Power

Political reporting and analysis on the big questions facing the region.

Power • STORY OF THE DAY • Oct 11, 2019 • 10 min read

Thai monarchy Good to be the King

By Andrew MacGregor Marshall • Oct 11, 2019
Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn’s public embrace of polygamy is the latest signal he intends to be an all-powerful absolute monarch

Power • STORY OF THE DAY • Oct 10, 2019 • 10 min read

Geopolitics Public enemies

By Paul Millar • Oct 10, 2019
Long accused by its critics of serving as a Vietnamese puppet, Cambodia's government now stands condemned of trying to serve two masters

Power • STORY OF THE DAY • Oct 02, 2019 • 6 min read

Protesting China Vietnam’s vanguard

By Benedict J. Tria Kerkvliet • Oct 02, 2019
China’s maritime claims in the South China Sea are bitterly resented by Vietnamese citizens – but their protests depend more on the ruling regime than on people power

Power • STORY OF THE DAY • Oct 01, 2019 • 6 min read

Opinion Red flags

By Paul Millar • Oct 01, 2019
Seven decades on from the founding of the People's Republic of China, the inequalities that laid the foundation for years of socialist struggle across Southeast Asia remain rife across the region

Power • Sep 26, 2019 • 9 min read
Myanmar politics

Life of the party

Seemingly unbeatable ahead of elections next year, Aung San Suu Kyi’s political party has nonetheless struggled to achieve much during nearly four years in office
By Hunter Marston and Abigail Chen

Power • Sep 19, 2019 • 6 min read
Thai politics

A nation on hold

Thirteen years ago today, Thaksin Shinawatra’s overthrow by the Thai military sparked a political crisis that has set the nation’s progress back more than a decade
By Giles Ji Ungpakorn

Power • Sep 17, 2019 • 8 min read
Thai politics

Waiting in the wings

More than a decade on from the overthrow of Thaksin Shinawatra, the monarchy-backed military still rules supreme in Thailand. But with Prayuth Chan-ocha struggling to keep his civilian coalition in line, he could soon find himself looking over his shoulder
By Pavin Chachavalpongpun

Power • Sep 05, 2019 • 6 min read
Singapore politics

A familiar foe

Staring down a challenge by the popular opposition figure Tan Cheng Bock, Singapore’s ruling party may be a victim of its own high standards
By Michael Barr

Power • Aug 26, 2019 • 9 min read
Thailand insurgency

The forever war

From our print archive: As the battle for southern Thailand continues, the forces on either side seem not to care about the innocent victims caught up in their struggle
By Torgeir Norling

FROM THE PRINT ARCHIVE
Power • Aug 21, 2019 • 17 min read
Foreign investment

Cambodia’s crossroads

The Kingdom's open economy has been hailed as a triumph of the free market. But as growing foreign investment in the Kingdom’s real estate sector threatens to price locals out of the market, the time has come to ensure that economic growth serves all Cambodians, not just a wealthy few
By Paul Millar

Power • Aug 20, 2019 • 8 min read
Shan State

Rebels with a cause

From our print archive: For almost half a century the Shan have been fighting a torrid battle for their independence and culture
By Antonio Graceffo

FROM THE PRINT ARCHIVE
Power • Aug 16, 2019 • 15 min read
West Papua

Choosing to act

In 1969, Indonesia took control of resource-rich West Papua through a referendum many Papuans call the ‘Act of No Choice’. A half century on, activists are opening a new front in their struggle for self-determination
By Thomas Brent