban social media for children and youth under sixteen. However, this sledgehammer of a policy will likely fall short; there are other nuanced options to consider first.
Sovereignty and Military’s Image Drive Thailand’s Hardline Response to Cambodia
Territorial sovereignty and the military’s image as guardian of the nation limit the kingdom’s attempts at conciliation in its current dispute with Cambodia.
COP30: Highlighting the Importance of the Agri-food and Forestry Sectors in Southeast Asia
ASEAN member states can work together to strengthen their national agri-food sectors, building on the outcomes of the 30th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
The Philippines and Germany Enter a New Era of Defence Cooperation
Defence and security ties between Manila and Berlin are strengthening amid rising threats in both Europe and the Indo-Pacific driven partly by the growing alignment between Beijing and Moscow.
A Double Blow to Thaksin Signals the End of His Political Dynasty
Luck and influence may have run out for the man who lobbed himself, his family, and his associates into the Thai premiership for a quarter of a century.
Indonesia’s Tycoons Pressed into National Service, Once Again
Like some of his predecessors, President Prabowo has co-opted Indonesia’s tycoons to contribute to a new bond fund. To what end?
Money in the Air: The Mirage of the Get-Rich-Quick Online Culture in Thailand
Thai netizens are fuelling a get-rich-quick online culture but the lavish lifestyles they flaunt are often illusory and mask the heavy costs of maintaining visibility to satisfy platform algorithms.
Cambodia’s Warming Ties with Washington Reflect Continuity, Not Realignment
Maintaining flexibility in its diplomacy towards two big powers is the clear pragmatic option for Cambodia in today’s geopolitical climate.