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Business and Economy East Asia and the Pacific

Beyond Numbers: Ensuring Food Safety in Indonesia’s MBG

This article examines how Indonesia’s MBG program, while reaching more than 30 million students, still faces a number of systemic food-safety risks that numbers alone cannot reveal. It reveals how gaps across the entire length supply chain, ranging from hygiene literacy to fragility in cold-chain and storage facilities can gravely compromise the promise of the program, as seen in various local incidents and also global evidence on foodborne disease. It argues that sustainable long term success will require far more stronger implementation, localized networks, coupled with shared responsibility from farmers to policymakers to ensure that every meal is actually very safe.

19 Nov 2025
M. Ikhsan...

Politics and Society Middle East

Pakistan-Saudi Arabia SMDA: A New Chapter of Global South Cooperation

This article explains how the Pakistan-Saudi Arabia Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement (SMDA), signed just days after the Doha airstrike and in the midst of Riyadh’s fraying defence ties with Washington. It shows how the pact binds Saudi capital to Pakistan’s nuclear-backed military expertise, anchoring joint defence production, research, as well as industrial cooperation through institutions. It argues that this agreement is more than a reaction to regional tension, as it is a very deliberate step in a wider Global South push for strategic autonomy grounded in capability, sovereignty, and postcolonial self-determination.

17 Nov 2025
Farrel Ananda...

Politics and Society South and Central Asia

Resisting Erasure: Afghan Women’s Struggle for Education and Agency in Post-2021 Afghanistan

This article examines how Afghan women have transformed the struggle for education into a powerful form of intellectual, digital, and moral resistance under Taliban rule since 2021. Moving beyond narratives of victimhood, it highlights the emergence of clandestine study circles, online universities, and transnational learning networks that sustain women’s knowledge production despite systemic erasure. Drawing on Paulo Freire’s “education as liberation” and feminist theories of agency, the paper argues that Afghan women are rebuilding education as a collective, political, and emancipatory project, creating a digital underground of learning that challenges both authoritarian repression and the limitations of global institutional responses.

14 Nov 2025
Farahnaz Amini

Politics and Society East Asia and the Pacific

Restructuring the Post-Conflict Future: Special Autonomy as a Path to Decolonization and Prosperity in Aceh and Bangsamoro

This article explores how special autonomy in Aceh and Bangsamoro serves as both a peacebuilding mechanism and a pathway toward sustainable decolonization in post-conflict Southeast Asia. It argues that autonomy, when rooted in cultural recognition, inclusive governance, and local empowerment, enables these regions to transform histories of marginalization into foundations for development and justice. Drawing from the experiences of Aceh’s institutional reforms and Bangsamoro’s ongoing political consolidation, the article highlights how local and international collaboration can strengthen post-conflict reconstruction and long-term peace.

12 Nov 2025
Syarifah Huswatun...

Environment and Sustainability East Asia and the Pacific

“Code Green” Public Policy to Implement Zero Emissions and Decrease Climate Change in West Java Province

This article defines Code Green as a model of public policy that incorporates the principles of the emergency-response into climate governance. It strongly demonstrates how the integration of climate data, local planning, and community participation can accelerate an equitable transition toward zero emissions, using West Java as well as Indonesia as a case study. By linking urgency with justice, it shows how environmental policy can move from symbolic pledges to a very highly coordinated, system-wide action.

10 Nov 2025
Kusdarmawan Nur...

Politics and Society East Asia and the Pacific

Exclusion as Harmony: The Governance of Bodies in Malaysia

This article examines how Malaysia’s political economy sustains social harmony through exclusion, particularly by regulating race, religion, and gender. It argues that the state’s dual legal and moral framework criminalises and marginalises migrant and non-Malay women in the hidden economy while simultaneously subjecting Malay-Muslim women to moral surveillance under the guise of protection. Through this dynamic, exclusion becomes a tool of governance—preserving the illusion of order while reinforcing structural hierarchies of patriarchy, race, and religion.

