Vietnam has a younger, more energetic leader who appears to be covering all bases, domestic and international. What might the future hold for him and his country?
Category Archives: Commentaries
Cambodia Has Not Tilted Away from China
Cambodia’s perceived tilt towards the West has not come at the expense of its relations with Beijing. The country has maintained its diversified foreign policy position.
The Controversy on Rain Shamans in Aceh: Sharia, Local Tradition, and Modernisation
Negative reactions in Aceh to the ritual of rain shamanism do not mask the contradiction of parts of the Islamic community tolerating ‘Islamic shamanism’ or mysticism and ritual over science and modernity.
Takeaways from SEACO2024: Rising Food Insecurity, Growing Concern for Climate Change’s Impacts
The just-released Southeast Asia Climate Outlook Survey (SEACO2024) finds rising food insecurity due to climate change. The region must heed the clarion call to robustly improve food production, distribution, and access.
Thailand’s Overlooked Growth Story: Labour Reallocation and Domestic Investment
Thailand’s long-term growth has been significantly fuelled by the movement of labour out of low-productivity agriculture to higher-productivity industry and services, and by growth in domestic investment. These factors deserve more attention.
Competitiveness and Geopolitics: Why Thailand Chose Gripen Aircraft
The thinking behind the Thai air force’s latest acquisitions reflects not just geopolitical considerations but also internal preferences of its senior ranks.
Data Leaks: Thai Government Tough on Private Firms, Soft on Public Sector and Cybercriminals
Though the Thai government has started to crack down on private companies for cybersecurity lapses, it has not been as harsh with corrupt public officials and crooks on the Dark Web.
Barisan Nasional’s Win in Nenggiri: A Tactical Victory
Pakatan Harapan and Barisan Nasional’s victory in the Nenggiri by-election highlights both their strengths and weaknesses.
Backlash Against Fulbright University Vietnam: Are Propagandists Barking Up the Wrong Tree?
Raising the spectre of foreign influence against young Vietnamese students out of fear that they might be inspired by recent street protests in other countries to topple the regime might do more harm than good.
Rule by ‘Good People’ or Rule by Political Dynasties? Ethics and Moral Politics in Thailand
Constitutional mechanisms originally designed to prevent power from slipping into the wrong hands have ironically fuelled the growth of Thailand’s political dynasties.