Southeast Asia  / Thailand
To succeed, the pro-democracy movement must include Labour unions and marginalized groups
February 18, 2021

Gene Sharp, American scholar and expert in non-violent civil disobedience, famously theorized that the power of rulers is derived from the consent of subjects. Non-violent action, such as protests and public demonstrations are methods of withdrawing consent and challenging persistent problems of authoritarian behavior, such as oppression and dictatorship. Real power is concentrated in groups and institutions, which provide an opposing force against a ruler.


India  / Southeast Asia  / United Nations
Rebooting the UN-US Partnership: Global Goals Require Indo-Pacific Focus
February 8, 2021

The Indo-Pacific region has seen a rise in political instability in recent years. The Trump administration and China have been at loggerheads, through the WHO, in formulating a global approach to slowing the spread of COVID-19. The region has experienced a rise in human rights violations, evidenced by the bitter treatment of the Rohingya in Myanmar, China’s persecution of Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang, and authoritarian crackdowns in Thailand and Cambodia.


Myanmar  / Southeast Asia  / Thailand
Understanding the three-finger salute from Thailand to Myanmar
February 5, 2021

In the dystopian Hunger Games novels by Suzanne Collins and in an adapted series of films, the three-finger salute is a gesture of thanks, respect, gratitude, or to say goodbye to someone to a loved one. The heroine Katniss Everdeen becomes the “tribute” by volunteering to go into the arena to save her younger sister. In lieu of applause for her act, residents of the District flashed the three-finger salute as a sign of respect.


Myanmar  / Southeast Asia
Suu Kyi is not blameless in Monday’s military takeover of Myanmar
February 2, 2021

Twenty-four hours ago Myanmar State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and the National League for Democracy (NLD) were ousted from power by the military (Tatmadaw) in an early morning coup d’état. Journalists in Myanmar reported that phone and mobile services went dark, military vehicles were seen on city streets, and the state television network MRTV was unable to broadcast. The military declared a state of emergency that will last for a year and power has been vested in Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, the commander-in-chief of the armed forces.


Southeast Asia  / Thailand
As lèse majesté cases soar, what does this tell us about the Thai state?
January 29, 2021

The number of recent lèse majesté cases in Thailand have soared to near 60, as prominent former Future Forward Party leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit and a retired former civil servant made headlines over the past week. Thanathorn’s lèse majesté case came after the 42-year-old auto parts billionaire ran a live broadcast that questioned the capacity of the King Maha Vajiralongkorn-owned Siam BioScience in producing coronavirus vaccines in Thailand.


United Nations
António Guterres does not deserve a second term
January 22, 2021

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres announced on Jan 11 that he would be seeking a second five-year term. Guterres, a former prime minister of Portugal, campaigned for the position in 2016 with an agenda focused on UN reform, as well as positioned himself as someone who could bring consensus to persistent global challenges such as climate change and the forced displacement of people from around the globe.


Southeast Asia  / Thailand
Why reducing Thailand’s inequality is essential to reducing political tension
January 20, 2021

The Covid-19 pandemic has done considerable damage to the Thai economy and has been one of the major catalysts for political grievances with the government that erupted into widespread protests last year. While Thailand’s pro-democracy, pro-reform movement is set to resume protests against the political status quo – albeit in different form due to Covid-19 restrictions – Thais from all walks of life face continued economic crises with national economic activity in freefall.


Southeast Asia  / Thailand
Thai police have, in the past decade, evolved to be zealous enforcers of Thai conservatism
January 19, 2021

In the middle of the night, the Royal Thai Police came for Sirichai “New” Nathuang, a student at Thammasat University’s Rangsit Campus. Accused of lèse majesté or defaming the Thai monarchy for spray painting political messages on the portraits of three members of the Royal Family, he was then charged with a cybercrime charge later for refusing to surrender his computer password to authorities.


Afghanistan  / Central Asia  / China  / East Asia  / United States
Winners and Losers as the Afghan Peace Process Enters its Endgame
January 11, 2021

After more than two months of negotiations, the Afghan peace process has resumed in Doha, Qatar, with the Afghan government and the Taliban having finalized a set of procedures and principles that will govern the process going forward. With the business of finite details out of the way, the second stage of the peace process will focus on the creation of a political path to a nationwide ceasefire, and ultimately a lasting political settlement.


North America  / United States
What happened in America today is unprecedented
January 7, 2021

In the U.S. Senate Chamber on January 6, Senator Ted Cruz of Texas led a futile Republican effort to challenge the 2020 election results that gave Joe Biden the White House and caused President Donald Trump to be the first incumbent president since George H.W. Bush in 1992 to lose reelection. Cruz argued that the counting of the Electoral College votes should be paused so that a bipartisan commission could be formed to investigate voting irregularities, similar to that which occurred back in 1877.