07 Nov 2025
Nur Hadirah...

Politics and Society South and Central Asia

Innovation and the Invisibilisation of Gender: What the Global Innovation Index Misses?

This article critiques the Global Innovation Index (GII) for overlooking gendered dimensions of innovation, particularly in the Global South. It argues that the GII’s reliance on formal metrics like patents and corporate R&D obscures women’s contributions, undervalues informal and social innovation, and distorts policy priorities in Southeast Asia. By calling for gender-disaggregated data, broader definitions of innovation, and inclusive institutional reforms, the article makes a strong case for rethinking how innovation is measured to reflect the full spectrum of creative labour sustaining equitable development.

05 Nov 2025
Priyanka Garodia

International Relations Africa

Displaced in Their Own Land: The Politics of Humanitarian Aid in Sudan

This article examines how the global silence over Sudan’s humanitarian crisis reveals enduring hierarchies of compassion within the international system. It argues that humanitarian responses remain shaped by historical legacies and geopolitical interests, where some crises are amplified while others are conveniently ignored. By unpacking this selective morality, the article calls for rethinking global solidarity that recognises all lives as equally grievable.

03 Nov 2025
Syeda Dur-e-Nayab

International Relations East Asia and the Pacific

Artificial Intelligence and Geopolitical Uncertainty: The Indonesian View

This article examines the way artificial intelligence is transforming global power through the intertwined forces of technology, resource control, and governance. It looks at Indonesia’s efforts to significantly transform its mineral strength into strategic influence in the midst of an escalating U.S - China technological rivalry. The analysis also expands to ASEAN, where questions of sovereignty, inequality, and regional alignment define Southeast Asia’s evolving place and future in the AI-driven world.

31 Oct 2025
Affabile Rifawan

International Relations East Asia and the Pacific

ASEAN Neutrality in the Age of Naked Imperialism

This article reexamines the meaning of ASEAN neutrality in light of renewed global imperial rivalries, urging a return to the anti-colonial and anti-imperial spirit of the 1955 Bandung Conference. It argues that ASEAN’s shift from neutrality as autonomy to neutrality as impartiality has rendered the region complicit in sustaining colonial legacies and internal oppression. Calling for a decolonial reinterpretation of neutrality, the author contends that true regional autonomy must align with struggles for liberation and self-determination across Southeast Asia.

29 Oct 2025
Christopher Choong...

International Relations East Asia and the Pacific

Kuala Lumpur 2025: ASEAN Between Renewed Centrality and Structural Fragility

This article analyzes the geopolitical and institutional significance of the 2025 ASEAN Summit in Malaysia. It explores how the simultaneous participation of the United States and China, alongside Timor Leste’s long-awaited accession, exposes ASEAN’s struggle to balance autonomy, inclusivity, and effectiveness amid intensifying great-power rivalry. Ultimately, the piece argues that the summit will serve as a test of whether ASEAN can transform its symbolic centrality into real strategic agency—or remain a passive stage for others’ power plays.

27 Oct 2025
Aniello Iannone

International Relations South and Central Asia

Deepfake: Disinformation by Design

This article examines how deepfakes have evolved from isolated digital hoaxes into instruments of political as well as geopolitical manipulation. It traces their spread across Asia’s election cycles and security flashpoints, revealing how AI now shapes narratives as effectively as policy. The piece also explores emerging legal, regional, and technological efforts to build collective “trust infrastructure” against this new form of information warfare.

24 Oct 2025
Angana Guha...

International Relations East Asia and the Pacific

Scepticism in the Global South and Contestation over the Humanitarian Norm: The Responsibility to Protect

This article critically examines the evolving contestation of the Responsibility to Protect (R2P) norm within the Global South, highlighting how postcolonial experiences and sovereignty concerns shape scepticism toward humanitarian intervention. It traces the historical development of R2P, from its UN endorsement in 2005 to its erosion following the NATO-led intervention in Libya, which blurred the boundary between protection and regime change. Through the perspectives of African states, India, China, Brazil, and Mexico, the article reveals how divergent interpretations and geopolitical interests have constrained the norm’s operationalization, challenging its legitimacy and future relevance in global governance.

