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2021/01/08 | East Asia Forum

Singapore’s 2020 Risk Management Strategy

Singapore has kept the pandemic under control and its economy has survived in much better shape than expected. The success is based on the Singaporean government’s aversion to risks.

2020/10/30 | East Asia Forum

Myanmar’s Elections Are Not a Level Playing Field

The second multiparty election in Myanmar, slated for November 8, may simply be a proof that democracy is going backwards in the Southeast Asian nation.

2018/09/20 | Eryk Smith

OPINION: In Kaohsiung, There Are Limits to the Multilingual Love

The axes are out for a politician advocating for languages other than English and Chinese to be kept out of the classroom.

2018/05/23 | Netusha Naidu

OPINION: 'Critical Optimism' Lights Malaysia's Way Forward

A personal narrative of how GE14 flew in the face of expectations of a global democratic decline.

2018/05/15 | New Mandala

Will Election Upheaval Influence Malaysia's Illiberal Neighbors?

Mahathir is back at the helm, but it remains an open question whether or not he represents real change.

2018/04/27 | New Mandala

OPINION: Rampant Inequality Muddles Elections in Malaysia

Malaysia's ethnic, economic and cultural divides are holding back any common vision for the future as the country struggles to bridge gaping inequality.

2018/02/05 | Suzanne Pepper

What Edward Yiu's Reprieve Tells Us about Decision-making in Hong Kong

Hong Kong's civil servants are taking it upon themselves to act as thought police on Beijing's behalf.

2018/01/24 | Suzanne Pepper

Pro-democracy Field Faces Uphill Battle in HK Elections Despite Show of Unity

Special by-elections to fill seats vacated by 'oath-breaking' politicians banned by Beijing highlight the challenges faced by pro-democracy advocates in the territory.

2017/10/04 | Suzanne Pepper

Macau Elections Suggest Lessons for Hong Kong

Recent election results from Macau, itself a special administrative region of China like Hong Kong, showed an upswell in support for pro-democracy, anti-establishment candidates.

2017/09/25 | Courtney Donovan Smith (石東文)

Peering into Taiwan's Post-Blue Political Future

Politics abhors a vacuum, and with the KMT struggling for support there is scope for a new opposition to mount a challenge to the DPP's grip of Taiwan's national politics. But who will lead it and where will they come from? Courtney Donovan Smith forecasts Taiwan's political future.

2017/05/09 | Kyle Pope

Moon Victory Imminent in South Korea

As liberal Moon Jae-in looks set to grab the South Korean presidency, Kyle Pope examines the politics that got him into pole position.

2017/04/18 | Edward Aspinall

Sectarian Schisms to Decide Jakarta’s Election?

If ethnic and religious sectarian politics push Ahok’s opponent over the line, it would bode poorly for the future of Indonesia’s pluralistic democracy.

2017/03/27 | Sorpong Peou

Cambodia: Towards Single Party Dictatorship?

'Cambodia’s ruling party is seeking to shore up its chances of electoral success with recent changes to the rules governing political parties,' Sorpong Peou writes.

2017/03/24 | Steven Yet

Hong Kong Election: A Choice Between Lesser Evils

If Beijing continues to run a shallow election, picking a ‘lesser evil’ is just another façade.

2017/03/02 | John Kennedy

China Needs Legal Reform Before More Elections

China needs to implement legal reforms before its village elections can be considered a democratic process.