The Philippine Studies Programme started as a multi-year initiative known as the Philippine Studies Project under the Regional Political and Studies Programme (RSPS) to enhance ISEAS research on the Philippines. The project received funding support from the Philippine Government through the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines in Singapore from June 2019 to September 2023. It officially become the sixth country study programme of ISEAS on 1 April 2024.
The Philippine Studies Programme aims to support the research capabilities and coverage of Philippine studies at ISEAS through publications and events. It also offers opportunities for both established and young scholars and experts from the Philippines to share their views and perspectives on multifaceted developments in the country.
The current Coordinator of the Philippine Studies Programme is Dr Aries Arugay. Dr Malcolm Cook managed the project until June 2021.
From 2023-2024, the Philippine Studies Programmme will work on the following research topics:
- Foreign Policy Amidst US-China Rivalry
This project investigates the series of changes instigated by the Marcos Jr administration to Philippine foreign policy within the context of a heightened US-China rivalry in the Indo-Pacific. It examines the initiatives launched by the government in facing strategic challenges within its maritime domain, the advent of foreign malign influence operations, greyzone tactics, and revitalized security alliances and new partnerships with like-minded states.
- Domestic Politics & Social Forces
This project focuses on the domestic developments in the Philippines with particular attention to the political dynamics between major political and social forces within the country. It pays attention to the relationship between political elites, institutions, and social forces such as civil society and the Church. It also monitors the cohesion and tensions between the Marcos-Duterte dynastic alliance as the country’s ruling political coalition
- Economic Resilience and Sustainable Development
This project tackles the economic issues faced by the Philippines as one of the regions’ fastest growing economies and an emerging middle-income country. It focuses on the government’s policies to encourage more foreign investments but at the same time ensure equitable development across socioeconomic classes and geographical regions. Lastly, this project also identifies the major economic challenges of the country related to infrastructure, energy security, and climate change.
Books
Title | Author(s)/Editor(s) | Date |
Games, Changes, and Fears: The Philippines from Duterte to Marcos Jr. | Aries A. Arugay and Jean Encinas-Franco (editors) | 26 April 2024 |
ASEAN Centrality: An Autoethnographic Account by a Philippine Diplomat | Elizabeth Buensuceso | 2021 |
Fulcrum Commentaries
ISEAS Perspectives
A Strategic Reset?: The Philippines-United States Alliance under President Marcos Jr. | Aries A. Arugay and Ian Storey | 15 May 2023 |
Like, Subscribe and Vote: The Role of Political Influencers in the 2022 Philippine Elections and Beyond | Fatima Gaw & Aries A. Arugay | 13 March 2024 |
Something Old, Something New: The Philippines’ Transparency Initiative in the South China Sea | Edcel John A. Ibarra and Aries A. Arugay | 12 April 2024 |
Events (Seminars, Webinars)
The Philippine Economy amid Disruptive Transitions | Jan Carlo Punongbayan Karl Jandoc Christina Epetia Zy-za Nadine Suzara | 15 March 2023 |
The Future of Fact-Checking in the Philippines | Edson C. Tandoc Jr. Ma. Diosa Labiste Yvonne T. Chua | 23 June 2023 |
The Philippines’ Transparency Initiative in the South China Sea: Quo Vadis? | Jonathan Malaya, Charmaine Willoughby, Jaime Naval | 15 February 2024 |
Building a Defense Industry in the Philippines: Challenges and Opportunities | Herman Kraft, Jesse Pascasio, Meneleo Carlos | 9 May 2024 |
Media Engagements
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Southeast Asia Climate Outlook Survey Reports
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The Southeast Asia Climate Outlook Survey Report is the first comprehensive report of climate change perspectives specific to the Southeast Asian region. Conducted yearly since 2020, the surveys aim to provide a general sense of the prevailing views of Southeast Asian citizens towards climate change issues. The reports contain the results and analysis of views towards questions such as climate adaptation and mitigation, climate change impacts, low-carbon transitions and climate policy, among other topics.
To access the reports, visit here.
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“Accelerating the ASEAN Power Grid 2.0: Lessons from the Lao PDR-Thailand-Malaysia-Singapore Power Integration Project (LTMS-PIP)” is a comprehensive study of the political and technical process underpinning the implementation of the LTMS-PIP. Based on extensive research and fieldwork, the report identifies key policy recommendations for future power interconnection projects under the ASEAN Power Grid 2.0.
Download the report here.
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“Planning Southeast Asia’s Decarbonisation Pathways – Insights for Policy-Making” draws key lessons from an in-person workshop conducted by ISEAS for ASEAN energy and climate officials in September 2022. The report reflects discussions on shared challenges faced by governments in the climate-energy nexus, as well as potential solutions and expert recommendations in renewable energy deployment, regional energy cooperation, low-carbon technologies and just transitions among other topics.
Download the report here.
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Energy Transitions in ASEAN: A new report by the ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute, Energy Studies Institute of the National University of Singapore, and Newcastle University shows that there are several decarbonisation pathways that can put ASEAN member states on track for an energy transition in light of an increasingly carbon-constrained world.
Read the report here.
Download the report here.