22 Oct 2025
Antony Joseph

International Relations Middle East

The Gulf Future and Fracture Region Institution

This article contends that Trump’s high-value diplomacy in the Gulf reignited both economic opportunity as well as institutional fragility within the GCC. As Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE deepen their ties with Washington while maneuvering themselves around Beijing, the region’s unity is increasingly defined by competition instead of more cooperation. The analysis reveals that the Gulf’s future hinges on whether its leaders can strongly transform transactional alliances into a sustainable framework for collective stability.

20 Oct 2025
Alwi Akbar

International Relations East Asia and the Pacific

The Promise of EU-ASEAN Partnership as a Pathway for the Global South

This article examines how the EU-ASEAN partnership has significantly evolved from routine diplomacy to a field where climate goals, industrial needs, as well as digital ambitions are constantly negotiated. It depicts how cooperation built on friction between Europe’s green standards and Southeast Asia’s developmental urgency can still produce innovation and trust. The piece argued that, collectively, these dynamics reveal a quiet transformation in which the Global South no longer absorbs global rules but instead, participates in rewriting them.

17 Oct 2025
Jason Fernando

International Relations East Asia and the Pacific

Prabowo’s Foreign Policy Choices: Balancing Domestic Legitimacy and Global Ambition

This article examines how President Prabowo Subianto seeks to combine Indonesia’s traditional bebas-aktif (free and active) doctrine with a renewed emphasis on hard power and global visibility. It highlights how Prabowo’s military background and strategic partnerships, particularly with Türkiye and BRICS, reflect a more assertive and pragmatic approach to foreign policy. Ultimately, the piece argues that Prabowo’s diplomacy aims to strengthen Indonesia’s global stature while maintaining domestic legitimacy and a delicate balance between independence and alignment.

15 Oct 2025
Tufan Kutay...

Environment and Sustainability East Asia and the Pacific

China, ASEAN, and Indonesia's Green Test

This article analyzes how China’s ambitious green transition serves not only environmental goals but also a strategic industrial and geopolitical agenda. It shows how Beijing’s dominance in clean energy technologies and supply chains is reshaping Southeast Asia’s energy landscape, fostering both opportunities and technological dependencies. The author warns that for ASEAN countries like Indonesia, the success of the green transition will depend less on foreign investment and more on domestic institutional capacity, technological sovereignty, and policy coordination.

13 Oct 2025
Virdika Rizky...

Environment and Sustainability East Asia and the Pacific

Divided Climate Diplomacy: Trump's Rejection vs. Prabowo's Responsibility in the Climate Crisis at the UN General Assembly

This article traces how the 2025 UN General Assembly turned into a test of climate responsibility, when Donald Trump’s dismissal of the crisis collided with Prabowo Subianto’s call for moral action. It looks critically at Indonesia’s bid to turn pledges into policy building renewables and restoring forests while also still trapped in coal dependence as well as uneven governance. The article argued that the climate debate unfolds as a struggle over justice itself: who bears the cost, who reaps the gains, and also whose promises decide the planet’s fate.

10 Oct 2025
Abdullah Akbar...

Politics and Society East Asia and the Pacific

All Eyes on Indonesia and Nepal: The Multi-Actor Relations in the Political Battleground

This article examines how technology has become a highly contested field of power in Indonesia and Nepal, where states, platforms, as well as citizens struggle to define control and legitimacy. By analysing Indonesia’s attempts to discipline digital dissent and Nepal’s experiments with online political participation, it reveals how technological spaces are increasingly blurring the boundaries between governance at one end and resistance on the other. In doing so, the article illustrates that political authority today is not only demonstrated in parliaments or streets, but it is also being negotiated in the invisible digital codes and infrastructures that shape public life.

