Archives

Why Thailand’s generals fail to co-opt elections

History and electoral reality suggest that the 2019 elections will deliver another “wasted coup”.

An end-of-2018 letter from the editor

A year of growth and experimentation at New Mandala, with an even bigger year ahead.

The Malaysian economy faces turbulence abroad after regime change

The 'new Malaysia' challenge is to redefine its trade and industrial policies, and to work out where the new sources of growth and tax revenue can be, more so after the GST's removal.

Film Review: Ten Years Thailand

What bleak stories can be told about what Thailand will be like in a decade, when Thais have already lived under nearly five years of military rule? The film Ten Years Thailand grapples with that very question.

New Mandala’s most read in 2018

Revisit the 20 most popular articles published at New Mandala this year.

Habib Bahar’s fifteen minutes of infamy

An eccentric—and violent—Islamic preacher has been catapulted to fame in Indonesia after becoming a target of the authorities.

Corrupting Thailand’s Court of Justice 

The Court of Justice plays no less significant a role in sustaining the military regime, yet has generally kept a much lower profile than the controversial Constitutional Court.

Enjoining moderation: the online self-presentations of the MILF [Part II]

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front struggles to sustain a dual image of moderation and militancy.

Himpunan 812 and a new rivalry in Malay politics

Observations on what many are calling Malaysia's answer to Indonesia's 212 movement.

Enjoining moderation: the online self-presentations of the MILF [Part I]

In its rhetoric the MILF "is forced to walk a tightrope between two extremes", seeking credibility as a negotiator and as champion of Islam.

The rise of Duterte and Bolsonaro: creeping authoritarianism and criminal populism

In both countries, ugly populist politics is a direct result of legitimate concerns about crime and corruption.

Indonesia at the 9th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art

A despatch from Brisbane, where an eclectic selection of Indonesian works stands out at the APT.