Overview
The Climate Change in Southeast Asia Programme (CCSEAP) was established in 2020 to examine the phenomenon of climate change, its impact, and policy responses across the region and in key Southeast Asian countries. Through Visiting Fellowships, the Programme hopes to cultivate a network of scholars at the forefront of climate change research. The Programme aims to build on ISEAS’ thought leadership to advance climate discourse and knowledge in Southeast Asia through a series of publications and seminars.
The Programme conducts an annual Climate Change in Southeast Asia Survey. Inaugurated in 2020, the survey probes the attitudes and concerns of Southeast Asian citizens towards climate change, governmental actions, and the role of different stakeholders in climate action. It aims to obtain views on climate change impacts, mitigation, adaptation, food security, agricultural production, cities’ adaptation measures, renewable energy and the transition to low-carbon economies.
If any researcher is interested in contributing to the work areas above, please contact us at climatechange@iseas.edu.sg
The Programme will focus on 5 key research areas:
1. Regional Climate Change Outlook
• ASEAN Member States’ climate change agendas, laws, policies, and institutional bodies, including the examination of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and Low Emission Development Strategies (LEDS), among other issues.
• ASEAN’s institutional governance and initiatives on environmental and climate issues.
• Effectiveness of Southeast Asian countries’ current and planned mitigation and adaptation measures.
2. Agriculture, Forestry, and Food Security
• Regional inter-dependencies of agricultural production and food supply chains, including comparative advantages of Southeast Asian countries.
• Land-use, land-use change and forestry issues
3. Cities and Urban Development
• Climate vulnerability, resiliency and climate finance governance in the context of Southeast Asian cities.
4. Energy and Decarbonisation
• Trends in renewable energy deployment, energy efficiency improvement, as well as the successes and failures of government policies including energy subsidies, grants and incentives in Southeast Asia.
5. Finance
• Voluntary corporate climate-related disclosures in Southeast Asian countries.
Researchers
• Ms Sharon Li-Lian SEAH
Programme Coordinator
• Ms Melinda MARTINUS
Lead Researcher, ASEAN Studies Centre
• Dr Mirza Sadaqat Huda
Lead Researcher, Climate Change in Southeast Programme
• Dr LEE Poh Onn
Senior Fellow, Regional Economic Studies Programme and Malaysia Studies Programme
• Ms QIU Jiahui
Research Officer, Climate Change in Southeast Programme
• Ms Elyssa Kaur Ludher
Visiting Fellow, Climate Change in Southeast Programme
• Dr Vinod Thomas
Visiting Senior Fellow, Regional Economic Studies Programme and Climate Change in Southeast Programme
• Prof Paul TENG Piang Siong
Associate Senior Fellow, Climate Change in Southeast Programme
• Dr Prapimphan Chiengkul
Associate Fellow, Climate Change in Southeast Programme
If you are interested in upcoming activities and events by the Programme, including our annual Southeast Asia Climate Outlook Survey, please sign up for updates here.
The aim of the seminar series is to provide opportunities for researchers to present their findings or work-in-progress to an audience from diverse backgrounds. It seeks to serve as a public forum to bridge the gap between art scholars and specialists from other disciplines by addressing issues relating to the complexities of cultural production.
The subject of research should be Southeast Asian and may span modern and contemporary art. The subject matter may include, though not limited to, genres like painting, sculpture, theatre, film, literature, music, dance, and prints.
The seminar series is interested in various themes such as the socio-political role of traditional or ethnic arts; the importance of art in the nation-building project; representations of the ‘nation’ in Southeast Asian art; the biographies of regional artists; contextualising artistic movements or national narratives; the politics of art institutions and their relations with the state and artists.
Coordinators
Terence Chong (terencechong@iseas.edu.sg)
Hélène Njoto (helene_njoto@iseas.edu.sg)
Previous Lectures / Seminars / Workshops / Conferences
2020
November
Ties of History: Reflections on the Politics and Poetics of Curating Southeast Asia by Prof Patrick D. Flores (Tuesday, 3 November 2020 ) – For event announcement, please click here. For event summary, please click here.
September
Breaking windows: Malaysian Manga as Dramaturgy of Everyday-Defined Realities by Dr Rachel Chan (Tuesday, 29 September 2020) – For event announcement, please click here. For event summary, please click here.
August
Myanmar: Recovering the Past – Politics, Prison, Plastercasts and Patchwork by Mr Htein Lin (Wednesday, 25 August 2020) – For event announcement, please click here. For event summary, please click here.
July
Resistance and Reinvention: The Politics of Contemporary Wayang by Dr Miguel Escobar Varela (Monday, 27 July 2020) – For event announcement, please click here. For event summary, please click here.
March
The Politics of Javanese Book Art and Illuminated Manuscript Production by Professor Edwin Wieringa (Monday, 23 March 2020) – For event announcement, please click here. For event summary, please click here.
2019
September
China’s Opera Diplomacy and the Chinese Diaspora in 1950s-1960s Bangkok and Singapore by Dr Zhang Beiyu (Monday, 30 September 2019) – For event announcement, please click here. For event summary, please click here.
August
How to Practise Trance Dance and Survive: The Growth and Place of Jathilan in Yogyakartaby Ms Eva Rapoport (Friday, 30 August 2019) – For event announcement, please click here. For event summary, please click here.
2018
December
Raffles and the Ruins of Empire by Dr Sarah Tiffin (Monday, 10 December 2018) – For event announcement, please click here. For event summary, please click here.
