Celebrity podcasts have increasingly become the go-to place for Indonesian politicians and high-ranking officials. The problem, however, is that these platforms lack the same level of journalistic …

The practice of money politics in Indonesia is insidious, entrenched, and not likely to go away anytime soon, because it works.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The structure of Indonesia’s media landscape has remained largely unchanged over the last decade, and continues to be dominated by a handful of conglomerates. As this study shows,...

Due to some feedback on the article’s references, this article has been taken down for the time being while the references are being clarified with the author.

Anwar Ibrahim’s ascent to the country’s highest office last year was accompanied by a surge of expectations in his reformist government. One year on, however, his administration has lost some of it…

The current internal struggle within the PDI-P to determine the party’s 2024 presidential nominee will have a significant bearing on how broader political alliances will shape up thereafter.

The Philippines’ assertive transparency in the South China Sea has so far not generated negative economic repercussions for the country.

Marcos Jr. may appear less threatening than Rodrigo Duterte to Philippine democracy but that is because the threat is shifting online.

Myanmar is in dire need of financing solutions to build its electricity grid and power its economic growth. “Green bonds” might well be the answer.

The latest Indikator poll shows a significant increase in support for Prabowo among youth voters (Gen-Z and millennials), after the announcement and registration of the Prabowo-Gibran presidential...

In the run-up to elections in six states, Malaysia’s Prime Minister is seeking to improve his coalition’s electability among Malay voters. The crux of the issue is less about a ‘green wave’ sweepin…

Led by the youthful Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, the newly-established Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (MUDA) might well be able to break the political deadlock that has long dominated...

The results of the recent state elections in Malaysia were not unexpected. But the more important thing is Pakatan Harapan’s pursuit of the Malay vote, and what this portends for the coalition goin…

The Islamic Defenders Front, a hardline group which was banned by the Indonesian government last year, has relaunched itself under a new guise. Not many are convinced that the proverbial apple has …

The convoluted case involving a former police general’s alleged murder of his aide threatens to up-end the Indonesian public’s trust in their law enforcement agencies.

Campaign rhetoric from all the candidates aside, the developmental challenges awaiting Indonesia’s next president need fresh thinking and brave action. Will the right people get in?

The United States hit all the right notes when it hosted ASEAN leaders in Washington last week. The fact remains, however, that Washington has an uphill climb if it wants to catch up with Beijing’s…

There is a widening rift between Indonesian President Joko Widodo and the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle which endorsed his candidacy in the country’s two previous presidential elections.…

A post-election analysis of Ganjar Pranowo’s poor showing in last week’s presidential election requires examining what went on behind the scenes and at the grassroots level, including on his home t…

It is time to refresh the popular but inaccurate characterisation of recent Malaysian politics as broadly influenced by Islamisation. The truth is more complex.

The monks in Pakokku, a major centre of Buddhist learning and training, have not reprised the role played by their predecessors in the historic Saffron Revolution in 2007. Several factors can expla…

The Personal Data Protection (PDP) Law was ratified by the Indonesian House of Representatives at the end of 2022. Although seen as a move in reaction to some data leakage incidents, this marks an...

The U.S. was ASEAN’s preferred major power to align with since the 2020 State of Southeast Asia survey. But this year, more respondents are leaning toward China than the U.S. Southeast Asia may rem…

The incumbent president of Indonesia could tip the scales in the next election by sitting on the fence a little longer.

The State Administration Council has cleverly gamed the ASEAN system for its own ends and dragged out the implementation of the Five-Point Consensus. It is time for ASEAN to pack more punch into th…

Myanmar’s military presented the 1 February coup as good for business, but the opposite is true.

Some smaller mosques are using their online presence to attract not just worshippers but to earn a potential sustainable and alternative income, even as physical worship remains important for Musli…

Choosing the right approach that best serves the pressing humanitarian needs of the Myanmar people requires ASEAN Leaders to do some new thinking.

Joanne Lin, Sharon Seah, Melinda Martinus, and Kristina Fong examine the key deliverables of the 43rd ASEAN Summit and assess Indonesia’s Chairmanship.

The upcoming elections in Thailand might raise hopes of a post-coup democratic consolidation. But the polls could well result in a hung parliament or worse.