08 Oct 2025
Ahmad Fajar...

International Relations East Asia and the Pacific

Prabowo at the UN: Between Anti-Imperialism and Global Interdependence

This article takes a look at how Prabowo’s UN address revived Indonesia’s anti-imperialist ideals on the global stage even as it revealed the contradictions shaping its diplomacy. Behind calls for Palestinian justice lie expanding trade links with Israel, exposing the uneasy coexistence of moral identity and economic need. The article situates this paradox within Indonesia’s larger struggle to balance its legacy of Palestine solidarity with the realities of today's world and global interdependence.

06 Oct 2025
Aniello Iannone

Politics and Society East Asia and the Pacific

Islam, Politics, and Pancasila: In Search of National Harmony

This article takes a deep dive into Indonesia’s evolving struggle in trying to balance Islam’s moral force with its Pancasila’s civic ideals. It follows the country’s shifting democratic models from independence to the reform era, depicting how religion and politics continually negotiate influence through law, culture, as well as leadership in Indonesia. The piece strongly argues that Indonesia’s stability depends not on separating faith from governance, but on harmonizing them within a mutually shared ethical and national vision.

03 Oct 2025
Muhammad Adib...

International Relations Middle East

Gulf Power Play: Diplomacy, Development, and the Middle East in 2025

This article explores how Gulf states, particularly Saudi Arabia and Qatar, have emerged in 2025 as influential global players, reshaping narratives that once confined the Middle East to instability and dependence on oil. It highlights Saudi Arabia’s growing diplomatic assertiveness through Vision 2030 reforms, mediation efforts, and bold foreign policy moves, alongside Qatar’s strategic role as a mediator in regional and global conflicts. Together, their actions signal a new era where the Gulf is not just reacting to global events but actively shaping economic, diplomatic, and security outcomes for the wider world.

01 Oct 2025
Obaidurrahman Mirsab

International Relations South and Central Asia

Armenia’s Proactive Hedging Strategy

This article examines Armenia’s blocked bid to join the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) by Pakistan, despite recently opening diplomatic ties, a contradiction that exposes the fragility of regional politics. It depicts how external pressures and entrenched rivalries still continue to limit Yerevan’s ability to leverage its strong strategic position. The article proposes Proactive Hedging as a highly promising framework that could help a lot in expanding Armenia’s partnerships and asserting greater agency in Eurasia.

29 Sep 2025
Ararat Kostanian

Environment and Sustainability East Asia and the Pacific

Can Ecological Fiscal Transfers Transform Indonesia’s Environmental Finance? Possibilities and Policy Insights

This article looks at how Indonesia’s provinces with extensive biodiversity face very heavy conservation costs but yet receive little fiscal support under the current transfer system. It introduces Ecological Fiscal Transfers (EFT) as a highly innovative way to help correct this significant imbalance by tying central government funding to ecological indicators such as protected areas. By doing so, the piece argues that, EFT could fairly compensate local governments, incentivize conservation, and at the same time align fiscal policy with Indonesia’s environmental goals despite challenges of data and political buy-in.

26 Sep 2025
Esa Bayu...

Politics and Society South and Central Asia

The Generation That wouldn’t wait: How Nepal’s Gen Z Redefined Protest Politics

This article examines how Nepal’s Generation Z transformed a government-imposed social media ban into a nationwide movement for accountability, inclusion, and democratic renewal. It highlights how young people redefined the role of student unions, reframed internet freedom as a political right, and linked digital access to broader issues like corruption, gender equity, and minority rights. The essay argues that while the protests carried risks of disruption, they represent a generational shift in Nepal’s political culture, pushing the country toward transparency and institutional reform.

24 Sep 2025
Saemah Shamim

Environment and Sustainability East Asia and the Pacific

The Small Island Crisis: The Interplay between Climate Change and Privatization in Pari Island

This article examines how climate change and privatization intersect to create crises for small islands in Indonesia, with Pari Island serving as a key case study. It shows how rising seas, restricted access to fishing grounds, and land disputes with private companies have undermined local livelihoods and worsened community vulnerability. The piece argues for inclusive governance that empowers local residents in decision-making to balance conservation, food security, and sustainable development.

