8 Oct 2021 Thailand’s Warring Generals: Different Beds, Same Dream Punchada Sirivunnabood The Thai prime minister might soon leave the ruling Phalang Pracharat Party-led governing coalition. Ironically, his departure might actually boost the party's chances of assembling a winning coalition come the elections expected next year. Thai Military Thai Politics Thailand
8 Oct 2021 FPI Reborn: Old Wine In A New Bottle? Burhanuddin Muhtadi The Islamic Defenders Front, a hardline group which was banned by the Indonesian government last year, has relaunched itself under a new guise. Not many are convinced that the proverbial apple has fallen far from the tree. Indonesia Indonesian Politics Islamist Groups
7 Oct 2021 The New Battlefront in Myanmar’s Economy: Fake News Su Mon Thazin Aung The lack of credible media outlets and the proliferation of fake news have led to much economic grief for the people of Myanmar. Censorship Misinformation Myanmar Myanmar Economy Social Media
7 Oct 2021 Nominees and ‘Backyard Companies’: How Vietnamese Officials Conceal Their Illicit Wealth Le Hong Hiep Not a single Vietnamese leader or official has been named in the Pandora Papers, which has shed light on global leaders squirrelling their wealth away from the eyes of the taxman. As the saying goes, the absence of evidence does not necessarily mean the evidence of absence. Corruption Crime Vietnam
6 Oct 2021 Jokowi’s Shrinking Opposition: Smoothening the Path to Constitutional Amendments Made Supriatma PAN’s entry into Jokowi’s ruling coalition has cemented the President’s strong grip over Indonesia’s legislative assemblies and could make passing constitutional amendments even easier. Indonesia Indonesian Politics
6 Oct 2021 The Philippines and the South China Sea Arbitration Award: External Appeasement and Internal Dissension Jay L. Batongbacal Since taking office in 2016, Philippine President Duterte has downplayed the South China Sea Arbitration Award in the hope of gaining China’s infrastructure and financial offerings. This hope has so far remained unfulfilled. China China-Philippine Relations Philippine South China Sea
5 Oct 2021 Twenty Years On: Reflections on The Aftermath of 9/11 and The New Era of Geo-Politics Daljit Singh Twenty years after the historic 9/11 attacks on the United States, the threat of terrorism has largely been contained and a new era of great power competition has returned. States in Southeast Asia need to have a deep appreciation of what drives China and the US in order to maintain agency amid geopolitical flux. China-U.S. Relations Southeast Asia U.S. U.S. Foreign Policy
5 Oct 2021 Idris Ahmad: Not Your Ordinary Religious Affairs Minister Mohd Faizal Musa The appointment of PAS ideologue Idris Ahmad as Malaysia’s new religious affairs minister provides the Islamist party significant latitude to advance its ideological agenda. Islam Islamic State Malaysia Malaysian Politics
4 Oct 2021 The Quad and the Indo-Pacific: Going Slow to Go Further William Choong In recent years, the Quad has gained momentum in response to growing Chinese assertiveness. But a lower key strategy is advised to allay regional concerns that ASEAN’s centrality will be undermined by a minilateral arrangement helmed by external powers. ASEAN Australia India Indo-Pacfic Japan Quad U.S. U.S. Foreign Policy
4 Oct 2021 The Delta Variant and Border Closures: A Rethink is Overdue Jayant Menon The highly transmissible Delta variant of the coronavirus should lead to a rethink about border closures in Southeast Asia. ASEAN COVID-19 Open Borders Tourism
