Neither the will nor the material conditions are present for an effective anti-corruption campaign in Laos. Corruption is often seen as a byproduct, a quirk, of a political system. But in many authoritarian states, it is actually the modus operandi. Consider what binds a political structure together. How do you make sure that lowly officials in… Continue reading Why Laos’ Communists cannot do anti-corruption
In September 2021, the European Union (EU) released its very first Indo-Pacific strategy. While its assessment of the current geostrategic and geo-economic challenges is highly accurate (notably if read together with the EU’s 2019 China strategy), the Indo-Pacific strategy has been criticised for lacking specific means of implementation. Since then, the EU has been promoting… Continue reading Global Gateway Initiative: Infrastructure Cooperation With Souhteast Asia
Welcome to the 50th issue of the CEEasia Briefing. In this issue, we dissect the following topics: EU’s probe into Chinese train maker China’s graphite exports to Hungary Vietnam-Germany relations EU sanctions against Indian company If you like what you see, please forward this message to your friends and colleagues who can subscribe here. Do you need to… Continue reading CEEasia Briefing #50: EU’s anti-subsidy probe, China’s graphite exports to Hungary, Germany-Vietnam ties, EU sanctions on Indian company
Mongolia is sandwiched between two great authoritarian powers, namely Russia and China. The complexities of these triangular dynamics will be explained by looking at the historical entanglements and contemporary power dynamics. Which dynamics shape the triangular relationship between these three countries? Responding to the American journalist Tucker Carlson’s recent interview with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Tsakhia… Continue reading Navigating the Triangular Dynamics: Mongol-Russian Relations in the Context of China
Opposition parties should take a page out of the ruling CPP’s book and begin a process of generational renewal. In April, Cambodia’s former Prime Minister Hun Sen will end his eight-month sabbatical. After resigning from his position as prime minister last year, after almost four decades in the job, to make way for his eldest… Continue reading Cambodia’s Opposition Needs to Take a Sabbatical
