The power of social media companies, if unchecked, poses a danger to democratic institutions. The failure to moderate online content can fuel real-world violence and deepen societal divisions. Coordinated regional and global efforts are crucial to ensure consistent and effective standards for social media governance.
Category Archives: Long Reads
Japan, the Courteous Power, Bares Some Teeth for Regional Stability
Among ASEAN dialogue partners, Japan has been recognised as a “courteous power” that aligns well with Southeast Asian cultural norms and values. Beyond that, Japan has emerged as the most trusted and strategically relevant middle power to ASEAN. This positions it to play a greater security role in the region.
Democracy, Corruption, and Law Enforcement: Challenges in Achieving Grand Indonesia 2045
This article is from a speech delivered by former Coordinating Minister for Politics, Law and Security and recent vice-presidential candidate Professor Mahfud MD at ISEAS on 4 July 2024
Two Borneo Neighbours on Diversity: Comparing Religious Authority in Brunei and Sarawak
Sarawak and Brunei, as neighbouring entities, offer interesting insights through the divergence in their pluralist and conservative trajectories. This Long Read considers the significance of political culture, demography, and religious elites’ training as factors contributing to contemporary trends.
Southeast Asian Perceptions of China: Beijing’s Growing Power is Recognised, but Feared
Data from a multi-year trend analysis of Southeast Asian perceptions of China suggest that the region remains apprehensive about China’s growing power and influence. Yet in the face of greater uncertainty over the future of the United States’ leadership role in the region, the preference has been to try to keep the peace with China.
Southeast Asia and the Global South: Rhetoric and Reality
This article contextualises Southeast Asian countries within the Global South discourse, examining where they align with the characteristics generally associated with the Global South and where they diverge.
Anti-Corruption Politics and Shifts in Central-Local Relations in Vietnam
Since 2021, half of the members of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam who were removed for corruption were provincial leaders, resulting in a decrease in provincial representation in the Committee from 40 per cent to 28 per cent. Moving forward, Vietnam must strike a balance between its anti-corruption efforts and the need to preserve provincial autonomy, to sustain economic growth at the local level.
The Impact of China’s Digital Silk Road on the Digital Domain of the Philippines
The Philippines’ outdated legal framework is unable to meet the new concerns posed by the large scale entry of Chinese technologies. The country’s institutions need to be resilient from foreign influence while accommodating investments that can bolster its digital push.
Corruption Eradication in Indonesia: One Step Forward, Two Steps Back
Public expectations for corruption eradication will never be met unless fundamental reforms are implemented within Indonesia’s Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) and other law enforcement agencies, including the National Police and the Attorney General’s Office. Also needed are curbs on the cosy relationships between politicians and big business.
Just Energy Transition Partnerships (JETPs) in Indonesia and Vietnam: Implications for Southeast Asia
JETP implementation in Vietnam and Indonesia faces challenges such as significant financing gaps, criticisms regarding the attractiveness of financing packages, difficulties in aligning donor and recipient countries’ expectations, the complex political-economic landscape of the coal industry, and concerns over the social impacts of energy transitions.