SSEAC Stories

Is the COVID-19 pandemic eroding China’s influence in Southeast Asia? How has it affected perceptions of China in the region, and how might this shape China's foreign relations in Asia? While China's rising influence in Southeast Asia has undoubtedly brought about economic development opportunities, it also presents complex geopolitical challenges for the region. These have come to the forefront a...

The Philippines has taken some of the most hardline measures in the world to contain the spread of COVID-19. Yet President Duterte’s highly militarised approach to the crisis has proven controversial. The enforcement of the strict curfew and quarantine restrictions has led to some excesses, with concerns being raised over police brutality during the lockdown, whilst living conditions for the poor...

The rapid spread of COVID-19 across Indonesia has put the country’s nascent healthcare system under tremendous pressure, leading to a de facto hierarchy of care, with the treatment of some illnesses being prioritised over others. In a context of rising populism and social pressure over sexual practices, the social isolation policies rolled out have exacerbated the challenges encountered by people...

As the world struggles with the global repercussions of local events, debates around internationalisation have become ever more relevant. Dr Sandra Seno-Alday sat down with Dr Natali Pearson to explore how different models of international business and economic networks may have distinct implications on economic risk within integrated regions, such as the EU and ASEAN. About Sandra Seno-Alday: San...

On 6 January 2016, a young Indonesian woman, Wayan Mirna Salihin, collapsed in an upmarket Jakarta cafe after drinking iced coffee, and died before she reached hospital. Despite limited evidence, police reports indicate that cyanide poisoning was the most likely cause of Mirna's death. Following a four-month trial, Jessica Kumala Wongso, an Australian permanent resident, was found guilty of premed...

The investigation of materiality, a key feature of art history and archaeology, can also be fruitfully applied to the study of history and philology. By asking questions about the material and physical properties of written sources, we can gain valuable insights into the development of the historiographical traditions that produced those sources. Historical texts of premodern Java, written between...

More than half-way through The Bearded Turtle (Kura-Kura Berjanggut), an epic 960-page Indonesian novel by Azhari Aiyub set in a place that reminds readers of Aceh, we learn that the early 17th-century Sultan of Lamuri keeps in his royal library a copy of the recently published and prized European novel, A Castilian Hero Rides a Donkey, an invented title that nonetheless reminds readers of Don Qui...

We have seen a dramatic increase in incidents involving the malicious use of Information and Computer Technologies (ICTs) by state and non-state actors. These constitute risks for all states and may harm international peace and security. Certain states are developing military capabilities, and the use of ICTs in future conflict between states is more likely. Southeast Asia cannot be expected to es...

In the lead-up to SSEAC's annual ASEAN Forum, Dr Michael DiGregorio (The Asia Foundation) sat down with Dr Natali Pearson to discuss the transformative impacts of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), and how digital financial services and new technologies can be used to empower vulnerable communities and improve climate resilience in Southeast Asia. About Michael DiGregorio Dr Michael R. DiGreg...

Dr Yeow-Tong Chia chats with Dr Natali Pearson to explore the role of education in the formation of the Singapore developmental state and how it provided a source of inspiration for China’s early modernisation strategies. About Yeow-Tong: Dr Yeow-Tong Chia is a Senior Lecturer in History Curriculum Education at the University of Sydney, where he teaches History Curriculum units in the combined deg...

In May 2019, the People’s Action Party (PAP) government pushed the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act through Parliament. Claiming that the country needs to be prepared to fight against the scourge of misinformation and disinformation, the PAP essentially gave its own ministers the power to become the arbiters of truth on the Internet. This new legislation further erodes freedo...

In the lead-up to SSEAC's annual ASEAN Forum, Dr Petr Matous (University of Sydney) sat down with Dr Natali Pearson to discuss his research into the roles that Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and social networks play in contexts with less-efficient institutions and infrastructure, with a view to restructuring such programs to ensure more equitable access. Dr Petr Matous is a senior...

