Archives

Launching: Southeast Asia in the time of coronavirus

Our new series looks at coronavirus in Southeast Asia through diverse lens, and invites authors and readers to reflect and speculate on what we can learn from this crisis and all it brings.

Lessons from Brasilia: on the empty modernity of Indonesia’s new capital

Indonesian officials are raising Brasilia as a model for relocating the capital city to East Kalimantan. But Brazil's experience with Brasilia is not a positive lesson from history, but a warning.

Philippines beyond clichés series 2 #3: ‘Tambays’ are lazy

'Tambay' are often victims of structural impediments to moving forward in life, says Professor Clarence Batan.

COVID-19 gives cover for threats to freedom of information and expression in Myanmar

An ongoing crackdown on freedom of expression is impacting the access to essential information.

Reclaiming the sea from the Melaka Gateway

The Melaka Gateway is threatening the livelihood of a seaside community that is now leveraging its Portuguese–Malay roots to survive.

PAP realism in an endangered world

PAP realism means accepting the conservative position of moderating one’s political aspirations and campaigns to align with values shaped by Singapore's ruling party.

Philippines beyond clichés series 2 #2: The Philippines is a sexist society

Sexism in the Philippines is about "multiple overlapping issues of inequality based on class, religion, sexuality, ethnicity, and also geographic locations" as Dr Maria Tanyag discusses with Nicole Curato.

Co-optation in Thailand’s 2019 election

In the 2019 election, a sizeable portion of the military proxy party’s electoral candidates were “pulled” (phalang dud) from other parties.

A plague of epidemics throughout Myanmar history

For centuries a cross roads of Asia, Myanmar has also suffered the attendant waves of epidemic and endemic disease.

Philippines beyond clichés series 1 #1: Celebrity culture

...globally there are many places where innovation is happening in television and in other forms of media, and the Philippines is definitely one of those places.

Universal coverage without universal testing: Thailand’s delays in access to testing may be costly

Social distancing and travel bans won’t save Thailand from COVID-19 writes Anthony C. Kuster.