October
Performance, Affect and Memory in Tan Pin Pin’s Films by Cheng Nien Yuan (Monday, 29 October 2018) – For event announcement, please click here. For event summary, please click here.
September
Post-1986 Revisited: The Politics of Representation in Contemporary Vietnamese Art by Ms Đỗ Tường Linh (Tuesday, 11 September 2018) – For event announcement, please click here. For event summary, please click here.
June
Staging the Colonial-Self: Photographing Industrialised Dutch East Indies at the Turn of the 20th Century by Alexander Supartono (Friday, 29 June 2018) – For event announcement, please click here. For event summary, please click here.
April
The Strong Body Canon: The Art of the People’s Party after Thailand’s 1932 Revolution by Thanavi Chotpradit (Monday, 16 April 2018) – For event announcement, please click here. For event summary, please click here.
March
Reflections on the Spanish Conquest and its Representation in the Philippines: El Pacto de Sangre (1886, The Blood Compact) by Juan Luna (1857-1899) by Emmanuelle Sinardet (Thursday, 1 March 2018) – For event announcement, please click here. For event summary, please click here.
2017
September
The Import of Art: Exhibiting Singapore’s National Development through MoMA’s Visionary Architecture by Kathleen Ditzig (Friday, 29 September 2017) – For event announcement, please click here. For event summary, please click here.
Indonesian Art in 1976: A Hundred Years of Indonesian Art by Adrian Vickers (Thursday, 14 September 2017) – For event announcement, please click here. For event summary, please click here.
May
Returning to the Roots: Lim Tze Peng’s Visions of the Nanyang Dream by Chinmiao Hsu (Thursday, 4 May 2017) – For event announcement, please click here. For event summary, please click here.
April
Visualizing a New Kampuchea: Developing a Post Khmer Rouge National Art Identity by Christine Ege (Wednesday, 12 April 2017) – For event announcement, please click here. For event summary, please click here.
March
The Culture of Impunity and Alternative Memories in Films: A Comparative Study of Indonesia and Thailand by Chontida Auikool (Friday, 31 March 2017) – For event announcement, please click here. For event summary, please click here.
February
Ironies of Theory and Practice: Singapore New Wave Cinema by Dr Gerald Sim (Thursday, 23 February 2017) – For event announcement, please click here. For event summary, please click here.
January
National Imaginations in Southeast Asian Art Workshop (Friday, 20 January 2017) – For event announcement, please click here; For event summary, please click here.
2016
November
Colonials or Cosmopolitans? Vietnamese Artists in Paris in the 1930s-1940 by Dr Phoebe Scott (Wednesday, 23 November 2016) – For event announcement, please click here; for event summary, please click here.
Representations of the Ottomans in Javanese Reverse Glass Painting by Professor Jérome Samuel (Friday, 4 November 2016) – For event announcement, please click here; for event summary, please click here.
October
Political Art in Southeast Asia : The Role of LEKRA in Indonesia by Professor Adrian Vickers (Wednesday, 26 October 2016) – For event announcement, please click here; for event summary, please click here.
September
Japanese Artists in Indonesia and Singapore During the Occupation (1942-1945) by Mr Antariksa (Wednesday, 28 September 2016) – For event announcement, please click here; for event summary, please click here.
August
After Finding Francis: Teo Kah Leng’s Malayan Poetry in the Era of Decolonization by Dr Eriko Ogihara-Schuck (Tuesday, 2 August 2016) – For event announcement, please click here; for event summary, please click here.
July
On Nineteenth Century Origins of Art in Singapore by Mr Kwa Chong Guan (Monday, 18 July 2016) – For event announcement, please click here; for event summary, please click here.
June
Breaking Manila: Identifying Emerging Modern and Contemporary Art Collecting Behaviours in the Philippines by Ms Kaye Aboitiz (Wednesday, 1 June 2016)
“Vietnam: Thirty Years of Doi Moi and Beyond”
7-8 April 2016
ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute
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THE CALL FOR PAPERS IS NOW CLOSED
Please click here for the List of Selected Abstracts.
The Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) adopted the Doi Moi (Renovation) policy at its sixth National Congress in 1986, opening up a new chapter in the country’s modern history. Under Doi Moi, Vietnam has undergone significant socio-economic reforms that transformed the country from a backward centrally-planned, autarkic economy into a dynamic market-based and highly internationally integrated one, and one of the most successful stories in terms of poverty reduction in Asia’s contemporary history. The country’s political system has also adopted various reforms to facilitate economic development and good governance. At the same time, Vietnam’s foreign policy has also been renovated under Doi Moi as Hanoi abandoned the ideology-based foreign policy making to pursue the “diversification and multilateralisation” of its international relations. As such, Vietnam has transformed itself into a well respected international partner with increasing influence over regional affairs.
Next year will witness another milestone in the country’s development as the CPV will convene its 12thNational Congress to review the past 30 years of Doi Moi and to introduce new policies to guide the country’s future development. In particular, there have been calls for a second Doi Moi (Doi Moi 2.0) to lift Vietnam out of prolonged economic difficulties since 2008 and to establish a new growth model for the country. Therefore, economic reforms, if any, introduced by the Party at the Congress will have important implications for Vietnam’s future economic performance. Moreover, official documents adopted by the Congress may also shed light on how the CPV will deal with mounting pressures for further political reforms as well as foreign policy challenges brought about by China’s increasing assertiveness in the South China Sea.
