Straight Talk Southeast Asia

This episode looks prospectively at Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship with geopolitical analyst Thomas Daniel from ISIS-Malaysia. Stay informed on our website: https://straighttalkseasia.com/

This episode looks at the recent decision by the International Criminal Court to extend an arrest warrant to Myanmar’s junta military chief, Min Aung Hlaing. Stay informed on our website: https://straighttalkseasia.com/

This episode looks at the recent COP29 meeting in Baku, Azerbaijan and how developments at the meeting connect to Southeast Asia. Stay informed on our website: https://straighttalkseasia.com/

This episode looks at Indonesia’s regional elections, the contests and broader trends in Indonesian politics, with Dr. Yoes Kenawas. The regional elections will be held simultaneously across Indonesia to elect 37 Provincial Governors and 508 Mayors or Heads of Districts. It marks a landmark in Indonesia’s democracy.  Stay informed on our website: https://straighttalkseasia.com/

This episode looks at broad trends in civil-military relations in Southeast Asia with Dr. Natalie Sambhi. Stay informed on our website: https://straighttalkseasia.com/

In a week of presidential elections, this episode looks ahead at Indonesia’s Prabowo Subianto presidency with Dr. Yohanes Sulaiman.  Stay informed on our website: https://straighttalkseasia.com/

On the eve of the US presidential election, this episode looks at current trends in Taiwan’s relationship with Southeast Asia with Dr. Alan Hao Yang. Stay informed on our website: https://straighttalkseasia.com/

This episode looks at the conflict in southern Thailand after the 20th anniversary of Tak Bai Massacre with analyst Don Pathan.  Stay informed on our website: https://straighttalkseasia.com/

This episode looks at the impact of the US presidential election on trade and the economy in Southeast Asia with analyst Deborah Elms. Stay informed on our website: https://straighttalkseasia.com/

This episode looks at former president Rodrigo Duterte's relationship with China and how both Duterte and ties with China are shaping contemporary Philippine politics.  Stay informed on our website: https://straighttalkseasia.com/

This episode looks at the political legacy of Indonesia’s seventh president Joko Widodo 2014-2024 with Dr. Djayadi Hanan. Stay informed on our website: https://straighttalkseasia.com/

This episode looks at contemporary Lao politics with journalist David Hutt.  Stay informed on our website: https://straighttalkseasia.com/

This episode looks at the situation in Myanmar, where Typhoon Yagi and escalating junta bombing have exacerbated the crisis and conflict within the country with Professor Miemie Winn Byrd. Stay informed on our website: https://straighttalkseasia.com/

This episode discusses social scientist James Scott’s impact on understanding Southeast Asia and looks at how his lens is shaping analysis of the region with Professor Meredith Weiss and Dr. Janjira Sombatpoonsiri.  Stay informed on our website: https://straighttalkseasia.com/

This is the fourth visit to Southeast Asia for Pope Francis, the longest of his papacy. We discuss Pope Francis’s Asia Pivot and its implications with Father Clarence Devadass of the Catholic Research Center in Kuala Lumpur.  Stay informed on our website: https://straighttalkseasia.com/

This episode looks at the development challenges facing Southeast Asia with UNDP’s Philip Schellekens drawing from the 2024 Asia-Pacific Human Development Report  Making our Future: New Directions for Human Development in Asia and the Pacific and discusses new solutions and approaches to move the region forward. Stay informed on our website: https://straighttalkseasia.com/

This episode looks at the Constitutional Court decisions over elections in Indonesia, attempts to override these decisions and public protests that have, for now, put a stop to these efforts.  Stay informed on our website: https://straighttalkseasia.com/

This episode looks at the first year of the tenure of Prime Minister Hun Manet in Cambodia with Dr. Sam Seun.  Stay informed on our website: https://straighttalkseasia.com/

This episode looks at political factors shaping air pollution in Southeast Asia with Universiti of Malaya’s Dr. Helena Varkkey, as the region grapples with some of the poorest air quality in the world.  Stay informed on our website: https://straighttalkseasia.com/

This episode looks at the changing relationship between South Korea and Southeast Asia with Dr. Jaehyon Lee, highlighting recent shifts and drivers. Stay informed on our website: https://straighttalkseasia.com/  

This episode looks at political factors shaping Southeast Asia’s engagement in the Olympics and sports with Dr. Simon Creak.  Stay informed on our website: https://straighttalkseasia.com/  

This episode discusses the status of the move of Indonesia’s capital to Nusantara in Kalimantan, a key legacy issue of President Joko Widodo. The discussion with Dr. Yanuar Nugroho, Visiting Fellow of ISEAS, draws from the new book, The Road to Nusantara. Stay informed on our website: https://straighttalkseasia.com/  

This episode looks at current Thai politics, with attention to the issues of political stability and contestation. The discussion with Dr. Prajak Kongkirati focuses on drivers and dynamics of political instability, while the conversation with Ken Lahatepanont centres on the recent Senate elections. While unpredictable, there are striking continuities in contemporary Thai politics.  Stay informed o...

This episode looks at how Malaysia’s Anwar government has addressed the issue of gender discrimination in citizenship for children born overseas to Malaysian mothers. After repeated promises to address the injustices, the legislation has been stymied by regressive amendments. Am joined in the conversation with Suri Kempe of Family Frontiers.  Stay informed on our website: https://straighttalkseasi...

Straight Talk Southeast Asia focuses on this week’s release of the Trafficking in Persons report for the region, discussing significant sea-changing shifts with Jacob Sims. Stay informed on our website: https://straighttalkseasia.com/