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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.

Reflections on the future of Myanmar Studies

Where to now for Myanmar Studies? New Mandala co-founder Nicholas Farrelly reflects on a rapidly changing field.

Progress in democratic culture is being stifled in Indonesia

While community level developments show a rise in engagement with democratic culture, the government appears to extending the reach of repressive legislations and ignore hate speech and intolerance.

Nick Cheesman in conversation with Sumit K. Mandal on “Becoming Arab”

A discussion on the power and limits of colonial racial categories; Hadramis, Sayyids and Sharifas in maritime Southeast Asia; modernity and cultural hybridity; the descendants of Arabs in the Malay world today;

Can we avoid Myanmar’s isolation over the Rohingya?

Recent experience suggests that once Myanmar sees itself as isolated and victimised, it can be much harder to influence to change its approach on the Rohingya.

The political economy that Perikatan Nasional inherits – and will have to tackle

Malaysia has another new government; Tricia Yeoh looks at the ramifications of past leadership approaches on the new coalition's future.

Jakarta voters: leaders are key in cuing policy assessments

Research shows most voters use shortcuts to assess public policy. Afrimadona argues that in Jakarta, the leader associated with the policy is key, even if voters might lean elsewhere with different information.

The partisan history of police power in Thailand

Paul Chambers looks back at the politicisation of the Royal Thai Police, before turning to the palace's recent personalisation of authority over an institution often overshadowed by the military.

Anakot Mai: ‘lawfare’ and Future Forward Party’s legacy

Future Forward successfully convinced younger Thais to give democracy another try, argues Khemthong Tonsakulrungruang.

Four years of people’s war: an assessment of the New People’s Army from 2016-2019

The end of the NPA's insurgency isn't guaranteed despite what officials say.

Scientific homophobia: misusing science in Indonesia

Anti-LGBT groups merges scientific jargon with religious conservatism to deliberately obscure the larger terrain of academic debates.