Politics

Politics • STORY OF THE DAY • 4 days ago • 4 min read

Explainer With Timor-Leste election win, Xanana Gusmão is back on top

By Andrew Haffner • 4 days ago
The independence-era hero was the country's very first president and one of the main conflict-era figures who still dominate the Timorese political landscape. With a popular victory on last weekend's ballot, Gusmao will face daunting challenges as the likely next head of government

Politics • STORY OF THE DAY • May 24, 2023 • 8 min read

Interview The fight to bring human rights to the Thai ballot box

By Beatrice Siviero • May 24, 2023
Pro-democracy activist Chonthicha ‘Lookkate’​ Jangrew, 30, won a constituency seat for the opposition Move Forward Party in Thailand’s recent general election. In this Q&A, Chonthicha describes her journey to activism from a military upbringing, as well as her hopes for change through political engagement

Politics • STORY OF THE DAY • May 19, 2023 • 10 min read

Comparative politics A tale of two elections in Cambodia and Thailand

By Leila Goldstein • May 19, 2023
This week brought vastly different political news to the neighbours, which saw a major opposition win at the polls in Thailand and a further tightening of electoral space in Cambodia. In this Q&A, author and Professor Lee Morgenbesser compares the situations in both countries and puts them in broader context

Politics • STORY OF THE DAY • May 17, 2023 • 4 min read

Analysis Thai elections mark declining public interest in nationalism, patronage politics

By Titipol Phakdeewanich • May 17, 2023
This week's election results handed a surprising victory to the opposition Move Forward Party. While it remains to be seen if the conservative establishment will allow them to actually take power, the vote signals a turning point in the mindset of the Thai public

Politics • May 15, 2023 • 5 min read
Thai Politics

Thai elections: Early results show resounding win for opposition

By a wide margin, voters rejected the military-backed leadership of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha while handing a clear mandate to Move Forward Party and Pheu Thai. As election workers tally final results, it remains to be seen how the next government will actually come together
By Andrew Haffner • May 15, 2023

Politics • May 11, 2023 • 12 min read
Malaysian politics

The state of UMNO: How the party that shaped Malaysia lost its grip

From the start of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) in the anti-colonial movement to its decades of rule of an independent state, authors Danny Lim and Chris Hale trace the full arc of the once-dominant UMNO’s rise and fall
By Danny Lim and Chris Hale • May 11, 2023

Politics • May 11, 2023 • 8 min read
Interview

Malaysia’s UMNO turns 77 today. But how long can it last?

Though now in decline, the party was a dominant force for decades thanks to its loyal Malay base. On the anniversary of the founding of the “Grand Old Party”, the Globe caught up with Professor James Chin, a Malaysian politics expert with the University of Tasmania and Sarawak native, for a Q&A on UMNO's past, present and possible future
By Amanda Oon • May 11, 2023

Politics • Apr 03, 2023 • 2 min read
South China Sea

Malaysia ready to negotiate with China on South China Sea: PM

Following a recent visit to Beijing, Prime Minister Ibrahim Anwar has announced that he is open to negotiations with Beijing over the "sensitive issue" of sovereignty over the South China Sea
By AFP • Apr 03, 2023

Politics • Mar 30, 2023 • 4 min read
Myanmar politics

Myanmar junta dissolves Suu Kyi party

Politician and opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi's party the National League for Democracy has been dissolved under a harsh new military-drafted electoral law
By AFP • Mar 30, 2023

Politics • Mar 20, 2023 • 6 min read
Analysis

Southeast Asia’s power dynamic is not quite ‘Game of Thrones’

As jostling superpowers U.S. and China continue to maintain global influence, Southeast Asia's combined power could put the region in a prime position to rise to the top rungs of political potential, as Australian think tank Lowy Institute's latest Asia Power Index suggests
By Raafi Seiff • Mar 20, 2023