Theme and Topics
Against this backdrop, ISEAS will organize the Vietnam Forum 2016 on “Vietnam: Thirty years of Doi Moi and beyond”. The Forum will provide a timely opportunity for Vietnam watchers to review and examine the various socio-economic, political and foreign policy transformations that Doi Moi has produced over the past 30 years as well as their national and regional implications. Held at a critical juncture of the country’s development, the Forum will also be an appropriate platform for scholars and policy makers to share their views on Vietnam’s contemporary challenges and its future trajectories.
The Forum is multidisciplinary, and we welcome papers on a broad range of topics as long as they address the general theme of the Forum. Papers with comparative approaches (especially between Vietnam and China) are also welcome.
Possible topics include but are not limited to:
- Vietnam’s current economic restructuring; SOE reforms; the role of private and foreign-invested sectors; the role of foreign aid and foreign actors in Vietnam’s economic development; Vietnam’s outward FDI; the role of overseas Vietnamese in Vietnam’s economic development; the development of Vietnam’s financial sector.
- Vietnam’s political reforms under Doi Moi; the CPV’s legitimacy and political challenges; politics within the CPV; administrative and judicial reforms; corruption and the fight against corruption; constitutional reform.
- Vietnam’s social and cultural changes under Doi Moi; immigration and demographic changes; urbanization process; inequality; middle class; Vietnam’s education reform.
- Vietnam’s foreign policy evolution under Doi Moi; Vietnam’s contemporary foreign policy challenges; Vietnam’s relations with major countries and ASEAN; Vietnam and the South China Sea disputes; Vietnam’s international economic integration.
Forum’s Format
The Forum will be divided into eight consecutive panels, focusing on four research areas: economics; politics; social and cultural issues; and foreign policy. Each panel will address the overall theme of the Forum with a focus on their specific area.
Each panel will be composed of 4-5 participants, each participant has 15 minutes to present their paper and 10 minutes for Q&A. Depending on the quality of the papers submitted, however, the number of participants in each panel may be increased or decreased so that the best participants/papers will be selected.
It is expected that an edited book based on a number of selected papers will be published within 12-18 months after the Forum concludes.
Submission of Abstracts and Full Papers
Interested scholars should submit author information, paper title and an abstract (maximum 250 words) before 17 July 2015. Selected authors will be notified via email on 24 July 2015.
The deadline for full papers to be submitted is 29 January 2016. Please note that authors who do not submit completed papers by due date may be asked to give up their place in the Forum.
The papers must be original research that have not been published or are not being considered for publication anywhere else.
The papers should be between 6000-8000 words, using endnotes and following the rules set out in Chapter 15 of the Chicago Manual Style, 12th edition, 1969.
Conference Grants
ISEAS will cover economy class round-trip airfare and accommodation (2 to 3 nights) for selected participants, plus per diems during the Forum.
Key dates
•Abstract submission: 17 July 2015
•Selected participants announced: 24 July 2015
•Full paper submission: 29 January 2016
•Forum organized: 7-8 April 2016
Further Information and Contact Details
Further information about the Forum is available at the Forum’s website: Vietnamforum.info. All queries should be directed to:
Dr. Le Hong Hiep
Visiting Fellow, ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute
30 Heng Mui Keng Terrace, Singapore 119614
Email: le_hong_hiep@iseas.edu.sg
Tel: +65 6870 4545
“Vietnam: Thirty Years of Doi Moi and Beyond”
7-8 April 2016
ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute
BACK TO VIETNAM FORUM 2016
ECONOMIC ISSUES
Session 1: The Political Economy of Doi Moi
1. Vietnam: Economic Strategy and Economic Reality
2. The Political Economy of Industrial Development in Vietnam (1986-2012)
3. SOE Restructuring in Vietnam: Where Do We Stand and What Are the Challenges Ahead?
4. Does Fiscal Decentralisation Help Improve Socio-Economic Outcomes? Evidence from Vietnam’s Poverty Reduction and Health Outcomes
Session 2: The Sectoral Dynamics of Doi Moi
1. Impacts of Foreign Investment on Vietnam’s Economy under Doi Moi
2. Industrial Spatial Localization and the Involvement Of MNEs– Comparison between the Red River Delta and the Southeast in Vietnam
3. Changes in Ownership, Employment, and Wages in Vietnamese Firms
4. The China Factor in Vietnam’s Energy Industry
SOCIAL AND CULTURAL ISSUES
Session 3: Urban and Rural Transformations under Doi Moi
1. Rural Vietnam: Transformational Dynamics and Regional Variation
2. Vietnam’s Land Reforms and the Implications on Insecure and Unequal Access to Land in Practice: A Case Study In a Rural Community in Central Vietnam
3. Driving Doi Moi: Cars, Class and Capitalism in Contemporary Vietnam
Session 4: Doi Moi’s Impacts Revisited: Education, Health, Labour and Religion
1. Reform Process and Productive Efficiency in Vietnamese Higher Education: A Case Study of Public Universities
2. Vietnam’s Religion Policy under Doi Moi: The Case of Mariamman Temple
3. Affective Expertise: Social Work and the Management of Femininity and Class in Ho Chi Minh City
POLITICAL ISSUES
Session 5: Vietnam’s Transforming Political Landscape under Doi Moi
1. The Struggle for a Constitutional Moment in Vietnam
2. The Influence of Social Media in Vietnam’s Elite Politics
3. Autonomy of Public Service Delivery Agencies in Vietnam and OECD: A Comparative Institutional Perspective
Session 6: Doi Moi, Political Legitimacy and Implications for the CPV
1. The Communist Party of Vietnam’s Resilient Authoritarianism: Adaption Strategies since Doi Moi
2. Vietnamese Civic Organizations: Supporters of or Obstacles to Further Democratization? Results from an Empirical Survey
3. The Making of National Ancestry: The Worship of Hung Kings and Vietnamese Struggle with the Post-War Political Culture