22 Sep 2025
Gigih Prihantono

International Relations East Asia and the Pacific

Indonesia’s New Ballistic Missile: Why It Won’t Ignite an Arms Race

This article examines Indonesia’s recent acquisition of the Turkish-made KHAN short-range ballistic missile and addresses concerns that it could trigger an arms race in Southeast Asia. While the missile marks a notable step in Indonesia’s defense modernization, its range and capabilities remain limited, and its deployment in East Kalimantan signals a defensive posture rather than offensive intent. The piece argues that alarmist narratives exaggerate the threat, stressing that transparency and defense diplomacy are key to maintaining regional trust and stability.

19 Sep 2025
Yusya' A...

International Relations East Asia and the Pacific

The Axis of Upheaval: How U.S. Tariffs Backfire

This article explores how U.S. tariffs, intended to strengthen leverage and protect domestic industries, are instead fueling geopolitical realignments and strengthening rival blocs. It shows how Washington’s economic nationalism is alienating key partners like India while accelerating cooperation among China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea. The piece argues that unless U.S. policy recalibrates, tariffs risk isolating Washington and reinforcing the very “axis of upheaval” it seeks to contain.

17 Sep 2025
Obaidurrahman Mirsab

International Relations South and Central Asia

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation and Women’s Rights in Afghanistan After 2021: Between Humanitarianism and Gender Silence

This article explores how the OIC, despite its authority to challenge the Taliban’s restrictions on Afghan women, has confined its response to food aid and cautious diplomacy. By prioritizing relief over rights, the organization has left Afghan women without allies in their struggle. The silence also exposes the OIC’s deeper crisis of credibility as the widely proclaimed “collective voice of the Muslim world.

15 Sep 2025
Farahnaz Amini

Thinkers East Asia and the Pacific

Nusantara IKN: Green Promises, Grey Reality

This article critically examines Indonesia’s new capital project, IKN, which is promoted as a futuristic “forest city” built on principles of sustainability. While the government promises vast green spaces and smart-city technologies, the reality involves deforestation, biodiversity loss, and displacement of Indigenous communities. It argues that IKN’s green narrative amounts to political greenwashing, masking environmental damage and social injustice.

12 Sep 2025
Muhammad Maulidan

Thinkers East Asia and the Pacific

The Brew of a Nation: Indonesia’s Tea Paradox Between Tradition, Global Trends, and Global South Realities

This article traces how Indonesia’s everyday teh botol and the booming taste for imported matcha expose a deeper divide between colonial legacies and global soft power. It shows how this paradox leaves the nation caught between bulk tea exports, rising imports, and the pressures of sustainability. The piece argues that Indonesia’s tea future depends on reimagining both brews through local innovation instead of inherited dependency.

10 Sep 2025
Darynaufal Mulyaman

Environment and Sustainability East Asia and the Pacific

The Trump Effect: How U.S. Retreat from the Paris Agreement Reshapes Global Climate Leadership

This article analyzes how Trump’s second time withdrawal from the Paris Agreement depicted an eclectic blend of economic protectionism, political calculation, as well as ideological skepticism toward climate science and policy. It shows how this move weakened the credibility of U.S. commitments, placed disproportionate reporting and compliance pressures on developing countries, and at the same time stalled momentum on cooperative emission reductions. By comparing America’s wealth with its below-average environmental performance, the piece depicts how the retreat of a superpower exposed the fragility of global climate governance.

08 Sep 2025
Joko Susilo

Environment and Sustainability South and Central Asia

Policy on Paper, Disaster in Practice: Lessons from Pakistan’s Climate Crisis

This article critically analyses Pakistan’s worst floods ranging from the 2010 Flood, to Sindh’s devastating 2022 floods, where villages vanished underwater and millions were forced from their homes as food prices spiraled beyond reach. By 2025, the same story repeated in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, with aid tied up in loans and disaster plans collapsing before the rain even stopped. It argues that Pakistan’s greatest climate risk is not rainfall, but leaders recycling failure in the face of catastrophe and a global system that refuses to learn.

