Power

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

Power • STORY OF THE DAY • Dec 14, 2018 • 10 min read

Khmer Rouge tribunal ‘Astonishing failure’ or ‘justice for millions’?

By Charles Dunst • Dec 14, 2018
After nearly 20 years and $320m in cost, the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) landed its first genocide conviction of high-level officers in the Pol Pot regime. A looming judicial stalemate on the fate of two more cases could lead to the ECCC’s termination

Power • STORY OF THE DAY • Nov 15, 2018 • 8 min read

Pridi Banomyong Thailand’s “Father of Democracy”

By Paul Millar • Nov 15, 2018
Thailand’s first popularly elected prime minister, Pridi Banomyong, was instrumental in the overthrow of the Kingdom’s absolute monarchy and the creation of the nation’s first constitution. But as the palace-backed military junta continues to pave the way for the long-promised return to elections, his fierce struggle for democracy is being written out of the Kingdom’s chequered history

Power • STORY OF THE DAY • Nov 13, 2018 • 14 min read

Anti-China sentiment Seeing red

By Paul Millar • Nov 13, 2018
China is investing billions in Cambodia’s economy. But as more and more Cambodians raise fears of crime, corruption and colonial ambition, could rising public resentment lead to racially motivated violence?

Power • Nov 11, 2018 • 13 min read
World War I

The Great War’s impact on Southeast Asia

World War I introduced nations around the world to deadlier weapons, bloody battles and each other. Though Southeast Asia was left relatively unscathed by the war, the reverberations of the conflict were felt in the region for decades
By David Hutt

Power • Nov 05, 2018 • 3 min read
Sar Kheng

Is Hun Sen’s long-time rival really a ‘democratic alternative’?

Cambodia's Interior Minister Sar Kheng has long been hailed by Western diplomats as a more liberal alternative to Prime Minister Hun Sen's decades-long strongman rule. But with the factional heavyweight growing increasingly strident in his criticism of corruption and incompetence within the ruling party, just what has the former Khmer Rouge cadre done to deserve this reputation?
By Paul Millar

Power • Oct 29, 2018 • 3 min read
Ferdinand Marcos Jr

Potential heir apparent for Duterte?

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has named failed vice-presidential candidate Ferdinand Marcos Jr as his potential heir-apparent. But is the nation ready for another Marcos presidency?
By Paul Millar

Power • Oct 17, 2018 • 7 min read
Malaysia

Activists welcome bills to abolish colonial-era laws with cautious optimism

Bills to abolish the death penalty and the Sedition Act, two of Malaysia's archaic colonial-era laws, are expected to be tabled at the current sitting of parliament, which commenced this week in Kuala Lumpur. Human rights activists have welcomed the move but remain wary of sudden political u-turns
By Amy Dodds

Power • Sep 24, 2018 • 6 min read
Climate Change

How committed are developed nations?

Developing countries claim that Australia, Japan and the US have failed to contribute their fair share to the Green Climate Fund of the 2015 Paris Agreement
By Lesly Lotha

Power • Sep 18, 2018 • 3 min read
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo

What the former president’s comeback means for the Philippines

Former Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has survived corruption accusations, a four-year detention and a serious illness to become house speaker of the parliament. But can she bring her power to bear to fulfil President Rodrigo Duterte’s dream of a new Philippines?
By Paul Millar

Power • Sep 17, 2018 • 10 min read
Antonio Trillanes

Why Duterte’s crusade against senator is not simply a David vs Goliath story

Following Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s decision to revoke the amnesty and seek the arrest of government critic Senator Antonio Trillanes, Southeast Asia Globe speaks to political analyst Aries Arugay on the politics behind the story
By Thomas Brent

Power • Sep 11, 2018 • 10 min read
Belt and Road Initiative

Meeting resistance

Asean countries are beginning to display caution towards China’s massive infrastructure investments. Khor Yu Leng, an expert on Chinese investment in the region, talks with Southeast Asia Globe about this trend and the possible political fallout
By Tom O'Connell