Although the Visegrad Group (V4) as an intergovernmental platform of Central European countries has the potential for effective dialogue with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), given the current political divisions inside of the V4, fragmented diplomatic activities of Central European countries in Southeast Asia prevail for the time being. The EU and ASEAN… Continue reading Central European–Southeast Asian Cooperation: Promises and Pitfalls
The nations of the region are all experiencing shrinking workforces and rising life expectancy – in some cases at the same time. In October, The Economist ran an article with the headline, “Poor Asian countries face an aging crisis.” A regular reader of the region’s newspapers will probably get a sense of a looming demographic problem when… Continue reading What Do We Mean When We Talk About Southeast Asia’s Demographics ‘Crisis’?
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
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