FOREIGN POLICY ISSUES
Session 7: Vietnam’s relations with major powers under Doi Moi
1. Ideology vs. Realpolitik: Another New Shift in Vietnam’s Foreign Policy?
2. The Evolution of Strategic Trust in Vietnam’s Foreign Policy: A Case Study of Relations with The United States through the Doi Moi Years
3. China-Vietnam Relations after the Oil Rig HYSY-981: The Politics of “Struggling Co-Evolution“
Session 8: Beyond “Diversification and Multilateralization”: New Opportunities & Challenges for Vietnam’s Diplomacy
1. India-Vietnam Partnership: The Maritime Imperatives
2. Vietnam’s Foreign Policy towards Its Smaller Neighbours
3. The EU’s Norm Diffusion through Free Trade Agreement (FTA) Negotiations and Vietnam’s Reaction
Please click the links below for more information on each Programme:
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The Regional Strategic and Political Studies (RSPS) programme focuses on the dynamics of political change within the regional states and strategic issues in the Southeast Asian region and the wider Indo-Pacific. In particular, RSPS examines topics relating to the security and stability of the region as well as the region’s relationships with major powers. The programme organises workshops, conferences and seminars/webinars as well as produces books, articles and working papers.
The programme has two major publications. Published since 1974, Southeast Asian Affairs is regarded as a flagship publication of the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute. It provides an annual review of the politics, economies, and international relations of contemporary Southeast Asia as a region and its individual states. The collection of Southeast Asian Affairs volumes constitutes a valuable resource documenting the evolution of Southeast Asian developments from the 1970s.
RSPS also publishes the internationally-refereed peer-reviewed journal Contemporary Southeast Asia three times a year. The journal covers topics on regionalism, security and strategic affairs, domestic political developments, and international relations relevant to Southeast Asia. CSEA is listed in the most important bibliographic databases, including the prestigious Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI).
As part of above, the RSPS team are currently working on the following research topics:
CURRENT RSPS PROJECTS
China, the United States and Southeast Asia
Strategic competition has become the new paradigm of US-China relations, with consequential implications for Southeast Asia’s relations with both great powers and the security and economic well-being of regional countries. The stakes are high for Southeast Asia since both the US and China have and will continue to step up their engagement with the region as a critical component of their geopolitical contest. This project will monitor (i) US policy under the Biden administration towards China and its key allies/partners in Asia and their impact on Southeast Asia; US policy on the regional architecture, including established ASEAN-led mechanisms as well as emergent minilateral coalitions such as the Quad and AUKUS; America’s relations with Southeast Asian states; (ii) China’s engagement with Southeast Asia through various diplomatic, economic, security and military, and people-to-people channels, including the BRI, the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation and its competition with other Mekong-related initiatives, and efforts to influence ethnic Chinese communities in Southeast Asia; (iii) The opportunities and challenges for Southeast Asia in light of the US-China strategic rivalry, especially the pressure to take sides, and how regional states have responded to the changing power dynamics.
Middle Powers’ Engagement with Southeast Asia
The role of middle powers in affecting the regional balance of power and shaping regional governance is well regarded in Southeast Asia. Japan, India, the ROK and Australia are important middle powers that maintain a strong focus on Southeast Asia in their Indo-Pacific strategies and longstanding engagements with Southeast Asia. Amid the US-China rivalry, these countries’ relations with America and China are changing with important implications for their approaches to Southeast Asia. From the bilateral perspective, these countries have continued to engage Southeast Asian states on their own merits as well, although there could be differences in terms of emphasis and priorities. This project examines how the unfolding geopolitical dynamics affect these middle powers’ engagement with Southeast Asia and what are the opportunities and constraints in their efforts to strengthen ties with the region.
Maritime Security in Southeast Asia
Security in Southeast Asia’s maritime domain will increase in importance in the coming years as great power competition intensifies and non-traditional security threats such as piracy and illegal fishing persist. Competing territorial and jurisdictional claims in the South China Sea, complicated by US-China rivalry, will be the primary focus as tensions continue to rise and the parties concerned harden their positions. Major European players such as France, the United Kingdom and Germany have also stepped up their military presence in the area. The project will monitor and assess developments in the maritime space, especially in the South China Sea, including incidents at sea, power projection and legal warfare, and negotiations between ASEAN and China for a Code of Conduct. The piracy situation in the Straits of Malacca and Sulu/Celebes Sea will also be tracked.