ANU Indonesia Project warmly invites you for the Book Launch of Indonesia in the new world: globalisation, nationalism and sovereignty (editors: Arianto A Patunru, Mari Pangestu, M Chatib Basri,...

China’s new map depicting its claims to the South China Sea has provoked some fierce reactions from its neighbours. The fact is that the “new” map is anything but.

The date for the next Indonesian presidential polls has been formally announced, ostensibly ending speculation that President Jokowi would seek to extend his term in office.

Surveys prior to election day can reveal a lot but not everything, including whether Indonesia will know who its next president is by next week or in late June.

Public expectations for the upcoming state elections in Malaysia, expected to take place in August 2023, are that Perikatan Nasional (PN) will likely win control of the Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu...

Indonesian Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto has been on an accelerated drive to modernise the TNI. But there are significant drawbacks to his procurement strategy of diversification.

The 2022 presidential election in the Philippines saw fact-checkers fighting an uphill battle against widespread efforts to misinform and disinform Filipino voters, but some key lessons were learne…

Japan’s new Official Security Assistance scheme would help arm regional countries in the face of growing Chinese assertiveness. A lesser-known aspect of OSA might actually bring some serious …

Once again, key Indonesian politicians are floating trial balloons on the merits of postponing the 2024 Indonesian presidential election, citing mounting public support for it. But the data suggest…

There is a lot at stake in the Philippines’ 2022 presidential polls, especially where the economy is concerned. The new president faces the formidable challenge of putting the economy on a st…

A proposed increase in fares for ride-hailing drivers in Indonesia has been opposed by various parties. This has led to the normalisation of unsustainably low earnings for such drivers.

Nguyen Phu Trong’s dominance in Vietnamese politics bodes well for the country’s fight against corruption. But the advanced age and health of the general secretary would make the search for a succe…

Amidst greater popular awareness of the struggles faced by LGBTQIA+ individuals in Thailand, activists are challenging Thai laws restricting marriage to heterosexual couples as being unconstitution…

A young and energetic Indonesian preacher is reclaiming the moderate ground from conservatives, using a sublime mix of online propagation and accommodative views.

Since February 2023, the Marcos Jr. administration has embarked on a transparency initiative for exposing China’s grey zone tactics within Philippine maritime zones in the South China Sea.

The Arakan Army (AA) has gained significant ground against State Administration Council (SAC) troops in western Myanmar. The AA’s gains compound SAC losses in other parts of the country since Opera…

Indonesian leaders have committed to refrain from politicising religion in the upcoming February 2024 elections, but political incentives and social forces continue to propagate identity politics, …

U.S. President Joseph Biden will travel to Hanoi next month. Russian President Vladimir Putin could be next. This leaves Vietnam in a right (Russian) pickle.

President Duterte’s approach to environmental issues has been inconsistent. His declarations about solving environmental problems have been quite strong, but were not followed by concrete actions. …

If two recent high-level visits by China and Japan to Vietnam are of any indication, Tokyo appears to have gained the upper hand over Beijing when it comes to courting one of Southeast Asia’s most …

Political dynasties are prevalent in Indonesia and many new democracies, with regressive effects, but recent research finds that Indonesian university students are averse to political dynasties. Cr…

Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s concept of a Bangsa Malaysia has been given a fillip by Muhammad Faisal Abdul Aziz, president of ABIM, which represents the aspirations of Malaysia’s Muslim youth. It should b…

Indonesia has improved the quality of its institutions in recent decades, but has backslid lately. The country’s potential accession to the OECD presents an opportunity to foster institutional deep…

The locus of superpower rivalry in the Indo-Pacific has gone down to the subnational level. The United States and China are engaged in a power competition for influence within local governments in …

If China and the United States play their cards right, the two powers can avoid a hot or cold war. This will be good news for the world, in particular Southeast Asia.

Although President Jokowi has officially announced the date of the next Indonesian presidential election, there are important strategic and personal considerations that could tempt him to seek to r…

Indonesia’s various moves on the foreign policy front suggest that it is preparing for a robust role as ASEAN Chair when it takes over the regional grouping’s leadership in 2023. Howeve…