In the lead-up to SSEAC's annual ASEAN Forum, Dr Aim Sinpeng (University of Sydney) sat down with Mr Kean Wong to discuss her research on online political engagement in Southeast Asian elections, and the role of social media in shaping voting behaviour. Dr Aim Sinpeng's research interests centre on the relationships between digital media, political participation and political regimes in Southeast...

On 19 March 2020, SSEAC hosted an online event discussing the short-lived Pakatan Harapan government and the possible return of kleptocracy in Malaysia. This podcast is an edited recording of the live conversation between Emeritus Professor Clive Kessler, Dr Ross Tapsell, Senator Liew Chin Tong, Mr Kean Wong, and Ms Tricia Yeoh. The dramatic few weeks in January-February 2020 in Malaysia have resu...

Indonesia is home to one of the world’s largest Chinese-descended populations. Their historical impact is often measured in economic terms but was equally important in the realm of language and literature. The majority of Chinese-Indonesians originally spoke Southern Min dialects, better known in Southeast Asia as “Hokkien”. They also quickly gained knowledge of Malay, the lingua franca of Indones...

Dr Sophie Chao spoke to Dr Natali Pearson about her anthropological research in West Papua, reflecting on the challenges of conducting anthropological research, her transition from activist to academic, and the palm oil industry's impact on the Marind communities of West Papua, Indonesia. About Sophie Chao: Sophie joined the University of Sydney as a Postdoctoral Research Associate in History in 2...

Over the last decade, indigenous Marind communities in the rural district of Merauke, West Papua, have seen vast swaths of their forests and savannas razed to make way for monocrop oil palm plantations. These developments are promoted by the Indonesian government as part of efforts to achieve national self-sufficiency in basic commodities, including palm oil, sugar, and rice. On the ground, howeve...

Laksmi Pamuntjak spoke to Dr Natali Pearson about her career, the storytelling process, the challenges of translation, publishing, identity, women's rights and food, among others. About Laksmi Pamuntjak: Laksmi Pamuntjak is a bilingual Indonesian novelist, poet, journalist, essayist, and food critic. She writes opinion and features articles for numerous Indonesian publications as Tempo, the Jakart...

Laksmi Pamuntjak spoke to Dr Natali Pearson about her third novel, Fall Baby, and about the intricacies of art, religion, politics and history in a troubled Indonesia, but also about family, identity, motherhood, and the sisterhood of women. Fall Baby tells the story of two women—Srikandi (Siri) and Dara, one a globetrotting visual artist, the other a political activist. Siri is the illegitimate d...

The Asia-Pacific is one of the most disaster-prone regions in the world. Southeast Asia is regularly struck by natural and/or man-made disasters that make international news, with often devastating casualties. While some policies are in place to develop disaster risk reduction, preparedness and recovery, some communities remain left out of the process. People with disabilities are often some of th...

As the world becomes increasingly concerned with the effects of climate change and deforestation, research and protection efforts have tended to focus on a few iconic animals and habitats. But what other innovative strategies can we develop to increase funding and awareness for environment conservation projects? Dr Benjamin Thompson spoke to Mr Kean Wong about his research into how charismatic meg...

In the lead-up to SSEAC's annual ASEAN Forum, Dr Crystal Abidin (Curtin University) sat down with SSEAC's Deputy Director, Dr Elisabeth Kramer, to discuss her research on young people’s relationships with internet celebrity, self-curation, and vulnerability. Dr Crystal Abidin is a digital anthropologist and ethnographer of vernacular internet cultures. Her books include Internet Celebrity: Underst...

During SSEAC's annual Politics in Action, Professor Clinton Fernandes sat down with SSEAC's Deputy Director, Dr Elisabeth Kramer, to discuss recent political developments in Timor-Leste.

During SSEAC's annual Politics in Action event, Tricia Yeoh sat down with SSEAC's Deputy Director, Dr Elisabeth Kramer, to talk about current politics in Malaysia. You can follow Tricia Yeoh on Twitter @TriciaYeoh.

During SSEAC's annual Politics in Action event, Hoe-Yeong Loke sat down with SSEAC's Deputy Director, Dr Elisabeth Kramer, to talk about current politics in Singapore. You can follow Hoe-Yeong Loke on Twitter @lokehoeyeong.