Philippine Studies Project
Running from June 2019 to December 2023, the Philippine Studies Project receives funding support from the Philippine Government through the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines in Singapore. It aims to support the research capabilities and coverage of Philippine studies at ISEAS through publications and events. It also offers opportunities for both established and young scholars and experts from the Philippines to share their views and perspectives on multifaceted developments in the country. From October 2021 to June 2022, the overall theme of the Philippine Studies Project is Electoral Politics and Foreign Policy in the Philippines. The Project will also track developments related to the elections to understand the continuity and change in Philippine politics. Another area of focus would be the Philippines’ foreign policy under the new administration, especially towards the United States, China and ASEAN.
Researchers
Programme Coordinators
Lee Sue-Ann (Coordinator)
Hoang Thi Ha (Co-coordinator)
Current Researchers
Ian Storey
William Choong
Lye Liang Fook
Tang Siew Mun
Daljit Singh
Cha Hae Won
Eugene R.L. Tan
Image Source: Wikimedia
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The RSCS programme examines the history, sociology and anthropology of national and transnational processes within Southeast Asia. RSCS is concerned with ethnographic practices in contemporary histories, nation-building, civil society and religion, cultural globalisation and identity-making, transnational movements, democratisation and multiculturalism, and contemporary politics in Southeast Asia. The programme adopts qualitative and quantitative methods and comparative approaches in its studies.
The programme publishes the internationally-refereed SOJOURN thrice a year. The journal is an interdisciplinary journal devoted to the study of social and cultural issues in Southeast Asia. Areas of special concern include ethnicity, religion, tourism, urbanisation, migration, popular culture, social and cultural change, and development.
Projects
Religion in Southeast Asia
The projects under this theme examine the impact of religious growth and revival on multicultural and multi-religious societies and their role in shaping politics and public debates. They analyse, among others, the role of religious elites, religious movements, religious education, and new modes of religious transmission. Currently, it is building its focus on Islamic trends in the region and expanding its interest in Christianity and Buddhism.
For more information, please contact the Coordinators, Dr Norshahril Saat and Dr Terence Chong.
China and Southeast Asian Society
This project seeks to monitor and understand the extent to which China’s political and cultural influence is impacting Southeast Asia, overseas Chinese and new Chinese migrants in the region. Some themes include the growth of Chinese popular culture, the impact of Chinese tourists on local economies, Chinese migrant workers in Southeast Asia, and the transformation of Chinese religions in mainland Southeast Asia.
For more information, please contact the Coordinator, Professor Leo Suryadinata.
Youth and Civic Engagement
The project critically analyses the religious and political behaviour of youths in Southeast Asia. Covering several countries in the region, this project examines how youths articulate their interests and aspirations, negotiate religion, politics and emerging digital trends, and explores cross-state engagements and interactions. The project also hopes to survey the extent to which Islam, Christianity, and Buddhism shape the social, political and cultural lives of those between the ages 15 to 35.
For more information, please contact the Coordinators, Dr Iim Halimatusa’diyah and Dr Norshahril Saat.
Social Inequality and the Urban Poor in Southeast Asia
This project adopts a sociological and anthropological approach to better understand the social behaviour of the underclass in Southeast Asia’s urban centres. In the post-COVID-19 pandemic era, new forms of economic and social struggles have been observed among the urban poor. This project traces how they grapple with the social assistance provided by states, their jobs, housing needs, educational attainment, as well as access to healthcare services and other basic needs.
For more information, please contact the Coordinator, Dr Norshahril Saat.
SOJOURN
For matters relating to SOJOURN, please contact the Managing Editor, Professor Hui Yew-Foong.
Researchers
Programme Coordinator
Dr Norshahril Saat
Current Researchers
Dr Terence Chong [DCE]
Professor Leo Suryadinata (Project Coordinator)
Dr Iim Halimatusa’diyah (Project Coordinator)
Professor Hui Yew-Foong (SOJOURN Managing Editor)
Dr Panarat Anamwathana
Dr Syaza Shukri
Dr Peter Chang Thiam Chai
Dr Kornphanat Tungkeunkunt
Dr Mara Yue Du
Dr Pradana Boy Zulian Thobibul
Dr Xue Song
Research Officers
Ms Afra Alatas
Ms Dorcas Gan
Ms Gwendolyn Yap
Mr Hasyir Hamid
Ms Nur Syafiqah Binte Mohd Taufek
Ms Rebecca Neo
Visiting Fellows [Between 2020 – 2023]
Dr A’an Suryana
Dr Andrew Ong
Dr Aranya Siriphon
Professor Chang-Yau Hoon
Dr Daungyewa Utarasint
Dr Mohd Faizal Musa
Dr Kevin S.Y Tan
Professor Kuah Khun Eng
Dr Ahmad Muhajir
Dr Oliver Tappe
Dr Sivarin Lertpusit
Dr Siti Mazidah Mohamad
Dr Vannarith Chheang
Current Associate Fellows
Dr Jason Lim
Dr Ross Tapsell
Dr Veronica L. Gregorio
Wang Gungwu Fellows [Between 2020 – 2023]
Dr Courtney T. Wittekind
Mr Jackie Wong Siu Hei
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The Regional Economic Studies Programme focuses on a range of economic issues in Southeast Asia. Emphasis is on timely, policy-related research that is relevant to decision-makers as well as researchers.
For researchers, please click here.
