Patronage politics marches under a different banner in the farther reaches of the Thai body politic. This adaptation could shift future election outcomes.
Category Archives: Commentaries
The ART of Rescuing an Unintended Trade Deal While Safeguarding Malaysia’s Multilateralism
In signing the Agreement on Reciprocal Trade, Malaysia has granted the US exclusive preferential terms. Malaysia would be better off voluntarily extending the same terms to all countries.
Natural Gas in the Philippines: A Test Case for Southeast Asia’s Energy Transition
The discovery of substantial natural gas deposits in the Philippines does not obviate the need for the country to make a longer-term transition to renewables.
The Limits of Malaysia’s Anti-Corruption Efforts
To plug its fiscal gap, Malaysia needs to go beyond asset recovery and clawing back proceeds from graft.
Malaysia’s Opposition: The Need to Close Ranks
To mount a creditable challenge to the ruling coalition, Malaysia’s opposition coalition needs to overcome a list of obstacles, foremost among them infighting within the grouping.
Infrastructure as Strategy: How Vietnam Rewires Indochina through Ports and Roads
Vietnam is often portrayed as losing influence in Laos and Cambodia to China. But the construction of key infrastructure gives Hanoi some measure of agency.
Korean Language Learning in Malaysia: Beyond the Korean Wave
By institutionalising an already popular global Korean wave, Malaysian and Korean state efforts are helping to intensify Malaysian interest in the Korean language.
Beyond Non‑Recognition: Myanmar’s Elections Leave ASEAN In a Bind
What are ASEAN’s options for responding to the election outcome in Myanmar?
Is Thai Manufacturing Sick?
The Thai manufacturing sector is suffering from low capacity utilisation. The government needs to think about longer-term assistance.
Thailand’s Trade Imbalance and Stunted Industrialisation: Will the Upgraded ASEAN-China Trade Agreement Help?
Thailand could leverage on the ASEAN–China Free Trade Area (ACFTA) to redress its burgeoning trade deficit with China and get its industrial development plans back on track.