05 Sep 2025
Shaza Khalid

History East Asia and the Pacific

Building Malay Hegemony Through Education and Language Policy: Lessons from Malaysia’s 1969 Riots

This article shows how the 1969 riots pushed Malaysia’s leaders toward the routinization of the 1961 Education Act instead of major reforms. By phasing out English-medium schools, limiting Chinese education, and also binding national identity to Malay, classrooms became central to consolidating political dominance. It highlights how this continuity of policy rather than innovation reshaped ethnic relations and left a legacy that is still felt in Malaysia’s struggles over language and nationhood.

03 Sep 2025
Esa Bayu...

Environment and Sustainability East Asia and the Pacific

Climate Justice for Small Islands: Holding Corporations Accountable for Rising Seas

This article examines the climate vulnerabilities of Pari Island in Indonesia, where rising seas have already disrupted livelihoods, destroyed infrastructure, and also contaminated freshwater. It looks at the islanders’ lawsuit against Holcim in Switzerland as a landmark example of climate litigation, raising very critical questions of legal as well as moral accountability for transnational corporations. The discussion situates this case within the broader debate on climate justice, illustrating the existing unequal burdens and at the same time, the urgent need for corporate responsibility in addressing loss and damage.

01 Sep 2025
Ahmed Mehmood...

International Relations Middle East

Recognition of Palestine: A Political Bargain Disguised as Diplomacy

This article examines how the 2025 recognition of Palestine by Western states is shaped less by solidarity than by conditions aimed at restructuring Gaza’s leadership. It depicts how sidelining Hamas and elevating the position of the Palestinian Authority reflects external calculations that lack domestic legitimacy and consent of the people. By tracing the donor dependence of the Palestinian Authority (PA) and the geopolitical bargains at play, the piece reveals recognition as a tool of control instead of a step that is geared towards genuine sovereignty.

29 Aug 2025
Anza Zahya...

Environment and Sustainability East Asia and the Pacific

Ocean Privatization and its Implications: A Case Study on the Pari Island Agrarian Conflict, Thousand Islands

This article traces how Pari Island in Jakarta’s Thousand Islands Regency, became the stage for ocean privatization, where corporations claimed 90% of the island and also criminalized residents defending their homes, beaches and livelihoods. It reveals how this everyday struggle goes beyond land grabs to also include broader issues of climate injustice, as islanders confront both encroaching seas and a lawsuit against a global cement giant. Together, these battles show how coastal privatization and the climate crisis collide to redefine survival for island communities.

27 Aug 2025
Irkham 'Ainnur...

Politics and Society East Asia and the Pacific

Religiousity Against or Supporting Bullying at Schools?

This article explores how religiosity in Indonesia, while rooted in values of peace and unity, can sometimes reinforce discriminatory practices and bullying in schools, particularly against religious minorities. Drawing on cases of forced religious conformity, harassment, and even fatal bullying incidents, it highlights how teachers, school authorities, and societal attitudes contribute to the spread of intolerance among children. Ultimately, the author calls for stronger counselling services, inclusive education, and the promotion of diversity as essential steps to prevent bullying and foster harmony in Indonesia’s pluralistic society.

25 Aug 2025
Fanny Syariful...

Environment and Sustainability East Asia and the Pacific

Between Paradise and Peril: Ecotourism, Conservation, and Food Security in Indonesia’s Fragile One Thousand Islands

This article explores how ecotourism in Indonesia’s Thousand Islands generates both opportunity and vulnerability, sustaining local incomes while intensifying pollution, privatization, and ecological risk. Based on field visits and community interactions, it illustrates how women leaders and small-scale fishers address climate change and corporate encroachment as daily survival issues instead of an abstract policy. It argues that genuine sustainability requires moving beyond simplistic “trade-offs” to governance models that puts community agency at the center of conservation and food security.