Projects:
Global Economic Uncertainties
For further information, please contact Dr Francis Hutchinson
Regional Economic Issues
For more information, please contact Dr Francis Hutchinson and Dr Cassey Lee
Small and Medium Sized Enterprises
For more information, please contact Dr Cassey Lee
Social Protection
For more information on this research project, please contact Dr Lee Poh Onn
Sub-national Economies
For more information, please contact Dr Francis Hutchinson
Vietnam is a major Southeast Asian country of considerable strategic, political, and economic importance. It has a population of about 90 million and is a significant factor in the geopolitics of both continental and maritime Southeast Asia, the latter because of its claims in the South China Sea. It is an important and active member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
The Vietnam Study Group works on critical issues relating to Vietnam’s internal situation: political economy; internal political and leadership dynamics which affect domestic and foreign policies; mass organisations and social change; and socio-cultural issues, including Vietnamese ground sentiments on, and perceptions of, China and Vietnam-China relations. The Group also works on Vietnam’s relations with the major powers, and its role in ASEAN.
Programme Coordinator
The Coordinator of the Vietnam Studies Programme is Dr Le Hong Hiep. Please contact him for further information on the Vietnam Studies Programme.
Current Researchers
Past Affiliates
ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute has a long history of hosting researchers and scholars who work on Vietnam. Among those previously affiliated with the Institute are the following:
Dr Russell Heng Hiang Khng | Mrs Nguyen Kim Anh |
Dr David Koh Wee Hock | Mr Le Xuan Sang |
Mr Nguyen Nam Duong | Dr Yul Kwon |
Dr Nick Freeman | Dr Carolyn L. Gates |
Mr Phan Le Minh | Dr Nguyen Hong Thach |
Dr Hoang Anh Tuan | Dr Jason Morris-Jung |
Dr Huong Le Thu | Dr Ngo Vinh Long |
Dr Hun Kee Kim | Mr Daljit Singh |
Dr Hoang Thi Tuan Oanh | Dr Teo Ee Leong Victor |
Mr Lye Liang Fook | Dr Ivan Victor Small |
Mr Chong Zhi Quan Joel | Dr Joseph Buckley |
Dr Ha Hoang Hop | Ms Tran Thi Bich |
Seminars
For upcoming seminars, please refer to the events section of the main ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute website. Our past seminars include:
- Dr Le Dang Doanh, “Vietnam Joining the TPP and FTA with the EU: Benefits and Challenges,” 11th June 2015.
- Dr Thomas Jandl, “What Developing Countries Can Learn from Vietnam, and What Vietnam Needs to Learn from its Own Development Path?” 29th April 2015.
- Dr Le Hong Hiep, “Vietnam’s Alliance Politics in the South China Sea,” 27th March 2015.
- Dr Thaveeporn Vasavakul, “Recrafting the State: Public Administration Reform and Anti-Corruption in Vietnam,” 13th February 2015.
- Dr Tran Thi Lien, “Catholics in Vietnam: National Identity and the Making of a Religious Minority,” 22nd August 2014.
- Dr Ian Storey, Dr Jason Morris-Jung, Dr Huong Le Thu, Dr Zhao Hong, “The Implications of the Vietnam-China Crisis on the South China Sea,” 3rd June 2014.
- Professor Peter Zinoman, “Vietnamese Colonial Republican: The Political Vision of Vu Trong Phung,” 23rd May 2014.
- Dr Huong Le Thu, “Trafficking in Persons in Vietnam: Responding to the Human Security Threat,” 22nd January 2014.
- Professor Sorn Samnang, “The Preah Vihear Temple Case – What Happens Now?” 4th December 2013.
- Professor Ngo Vinh Long, “The (Existential) Challenges Facing the Party-State of Vietnam: How will it cope?” 14th Aug 2013.
- Mr. Le Hong Hiep, “The economic determinants of Vietnam’s South China Sea Dispute with China,” 2nd Aug 2013.
- Mr. Le Hong Hiep, “The Political Economy of Vietnam’s Economic Relations with China,” 31st July 2013.
- Dr Nolwen Henaff, “Education and Poverty in Vietnam,” 17 April 2012.
- Mr Mathieu Tromme, “Corruption in Vietnam,” 27 February 2012.
- Professor Hermann Waibel, “Urban Migration and Income Improvement in Thailand and Vietnam,” 16 February 2012.
