Commentaries | FULCRUM

Pope Francis’ Visit to Indonesia: Lessons Beyond Interfaith Tolerance

Last week’s visit by Pope Francis to the world’s largest Muslim country came at a sensitive time. Rhetorical tolerance and humility paled in the light of His Holiness’ simplicity in leadership.

Controversy on Indonesia’s Hajj 2024 Rekindles Conflict Between Nahdlatul Ulama and the National Awakening Party

There is a lot more going on behind the scenes between the leadership of Indonesia’s largest Muslim organisation and the party which sprung from its roots. What might be personal has certainly become political.

Synthetic Threats: The Potential Misuse of Artificial Intelligence for Extremist Propaganda in Southeast Asia

Recent examples highlight the potential ways extremists could leverage artificial intelligence to create and distribute harmful content, underscoring the serious governance and security challenges facing regional governments in the digital age. As technology continues to outpace the development of laws and policies in many areas, managing these threats becomes increasingly difficult.

The Twilight of Electoral Competition in Indonesia

Recent student-led demonstrations throughout Indonesia show that popular support for democracy remains high. This support is not necessarily shared, however, by political parties who are collaborating in an increasingly cartel-like fashion to shrink electoral competition.

Flooding and Waste Management in the Philippines: Stop Blaming the Poor

Flooding in the Philippines is often blamed on the poor and their waste management practices. Research shows such stereotypes are false and harmful.

Data Centres: Johor’s Next Frontier

As global reliance on cloud storage fuels the growth of data centres in Johor, the state needs to be cautious when allocating vast amounts of land to this as-yet-unproven undertaking.

Thailand’s Trade Policy: A Weak Instrument for Resisting Structural Change

Like many other countries, Thailand has employed changes in trade policy to resist the declining economic importance of agriculture. Research shows the effects are very limited.

Malaysia’s BRICS Bid: Not Aligning Away from Non-Alignment

Malaysia’s bid to join BRICS should not be seen as a departure from its long-standing policy of non-alignment.

Kamala Harris and ASEAN: Values and Climate Agenda Will Complicate Trade Ties

If Harris becomes the next US president, ASEAN will not share her values-based approach to trade, which she sees as a tool to advance non-trade objectives.