22 Aug 2025
Alida Putri...

Politics and Society East Asia and the Pacific

Aceh at the Crossroads: Hope for Peace and Political Challenges in a New Era

This article explains Aceh's efforts to balance high expectations with real challenges and its desire to steer the region toward a more prosperous future. It depicts that the 2005 Helsinki agreement has enabled Aceh to enjoy significant stability and security, but the region still faces such domestic social, political, and economic issues. The analysis argues that Aceh needs a visionary and inclusive approach to managing and developing peace through institutional improvements and community participation to make it not only a bastion of peace but also a thriving and prosperous region.

20 Aug 2025
Syarifah Huswatun...

International Relations East Asia and the Pacific

Trump’s Tariffs and Global Inequality: Rethinking Indonesia’s Position

This article shows how the United States’ 19% tariff on Indonesian exports celebrated as a great diplomatic win, masks trade-offs that will hit factory workers, small farmers, and poorer regions the hardest. It traces how various concessions such as billions in US farm imports and 50 Boeing aircraft purchases deepen dependency and also widen domestic inequalities. The analysis warns that without some strong labor protections along with fairer investment distribution, such deals risk locking Indonesia into the same kind of unequal role it has long sought to escape.

15 Aug 2025
Muhammad Nurun...

Politics and Society Africa

Living Under Siege: How Nigeria’s Insecurity Crisis is Rewriting Everyday Life in the North

This article examines Nigeria’s northern insecurity crisis as more than a collapse of law and order, but a deep social and economic unraveling. It traces how insurgency, banditry, and state neglect have turned education into a dangerous gamble, women into targets, and farmland into battlegrounds. In doing so, it questions whether government responses, often militarized and reactive, can address the roots of the crisis or merely perpetuate the harm.

13 Aug 2025
Fahad Babangida

International Relations East Asia and the Pacific

The Thailand - Cambodia Crisis and the Contradictory Anatomy of ASEAN Regionalism

This article reflects on the Thailand–Cambodia border dispute, capturing it as more than a contest over territory, but a mirror of how Southeast Asian states use sovereignty in times of internal strain. Drawing on the Preah Vihear temple clashes and their political aftershocks, it examines how domestic fragility in both countries turned the border into a symbolic stage, whereas ASEAN’s principle of non-interference as well as its consensus-driven diplomacy seeks for preservation of stability without challenging entrenched power structures. In doing so, the article questions whether regionalism in Southeast Asia serves as an engine for strong structural transformation, or a tactic to preserve the status quo.

11 Aug 2025
Aniello Iannone

International Relations East Asia and the Pacific

The Perils of not negotiating as a bloc: Global South countries and their reactions to the latest trade tariffs

This article examines how the absence of coordinated trade negotiations among Global South countries has left them vulnerable to disproportionately high U.S. tariffs. It highlights the strategic disadvantage of bilateralism, contrasting it with the leverage enjoyed by more unified blocs like the European Union. The piece concludes by urging the Global South to harness its collective economic power, resources, and strategic assets to negotiate from a position of strength.

08 Aug 2025
Liang Yan...

Politics and Society East Asia and the Pacific

Lessons for the Fizzling Homegrown Tech Industry to a National AI Excellence

This article explores Indonesia’s potential to develop a sustainable national AI industry amid global competition and domestic tech challenges. It examines whether recent government efforts such as K–12 curriculum reforms and AI policy roadmaps signal meaningful transformation or short-term populism. The article argues that lasting success requires long-term investment in talent, data governance, and inclusive innovation tailored to Indonesia’s needs.

06 Aug 2025
Muhammad Al...

Environment and Sustainability East Asia and the Pacific

Two Presidents, Different Realities: Comparison of How Biden and Trump Define the Climate Crisis

This article compares how U.S. Presidents Joe Biden and Donald Trump have defined and responded to the climate crisis, revealing the profound influence of political leadership on global environmental outcomes. It argues that while Biden views climate change as both a threat and an economic opportunity, Trump frames it as a regulatory burden and threat to energy independence. For the Global South, the divergence between these two climate approaches underscores the risks of relying on unstable leadership from major powers and highlights the need for consistent, equitable climate commitments from industrialized nations.

