Politics

Politics • STORY OF THE DAY • Jul 19, 2018 • 9 min read

Bangkok Losing its soul

By Katrin Kuntz • Jul 19, 2018
Thailand’s military government wants to turn the chaotic metropolis of Bangkok into a kind of Singapore: tidy, sterile and easily controllable – and thus, a symbol of its power

Politics • STORY OF THE DAY • Jul 12, 2018 • 15 min read

Cambodian elections A hard choice

By Paul Millar and Leng Len • Jul 12, 2018
The three million people across Cambodia who voted for change in the 2017 commune elections find themselves facing a difficult choice: the ballot or the boycott

Politics • STORY OF THE DAY • Jul 09, 2018 • 5 min read

Vietnam protests The ultimate bogeyman

By Anton Tsvetov • Jul 09, 2018
When the people took to the streets across the country in June, the Communist Party of Vietnam found itself facing a whole new breed of discontent that started over Chinese land leases and a new cyber law

Politics • STORY OF THE DAY • Jun 20, 2018 • 3 min read

Taur Matan Ruak Cautious hope for Timor-Leste government with appointment of new PM

By Sophie Raynor • Jun 20, 2018
Timor-Leste has named former resistance leader and president Taur Matan Ruak as the country’s new prime minister, ending weeks of speculation as coalition Change for Progress Alliance (AMP) organised its government following a 12 May election victory

Politics • Jun 11, 2018 • 7 min read
Southeast Asia's choice

What the Singapore summit means for the region

The world’s collective gaze is fixed on Singapore this week, eager to see the outcome of US President Donald Trump’s historic meeting with North Korea’s Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un. But how will the talks affect Southeast Asia’s relationship with the volatile and secretive nation, which, despite international sanctions, still has active trade links with many of the region’s countries?
By Robin Spiess • Jun 11, 2018

Politics • Jun 08, 2018 • 3 min read
Indonesia

The key to suspected war criminal Prabowo Subianto’s campaign against Jokowi

Defeated by Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo in the 2014 presidential elections, Indonesia's controversial military strongman Prabowo Subianto is hoping to ride a wave of hardline Islamist sentiment all the way to the presidency in next year's elections
By Paul Millar • Jun 08, 2018

Politics • Jun 05, 2018 • 4 min read
Politics

For Timor-Leste, a promise of progress

As the dust settles on Timor-Leste’s third election in a year, an unprecedented three-party coalition grapples with internal fissures and an uncertain future ahead
By Sophie Raynor • Jun 05, 2018

Politics • May 10, 2018 • 3 min read
Democracy in Malaysia

Malaysia votes for historic change with Mahathir

Mahathir Mohamad, 92, has become the world’s oldest leader, edging out scandal-plagued Najib Razak.
By Southeast Asia Globe • May 10, 2018

Politics • May 08, 2018 • 3 min read
Win Myint

Myanmar’s ambitious new president pushing for changes to military-drafted constitution

Who is he? Born on the Irrawaddy Delta just three years after his nation declared its independence from the British in 1948, Win Myint’s own foray into political life came in 1988 when the then-barrister was swept up in the nationwide prodemocracy protests against General Ne Win’s one-party rule. Joining…
By Paul Millar • May 08, 2018

Politics • May 01, 2018 • 11 min read
Thailand Politics

The billionaire challenging military might

A new progressive party has promised to break the military's grip on power, but can the young billionaire at its helm win the hearts and minds of Thailand's rural majority?
By Paul Millar • May 01, 2018

Politics • Apr 18, 2018 • 6 min read
32nd Asean Summit

Success or failure: two experts debate the impact of Asean

Ahead of next week's 32nd Asean Summit, we asked two passionate voices from either side of the divide to argue the case for and against the Asean bloc being considered a success
By Southeast Asia Globe Editorial • Apr 18, 2018