Politics

Politics • STORY OF THE DAY • 5 days ago • 10 min read

Thai monarchy Good to be the King

By Andrew MacGregor Marshall • 5 days ago
Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn’s public embrace of polygamy is the latest signal he intends to be an all-powerful absolute monarch

Politics • STORY OF THE DAY • Sep 26, 2019 • 9 min read

Myanmar politics Life of the party

By Hunter Marston and Abigail Chen • Sep 26, 2019
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

Politics • STORY OF THE DAY • Sep 19, 2019 • 6 min read

Thai politics A nation on hold

By Giles Ji Ungpakorn • Sep 19, 2019
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

Politics • STORY OF THE DAY • Sep 17, 2019 • 8 min read

Thai politics Waiting in the wings

By Pavin Chachavalpongpun • Sep 17, 2019
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

Politics • 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

Politics • Jul 10, 2019 • 11 min read
Malaysia

Mahathir’s birthday wish

Malaysia's seemingly ageless prime minister celebrates another birthday today. But will the man slammed by his detractors as the nation’s once and future dictator keep his promise to hand over the nation to former adversary Anwar Ibrahim?
By Simon Roughneen

Politics • Jul 07, 2019 • 12 min read
Thailand

Nowhere to hide

Across Southeast Asia, Thai dissidents are under siege. At home, they are attacked by masked thugs. Abroad, they live in fear as their comrades are hunted down, killed or disappeared
By Caleb Quinley

Politics • Jun 20, 2019 • 11 min read
Hun Sen vs Sam Rainsy

The strongman and the strawman

Exiled opposition politician Sam Rainsy has once again pledged to come back to Cambodia. But for a government eager to imagine itself as under assault on all sides, he’s far more useful to Hun Sen in Paris
By Paul Millar

Politics • Feb 21, 2019 • 10 min read
Rohingya

No refuge either

Last month, India deported a family of Rohingya refugees back to Myanmar to face statelessness and possible genocide in their homeland – the latest blow in a fierce anti-Muslim movement under Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s right-wing government
By Lesly Lotha

Politics • Feb 14, 2019 • 4 min read
Politics

Aung San Suu Kyi’s arrogance

Protests in Kayah state over the construction of a statue of the late general Aung San – father of today’s civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi – represent growing divisions in Myanmar, which could have consequences for Suu Kyi’s party in the 2020 elections
By Thomas Brent

Politics • Feb 12, 2019 • 15 min read
US / China Rivalry

In a new world order, which stars will guide the way?

As the 21st century gathers momentum, one theme is becoming increasingly apparent; the power struggle between China and the US. But in the battle for world domination, who will prevail? Two books, one from Singapore and the other from the US, attempt to answer this ever-more-urgent question
By Dirk Kurbjuweit

Politics • Feb 01, 2019 • 4 min read
Brexit fallout

Heavy impact far away

A report outlines the effects that the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union could have on Cambodia and other countries in Southeast Asia
By Robin Spiess, Thomas Brent