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.
2024/25 “Former Thai PM Thaksin at the Centre of Intrigues and Political Rumours: As Mastermind or Just Victim of Fate?” by Termsak Chalermpalanupap
2024 No. 25
Former two-time Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra is back in Thailand after 17 years of exile overseas.
2024/24 “Japan and Southeast Asia Set to Co-Create an Interwoven Future” by Hoang Thi Ha and Pham Thi Phuong Thao
2024 NO. 24
While Japan’s significance to the region in the economic sphere has relatively declined, its soft power and people-to-people connections with the region have never been more profound.
2024/23 “Malaysia–China Economic Relations: Riding the Dragon’s Tail for Structural Transformation” by Cassey Lee
2024 No. 23
Strengthening the economic relationship between Malaysia and China can potentially contribute towards Malaysia’s structural transformation in terms of re-industrialisation and greening of its economy.
2024/22 “Thailand’s Submarine Saga Reaches a Climax in March” by Paul Chambers and Termsak Chalermpalanupap
2024 No. 22
Since 2015, Thailand’s Navy has been struggling to obtain three advanced submarines from China.
2024/21 “A Deep Dive into Malaysia’s People’s Justice Party (PKR)” by James Chai
2024 No. 21
PKR has emerged as a definite force in mainstream Malaysian politics, winning an average of 35 seats (16% of total seats) and 2 million votes (18% of total vote share) over the past 15 years.
2024/20 “Indonesia’s Export-Proceeds Holding Policy: A Preliminary Assessment” by Manggi Habir
2024 No. 20
To ensure that sufficient export payments are kept within Indonesia’s banking system for a longer period, the government introduced a Natural Resource Export Proceeds (Devisa Hasil Ekspor or DHE) policy, effective from 1 August 2023.
2024/19 “Like, Subscribe and Vote: The Role of Political Influencers in the 2022 Philippine Elections and Beyond” by Fatima Gaw and Aries A. Arugay
2024 No. 19
Social media influencers are emerging political operators in Philippine elections, but unlike high-level strategists and low-level trolls, they occupy a ‘grey area’ in the political economy of influence operations.
2024/18 “Assessing Vietnam’s Challenges in Fighting IUU Fishing” by Nguyen Khac Giang
2024 No. 18
The Vietnamese government has made significant efforts to implement the recommendations of the EC in order to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.
2024/17 “Can Bersatu Go It Alone?” by Azmil Tayeb
2024 No. 17
Unlike its current coalition partner Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS), Bersatu has yet to compete on its own and therefore does not have a track record to which it can refer.
2024/16 “Does Derisking or Decoupling Signal the Death Knell for the Export-led Model in Southeast Asia?” by Jayant Menon
2024 No. 16
The death of the export-led model has been predicted many times. Most recently, it has come from the rise in anti-globalisation-driven protectionism and calls for derisking or decoupling, but again the rumours of its demise may be greatly exaggerated.