ARTICLES

Elite Competition and Narrative Inconsistency in Vietnam’s Propaganda Apparatus

Dien Nguyen An Luong|Nguyen Khac Giang

This Long Read argues that Vietnam’s propaganda apparatus is increasingly shaped by internal tensions between two informal but influential elite coalitions. On one side are conservative actors embedded in the military and ideology apparatus, who prioritise ideological orthodoxy and regime security. On the other are reformist pragmatists, often drawn from diplomatic and economic institutions, who place greater emphasis on performance legitimacy, international engagement, and administrative modernisation.

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

Nuurrianti Jalli|Irma Garnesia

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.