ISEAS Perspective provides analysis of specific current events and their significance for the Southeast Asian region. This will be published occasionally, and is aimed at keeping decision-makers in both the public and private sectors informed; as well as scholars, laymen and the interested public. This series undergoes a peer-review process.
2023/15 “Towards More Sustainable Agro-Food Systems in Indonesia” by Maria Monica Wihardja, Bustanul Arifin and Mukhammad Faisol Amir
2023 No. 15
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Indonesia needs to focus on developing sustainable agro-food systems if it is to achieve its three major goals: eradicating extreme poverty, maintaining food and nutrition security and attaining net-zero carbon emissions. This paper lays out major hurdles Indonesia has to clear in order to achieve that ambition: The agricultural sector’s heavy reliance on […]
2023/14 “An End to the Three Generals Era and a New Beginning for Thai Democracy” by Termsak Chalermpalanupap
2023 No. 14
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The “Three ‘Por’ Group” of three former army chiefs, which seized power in the 2014 coup, is falling apart. Two of the three, Palang Pracharat party leader General Prawit Wongsuwan and Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha, are vying for the premiership in a cut-throat competition. The rivalry between the two generals is intensifying, […]
2023/13 “Impact of GE 15 in Sarawak: Preliminary Observations and a Look Ahead” by Lee Poh Onn
2023 No. 13
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The 15th General Election (GE 15) on 19 November 2022 followed eleven months after the Sarawak state election (SSE), which took place on 18 December 2021. Concerns over the costs of living, education, endemicity of Covid-19, and employment were among the uppermost thoughts of Sarawakians when GE 15 was announced. What resulted from […]
2023/12 “The Vaccine R&D System and Production Network in Thailand: Possibilities for Strengthening Domestic and International Partnerships” by Antonio Postigo
2023 No. 12
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY While Thailand enjoys self-sufficiency in many of the vaccines it needs, when COVID-19 hit, the country’s R&D preparedness and response were not strong enough to develop vaccines in a timely manner. And amid supply shortages after COVID-19 vaccines were developed, Thailand, like the rest of ASEAN, initially relied on vaccines produced elsewhere. Thailand […]
2023/11 “Why Is China’s Global Security Initiative Cautiously Perceived in Southeast Asia?” by Hoang Thi Ha
2023 No. 11
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Global Security Initiative (GSI) – launched by President Xi Jinping in April 2022 – contains broad general principles that reiterate China’s previous foreign policy and security statements. The GSI is the latest expression of China’s international discourse that seeks to challenge the Western-led global governance system, and especially to de-legitimise the US […]
2023/10 “Rising Hajj Fees and Investment Opportunities in Saudi Arabia: The Impact on ASEAN Countries” by Anggito Abimanyu
2023 No. 10
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The hajj ritual (pilgrimage to Mecca) is mandatory for Muslims who are physically and financially able. But the number of hajj pilgrims is capped at about 2.5 million yearly, and Muslims worldwide thus have to wait their turn to perform Islam’s fifth pillar. The Saudi Arabia government is committed through Saudi Vision 2030 […]
2023/9 “Why Is China’s Global Development Initiative Well Received in Southeast Asia?” by Hoang Thi Ha
2023 No. 9
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Global Development Initiative (GDI) consolidates China’s international development cooperation agenda and seeks to bolster its role as a development partner for the Global South. Following the Belt and Road Initiative pattern in furthering the domestic-global nexus in China’s economic statecraft, the GDI seeks to synergise with its domestic pivot towards sustainable and […]
2023/8 “Lessons to Learn from the North Morowali Smelter Riot” by Leo Suryadinata and Siwage Dharma Negara
2023 No. 8
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY A recent conflict between Indonesian workers and Chinese workers in North Morowali Regency brings into focus several issues concerning Chinese investments in Indonesia, poor working environments, and bad treatment of local workers. Three factors underlie the escalation of labour discontent into violent conflict: Ethnic and cultural differences, poor governance in labour relations and […]
2023/7 “The Era of Coalitions: The Shifting Nature of Alignments in Asia” by Zack Cooper
2023 No. 7
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Three major shifts are underway in the international order today: from unipolarity to multipolarity, from alliances to alignments, and from multilateralism to minilateralism. As the world becomes more multipolar, many countries are likely to prefer flexible alignments over fixed alliances, creating a far more complex web of relationships. This rise of more flexible […]
2023/6 “Going Beyond Religious Explanations for Indonesia’s Natural Disasters” by Ahmad Muhajir
2022 No. 6
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Cianjur earthquake in November 2022 sparked a debate among religious elites in Indonesia regarding its cause. A similar process has occurred after almost every natural disaster in the country. This article examines sermons and writings by popular Islamic preachers widely available on social media, particularly YouTube, which provides a range of Islamic […]