Archives

Millenia of maritime mastery: Philip Bowring’s ‘Empire of the Winds’

Though Austronesians operated in networks of oceanic trading that stretched from Asia to the Mediterranean for thousands of years, both the term and cultural grouping are little known.

Q&A: Thomas Lembong on Indonesia’s economy

The reformist chairman of Indonesia's Investment Coordination Board (BKPM) spoke to ANU's Hall Hill for New Mandala.

Making policies work for women in Malaysia Baharu

The “i-Suri” scheme shows the PH government continues to make limited strides toward women’s progress.

Making and unmaking decolonisation: Civilised by The Necessary Stage (Singapore)

Nien Yuan Cheng continues her commentary on how Singapore artists are responding to the Bicentennial.

Measuring the ‘NU effect’ in Indonesia’s election

Ma’ruf Amin's electoral benefit was smaller than often assumed—but it was enough to get Jokowi over the line.

Death amid oil palms: Malaysia’s Batek Orang Asli health crisis

Public shock should be channelled towards real empowerment of indigenous communities.

Diplomatic intelligence

Andrew Selth's recollections of the hazards of the rumour mill in Ne Win-era Myanmar.

Reforming higher education in Malaysia: combating entrenched patronage and racial politics

Pakatan Harapan had promised academic freedom and institutional autonomy for public universities. Can it—or will it—deliver?

What will it take to address poverty in Malaysia?

Despite Malaysia’s record of economic growth since the 1970s, poverty remains a persistent, and especially vexing, problem. How likely is a structural remedy under the new PH government?

Thai Civilized: what a minor party tells us about authoritarianism in Thailand

จงสังเกตความโหยหาอำนาจนิยมในสังคมไทย: มงคลกิตติ์เป็น ส.ส. สะท้อนอะไร

Saigon’s hidden presidential palace and forgotten president: the Republic of Cochinchina and Nguyễn Văn Thinh

Reconsidering an oft-overlooked chapter in Vietnam’s decolonisation.

The Philippines’ counterrevolution from above

After failing to assemble a critical mass that aggressively rallies for his policies, Duterte is leading a top-down insurgency to overturn to overturn the liberal-democratic establishment.