South Korea is at a crossroads as the impeachment of President Yoon Seok-yeol exposes deep political fault lines, testing the strength of its institutions and raising concerns about its role as a democratic bellwether in Asia. Key takeaways: The impeachment crisis underscores the severe partisan divisions in South Korea. The fragility of South Korea’s democracy… Continue reading What does President Yoon Seok-yeol’s impeachment mean for South Korea’s democracy?
Taiwan and Central and Eastern Europe should intensify their collaboration to protect regional and minority languages, recognizing the role of multilingualism in bolstering democratic resilience. Key takeaways: Taiwan and Poland’s transitions to democracy marked significant shifts in language policies, leading to the recognition and protection of marginalized languages like Hakka and Kashubian. The inclusive language… Continue reading Amplifying the democratic polylogue: The case for Taiwan-Europe cooperation on regional and minority languages
Myanmar faces a dual crisis of civil war and climate-related disasters, underscoring the urgent need for both governance reform and climate action to prevent further regional destabilization in Southeast Asia. Key takeaways: Myanmar’s civil war and frequent climate disasters have combined to create a severe humanitarian crisis, deepening the country’s fragility and leading to widespread… Continue reading Myanmar’s crisis: the fragility of governance and the urgency of climate action
The rise of the Islamic “green wave” and persistent Bumiputera policies risk deepening Malaysia’s domestic divisions, as tensions grow between Islamization and the country’s multicultural, secular foundations. Key takeaways: Malaysia’s long-held balance between its Muslim identity and its diverse, multi-ethnic and multi-religious population is under threat from the rise of Islamic political parties. The 1MDB… Continue reading The green wave: Malaysia’s conservative political shift
An increasing number of scholars have studied the role of identity in shaping states’ foreign policy. In Europe, the existence of diverse national identities renders shared senses of European identity an important foundation for any foreign policy requiring supra-national coordination. Most studies support the view that strengthening senses of European identity promote ‘Europeanist’ foreign policy… Continue reading Identarian Atlanticism and foreign policy implications: a study of European public attitudes
