Across East Asia, a growing number of young people are choosing not to participate in a hyper-competitive job market that generates diminishing returns. Instead of pursuing upward mobility through long working hours, they opt for reduced ambition and emotional self-protection. In China, this phenomenon is often described as tangping (lying flat). In Japan and South… Continue reading Opting out of the system: Youth withdrawal and state response in East Asia
Since Myanmar’s resistance has succeeded in weakening the military without significant international backing, the EU must now scale up its support to help shape a more inclusive and democratic Myanmar and remain a credible actor in the country and in Southeast Asia. Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of… Continue reading Why the EU must scale up support for Myanmar’s resistance
A coherent, flexible Indo-Pacific strategy—firmly rooted in European values and interests as well as in the realities, needs, and priorities of the region—is crucial if the EU is to remain an influential player in this key arena of the 21st century. This requires regional and sector-specific approaches tailored to different subregions and countries, within an… Continue reading From strategy to action: The European Union in the Indo-Pacific
This paper explores the challenges of Sino-Russian alignment to liberal international order (LIO) in the Indo-Pacific, with a focus on Southeast Asia. Rather than being based upon common interests or values, the alignment between Russian and Chinese interests is pragmatic and expedient in the context of contemporary international affairs. China is traditionally an important player… Continue reading The challenges of Sino‑Russian alignment to the liberal international order in Southeast Asia
An extended US review has cast uncertainty over the future of AUKUS, unsettling the partnership just as the United Kingdom and Australia formalize their commitments through the Geelong Treaty. Key takeaways: An ongoing review by Washington of AUKUS has unsettled the submarine pathway, reviving doubts about Washington’s willingness and capacity to follow through. The Geelong… Continue reading Testing AUKUS: America’s uncertainty, Britain’s bet, and Europe’s choices