Publications
ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute has published research and analyses on Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. Each edition of the annual Southeast Asian Affairs covers Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos, and the bimonthly ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute Monitor surveys Vietnam and Cambodia. Scholarship and research on Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos appear in the ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute journals: Contemporary Southeast Asia, Journal of Southeast Asian Economies and SOJOURN: Journal of Social Issues in Southeast Asia. Other recent publications include:
ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute Perspective Issues
Jason Morris-Jung | Online Petitions: Promoting a Public Voice in Vietnamese Politics (20 July 2015) |
Jason Morris-Jung | An Ethnographic Glimpse: On the Trail of Chinese-Vietnamese Mining Cooperation (25 May 2015) |
Le Hong Hiep | Vietnam’s Leadership Transition in 2016: A Preliminary Analysis (18 May 2015) |
Huong Le Thu | The Middle Class in Hanoi: Vulnerability and Concerns (11 February 2015) |
Ha Hoang Hop | The Oil Rig Incident: A Line Has Been Crossed in Vietnam’s Relations with China (18 November 2014) |
Ian Storey | The Sino-Vietnamese Oil Rig Crisis: Implications for the South China Sea Dispute (15 October 2014) |
Nguyen Van Chinh | Chinese Labour Migration into Vietnam’s Engineering, Procurement, and Construction Sectors (19 August 2014) |
Jason Morris-Jung | Reflections on the Oil Rig Crisis: Vietnam’s Domestic Opposition Grows (30 July 2014) |
John Lee | Reforms Will Decide Vietnam’s Ability To Resist Economic Dominance By China (2 June 2014) |
Jason Morris-Jung | Reflections on the Oil Rig Crisis: Vietnam’s Domestic Opposition Grows (30 July 2014) |
John Lee | Reforms Will Decide Vietnam’s Ability To Resist Economic Dominance By China (2 June 2014) |
Huong Le Thu | The Anti-Chinese Riots in Vietnam: Responses from the Ground (27 May 2014) |
Danielle Tan | China in Laos: Is There Cause For Worry? (16 May 2014) |
Le Hong Hiep | Will Development Lead to Democratisation in Vietnam and China? (15 April 2014) |
Huong Le Thu | Bumper Harvest in 2013 for Vietnamese Diplomacy (23 January 2014) |
Le Hong Hiep | The One Party-State and Prospects for Democratization in Vietnam (9 Dec 2013) |
Terence Chong | Chinese Capital and Immigration into CLMV: Trends and Impact” (29 August 2013) |
Ha Hoang Hop | The Seventh Plenum of the Communist Party of Vietnam: The Gains of the Central Committee (12 July 2013) |
Le Hong Hiep | South China Sea Disputes Keep Vietnam – China Relations Cold (15 April 2013) |
David Koh | Vietnamese Reactions over the South China Sea: Divergence between Society and Government (21 January 2013) |
David Koh | The Sixth Plenum in Vietnam: Thunder Without Rain (29 October 2012) |
Trends in Southeast Asia
Danielle Tan | Chinese Engagement in Laos: Past, Present, and Uncertain Future (6 May 2015) |
Le Hong Hiep | Vietnam’s Alliance Politics in the South China Sea (5 May 2015) |
Huong Le Thu | Vietnam: Straddling Southeast Asia’s Divide (22 September 2014) |
John Lee | Reforms will Determine Degree of Vietnam’s Dependence on China (2 September 2014) |
Ha Hoang Hop | More Change Awaits Vietnam’s Political Economy (31 December 2013) |
Working Papers
Vu Quoc Ngu | The State-Owned Enterprise Reform in Vietnam: Process and Achievements Visiting Researchers Series No. 4 (2002) |
Books
- Le Hong Hiep, Anton Tsvetov (eds.), Vietnam’s Foreign Policy under Doi Moi (2018)
- Daljit Singh and Malcolm Cook (ed.) Southeast Asian Affairs 2018 (2018)
- Le Hong Hiep (ed.) Living Next to the Giant: The Political Economy of Vietnam’s Relations with China under Doi Moi (2017)
- Setsuko Shibuya, Living with Uncertainty: Social Change and the Vietnamese Family in the Rural Mekong Delta (2015)
- Hossein Jalilian, Sothorn Kem, Glenda Reyes, Kimsun Tong, Surviving the Global Financial and Economic Downturn: The Cambodian Experience (2014)
- Nathalie Fau, Sirivanh Khonthapone, Christian Taillard (eds.), Transnational Dynamics in Southeast Asia: The Greater Mekong Subregion and Malacca Straits Economic Corridors (2013)
- Omkar Lal Shrestha, Aekapol Chongvilaivan (eds.), Greater Mekong Subregion: From Geographical to Socio-economic Integration (2013)
- Hossein Jalilian (ed.), Assessing China’s Impact on Poverty in the Greater Mekong Subregion (2013)
- Nola Cooke, Li Tana, James A Anderson (eds.), The Tongking Gulf Through History (2013)
- Hossein Jalilian (ed.), Costs and Benefits of Cross-Country Labour Migration in the GMS (2012
- Kerstin Priwitzer, The Vietnamese Health Care System in Change: A Policy Network Analysis of a Southeast Asian Welfare Regime (2012)
- Pou Sothirak, Geoff Wade, Mark Hong (eds.), Cambodia: Progress and Challenges since 1991 (2012)
- Hang Chuon Naron, Cambodian Economy: Charting the Course of a Brighter Future – A Survey of Progress, Problems and Prospects (2012)
- Jonathan D London (ed.), Education in Vietnam (2011)
- Anita Chan (ed.), Labour in Vietnam (2011)
- Philip Taylor, (ed.), Minorities at Large: New Approaches to Minority Ethnicity in Vietnam (2011)
- The Cambodia Forum (2011)
- Hossein Jalilian, Vicheth Sen (eds.), Improving Health Sector Performance: Institutions, Motivations and Incentives – the Cambodia Dialogue (2011)
- Patrick Gubry, Franck Castiglioni, Jean-Michel Cusset, Nguyen Thi Thieng, Pham Thuy Huong (eds.), The Vietnamese City in Transition (2010)
- Francois Molle, Tira Foran, Mira Kakonen (eds.), Contested Waterscapes in the Mekong Region: Hydropower, Livelihoods and Governance (2010)
- Touch Visalsok, Ker Monthivuth, Southeast Asian Agriculture and Development Primer Series: Cambodia (2010)