To ensure Southeast Asia’s food security, mitigation or the reduction of emissions only constitutes part of the solution. Adaptation is just as important.
Category Archives: Commentaries
How the ‘Deal to Sell Out the Country’ Paved the Way for Thaksin’s Return as Thailand’s Biggest Red Herring
Unsurprisingly, Thai premier Paetongtarn Shinawatra has survived a no-confidence motion in parliament. But the debate over the motion obscured deeper political dilemmas that will continue to bedevil the country.
Batam Struggles to Up the Ante as Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone Rises
The JS-SEZ poses deep questions for nearby Batam as its competitive advantage hinges on proximity to Singapore, ready land and labour, and generous incentives for investors — just like Johor. Batam is also hampered by connectivity, jurisdiction, and land procurement woes.
Why Theravāda Buddhist Nations Struggle with Democracy
This commentary memorialises the late political scientist Alfred Stepan (1936-2017), a leading light in comparative politics. In it, the author considers Stepan’s research and thinking on the complicated relationship between Theravāda Buddhism and democracy.
Growing or Shrinking? How Indonesia’s Middle Class is Really Doing
We must get Indonesia’s middle-class narrative right to devise appropriate policy responses. While some argue that the middle class has grown, the evidence tells a more sobering story.
Grey Chinese Trend on Thai TikTok: From Criminal Networks to Digital Aesthetic
In Thailand, TikTok users have turned the depiction of illicit activity by Chinese nationals into a stylised narrative where aesthetics and humour intertwine.
Johor’s Data Centres: Implications for the Talent Landscape
Despite Johor’s data centre boom, there are concerns about the number and quality of jobs they can generate. But demand is rising for skilled workers in ancillary industries, notably construction.
Can Vietnam Dodge the US Tariff Bullet?
Vietnam has done almost everything necessary to preclude the possibility of the US slapping tariffs on its exports. The question is whether this would be enough.
The Politics of Lanna Identity and the Restoration of Ethnic Thai Dishes
The Thai state has tried to use food hegemony to control cultural narratives but the sheer diversity of local cuisine is putting a brake on it.
Sound of Resistance: Indonesian Youth Expression of Social and Political Critique
A popular band’s retraction of a song critical of corruption in Indonesia highlights the chill in the political climate against outward dissent and activism.