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Networked authoritarianism at the edge

We should look beyond elite urban internet users to grasp the reach of Southeast Asian digital governance and its chilling effects

Fictional forest koperasi: a new pattern of land grabs in Indonesia

Fake cooperatives acting as representatives of farmers can seek land concessions and conveniently serve as an extension of corporations.

Behind the coup: what prompted the Tatmadaw’s grab for power?

Despite the seeming incredulity of the military and USDP’s claims of fraud, there is reason to take the Tatmadaw’s insistence on the legitimacy of its constitutional claims seriously.

Civic space in Timor-Leste during COVID-19 Part 2: Access and equity

COVID-19 arguably provided opportunities to increase legitimacy and accountability.

Civic space in Timor-Leste during COVID-19 Part 1: Governance and civil society

Civic space in Timor-Leste has been challenged and expanded by the pandemic

American foreign policy towards Myanmar part 2: The failure of wishful thinking

A rash decision near the end of Obama’s tenure led to the complete failure of American foreign policy.

American foreign policy towards Myanmar part 1: ‘Blinded by the light’ of Wilsonian idealism

Past US government policies towards Myanmar have been idealistic and flawed by partisan diplomacy.

Pivot to ASEAN: why Biden should pay attention to Southeast Asia

America’s overlapping strategic interests concerning the South China Sea necessitate diplomatic engagement with ASEAN.

De-industrialisation and returning to the land in Indonesia

Returning workers from failed industrial hubs such as Batam live on the edge between two different worlds: town and village.

Can Vietnam lead ASEAN?

Vietnam seems to be managing global crises such as the pandemic and recession better than many other Southeast Asian nations.

Paying bribes in Indonesia

A new survey looks beyond aggregated corruption indexes at how experiences of bribery and extortion in Indonesia differ from sector to sector.

The digital turn in Southeast Asian theatre: new routes through a global pandemic

"We had people who’d never seen theater before experience it for the first time using Zoom.”