COMMENTARIES

3 Apr 2025

The State of Southeast Asia Survey 2025

Singapore is Not Buying into Trump 2.0

Joanne Lin

This commentary draws on the perspectives of 242 respondents from Singapore who participated in the State of Southeast Asia 2025 Survey.

3 Apr 2025

The State of Southeast Asia Survey 2025

Taking Southeast Asia’s Pulse on Geopolitics

Sharon Seah

Some Southeast Asians appear to have warmed to Trump. This could be based on the assessment that his policies might not harm the region as much.

ASEAN-China Relations ASEAN-US Relations State of Southeast Asia Survey

2 Apr 2025

Humanitarian Aid in Myanmar’s Polycrisis: Navigating Disaster Amid Conflict

Surachanee Sriyai|Moe Thuzar

Rendering immediate aid to Myanmar’s earthquake victims should be a straightforward exercise. However, four years of civil conflict and the potential for politicisation by the ruling junta of humanitarian assistance efforts should put all donors and parties on notice.

Foreign Aid Myanmar Myanmar Politics Natural Disasters

2 Apr 2025

Malaysia’s DAP in the Post-Lim Era: Fighting Demographic Realities

Adib Zalkapli

Malaysia’s Chinese-dominated Democratic Action Party has made inroads as a multi-racial political party. But demographic and political realities will conscribe progress.

Ethnic Malaysia Malaysian Politics Race Relations

2 Apr 2025

ASEAN Food Security: Climate Adaptation as Urgent as Mitigation

Paul Teng|Elyssa Kaur Ludher

To ensure Southeast Asia’s food security, mitigation or the reduction of emissions only constitutes part of the solution. Adaptation is just as important.

Climate Change Food Security Southeast Asia

1 Apr 2025

How the ‘Deal to Sell Out the Country’ Paved the Way for Thaksin’s Return as Thailand’s Biggest Red Herring

Napon Jatusripitak

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.

Thai Politics Thailand

1 Apr 2025

Batam Struggles to Up the Ante as Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone Rises

Francis E. Hutchinson

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.

Indonesia Indonesian Economy

28 Mar 2025

Thailand’s Land Bridge: Navigating Geopolitical and Investor Concerns

Eugene Mark

Thailand’s land bridge project faces challenges in managing geopolitical rivalries and competing with advanced ports in neighbouring countries. Additionally, logistical issues such as transit times and reloading processes could diminish potential time savings. Thailand could instead pursue more cost-effective options to improve existing port and overland infrastructure and boost competitiveness.

China-Thai Relations Thailand

27 Mar 2025

Why Theravāda Buddhist Nations Struggle with Democracy

Duncan McCargo

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.

Buddhism Democracy Myanmar Thailand

27 Mar 2025

Growing or Shrinking? How Indonesia’s Middle Class is Really Doing

Maria Monica Wihardja|Chatib Basri

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.

Indonesia Indonesian Economy Indonesian Politics