Straight Talk Southeast Asia

This episode looks at the leadership divisions in the Philippines which were exposed publicly this past week when Vice President Sara Duterte resigned from the Marcos Cabinet.  Stay informed on our website: https://straighttalkseasia.com/  

After the leadership transition in Vietnam, this episode looks at the broader drivers and implications of ongoing political changes in conversation with Dr. Zachary Abuza. Stay informed on our website: https://straighttalkseasia.com/  

This episode with Dr. Kei Koga examines current dynamics in the Japan-Southeast Asia relations, drawing attention to new drivers and recent changes in Japan’s approach to foreign policy toward the region.  Stay informed on our website: https://straighttalkseasia.com/

One year after Timor Leste’s parliamentary election, this episode looks at the progress and challenges facing this Southeast Asia country. Stay informed on our website: https://straighttalkseasia.com/

This episode looks at the rise of transnational crime in Southeast Asia focusing on the findings of a May 2024 United States Institute of Peace report on drivers and the changing patterns of criminality. Joining me is Dr. Jason Tower, one of the chairs of the study.   Stay informed on our website: https://straighttalkseasia.com/

This week’s episode focused on contemporary legal measures that are undercutting democracy in Indonesia with Human Rights Watch’s Andreas Harsono.  Stay informed on our website: https://straighttalkseasia.com/

As Lee Hsien Loong steps down after almost twenty years as the third prime minister of Singapore this episode reflects on his legacy in conversation with Dr. Bilveer Singh. Stay informed on our website: https://straighttalkseasia.com/

This episode looks at the relationship between Europe and Southeast Asia with journalist David Hutt, focusing on shifts in priorities and engagement.  Stay informed on our website: https://straighttalkseasia.com/

This episode in conversation with Dr. Nguyen Khac Giang looks at Vietnam’s leadership crisis after the leader of the National Assembly Vuong Ding Hue resigned this month, removing yet another pillar of the country’s collective leadership.  Stay informed on our website: https://straighttalkseasia.com/

This episode looks at how conflict has intensified since Operation 1027 last year and in particular in the last three months as the junta has lost ground across border areas, from Rakhine and recent fall of Myawaddy to Muse in the Shan and Laukkai in Kachin states and fleshed out some of the implications. Special attention centres on Rakhine in conversation with analyst Kyaw Lynn.   Stay informed...

This episode looks at the issue of climate change in the region, with a focus on the politics and policies that are changing. Leading the discussion is Dr. Danny Marks from Dublin City University.  Stay informed on our website: https://straighttalkseasia.com/

On the week of six months into a horrifying war, this episode discusses how the conflict in Gaza and Palestine is resonating in Southeast Asia with Middle East analyst James Dorsey (The Turbulent World).   Stay informed on our website: https://straighttalkseasia.com/

This week, Straight Talk Southeast Asia is taking a break due to Easter. The show returns next week. Stay informed on our website: https://straighttalkseasia.com/

This episode discusses ongoing changes in Singapore politics from unprecedented scandals and a leadership transition to greater complexity in national politics as the country prepares for elections later this year or early next year.  Stay informed on our website: https://straighttalkseasia.com/

In recognition of a focus on women in March, this episode looks at some of the challenges facing women in Southeast Asia as a whole, highlighting the work taking place in ASEAN with Ryce Chanchai lead of the  ASEAN Governance and Women, Peace and Security Regional Programme of UN Women.  Stay informed on our website: https://straighttalkseasia.com/

This episode reflects on the 2nd Australia-ASEAN Summit held in Melbourne earlier this March. We look at how Australia’s relations with the region and individual countries are changing, as are its priorities and positioning.   Stay informed on our website: https://straighttalkseasia.com/

This episode discusses ten broad changes taking place in Malaysian politics in a look back at developments in the last year. Straight Talk Host Dr. Bridget Welsh draws from her analysis of politics in the field. Stay informed on our website: https://straighttalkseasia.com/

Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) celebrated its 5th anniversary last month and the peace process will mark ten years this year. This region of 5 million people located in the Philippine southern island of Mindanao with 18 million people has a long history of conflict and violence. This episode looks at the status of the peace process, the challenges facing the interim Bangsa...

Prabowo Subianto won the presidential elections in the first round, with the preliminary results suggesting the fortunes of political parties did not fundamentally change. This episode looks at what happened, why and what to expect next in Indonesian politics with Dr. Philips Vermonte. Stay informed on our website: https://straighttalkseasia.com/

This episode with Dr Tu Nguyen looks back at Vietnam politics in 2023 and ahead, with a special focus on ongoing reforms of the social safety net. While the traditional focus of analysing politics has centred on elites, with attention to the recent anti-corruption campaign, this discussion highlights changes in policy and greater demands from Vietnam’s changing society. Stay informed on our websit...

The focus of Indonesia’s elections has been on the presidential race. This episode with CSIS’s Dr Arya Fernandes focuses on the legislative elections, the changing fortunes of different political parties, factors shaping party voting and how the result may transform Indonesian politics. Stay informed on our website: https://straighttalkseasia.com/

This episode looks at Myanmar on the third anniversary of the political coup, with a conversation with economist Sean Turnell. We discuss his fabulous new book, The Unlikely Prisoner, where he tells his story of 650 days jailed by the military junta, as well as discuss broader changes taking place in the country this past year. Stay informed on our website: https://straighttalkseasia.com/

This episode looks back at what happened in 2023 in the Philippines, from Bongbong Marcos’s leadership, growing elite infighting to the creation of a new investment fund and local government elections, reflecting on the trends in Philippine politics with Professor Ronald Holmes. Stay informed on our website: https://straighttalkseasia.com/

This episode with Professor Duncan McCargo looks back at politics in Thailand in 2023, discussing different interpretations about what happened in the May election and deals associated with the formation of the government, and looks ahead at key issues facing Thai democracy and political stability. Stay informed on our website: https://straighttalkseasia.com/

This episode is a primer on the coming presidential polls in Indonesia, highlighting the personalities and factors shaping the campaign five weeks before the first round of elections. Stay informed on our website: https://straighttalkseasia.com/