04 Aug 2025
Syiva Amadea...

International Relations East Asia and the Pacific

Turkey-Indonesia’s KAAN Agreement: ‘Trickle-Down’ Strategic Autonomy Pursuit

This article explores the strategic implications of the Indonesia–Turkey defence cooperation marked by the KAAN fighter jet MoU. It argues that Turkey’s rising defence industry enables a “trickle-down” model of strategic autonomy among middle powers like Indonesia. The piece also examines how President Prabowo’s pursuit of military modernisation blends national security goals with geopolitical ambition and personal prestige.

01 Aug 2025
Tufan Kutay...

Business and Economy South and Central Asia

Integrating the Global South through BRICS

This article critically analyzes the 17th BRICS Summit communique, highlighting its vision for a reconfigured global economic order led by an expanded Global South alliance. While it acknowledges the communique’s emphasis on people-to-people cooperation, especially through education and youth engagement, it critiques the lack of concrete mechanisms to realize these goals. The author proposes creating a Brain Circulatory Network (BCN) to foster sustainable knowledge exchange among BRICS nations and beyond, positioning education as a strategic tool for South-South solidarity.

30 Jul 2025
Natasha Agarwal

Environment and Sustainability South and Central Asia

Our unprecedented impact on the Oceans: Is Marine life close to extinction?

This article explores the devastating impact of human activities such as plastic pollution, commercial fishing, whaling, and trawling on marine ecosystems. It argues that these unsustainable practices are pushing marine species toward extinction and threatening the planet’s ecological balance. The author calls for urgent, large-scale ocean protection, warning that the collapse of marine life will have dire consequences for humanity.

28 Jul 2025
Aamina Urooj

International Relations East Asia and the Pacific

Unlocking the Potential of Indonesia-Hungary Economic and Social Cooperation: Pathways to Emerging Power Partnership

This article reveals how Hungary, a country that is frequently overlooked in EU trade politics, is stealthily becoming Indonesia's backdoor route to a regulatory bloc that is resisting its palm oil and nickel ambitions. By examining bilateral cooperation in green tech, infrastructure, and also education, it depicts how the two countries are using diplomatic flexibility to bypass gridlock and build a new middle-power alliance. Their evolving relationship offers Indonesia a strong strategic foothold in EU trade talks as well as a concrete channel to align its industrial ambitions with those of Europe, redefining the economic diplomacy of the country through quiet leverage instead of open confrontation.

25 Jul 2025
Affabile Rifawan

Politics and Society South and Central Asia

Silent Revolution in the Mindset of Citizens of Pakistan Regarding the Democratic Structure Since the Ouster of Imran Khan

This article discusses the implications of the removal of Imran Khan and how it triggered a final rupture in Pakistan’s civil-military consensus, exposing cracks in long-standing narratives that existed around patriotism, sacrifice, and national security. Viewed through the perspective of digital activism, intergenerational memory and political action, it documents how citizens are renegotiating the relationship they currently hold with the state authority. The piece identifies a shifting public mood that is less deferential, and more defiant, as a very strong force shaping Pakistan’s political future.

23 Jul 2025
Muhammad Younus

International Relations East Asia and the Pacific

Thailand, Hun Sen, and the Death of ASEAN Norms

This article examines how a leaked phone conversation between the Cambodian strongman Hun Sen and Thailand's Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, revealed not only diplomatic friction, but also a very broad pattern of informal power politics within ASEAN. It argues that behind the bloc’s conflict-management paralysis lies a silent new kind of coup, one where elites strategically exploit regional norms and diplomatic backchannels to consolidate their authority, at the expense of transparency, interstate trust as well as democratic accountability in the region.

21 Jul 2025
Lutfia Harizuandini

Business and Economy Africa

Lessons Indonesia’s Digital Rupiah Can Learn from Nigeria’s e-Naira Experience

This article explores what Indonesia’s upcoming Digital Rupiah can learn from the e-Naira’s failed rollout in Nigeria. It argues that despite technological promise, public trust, usability, and integration with existing fintech platforms are crucial for widespread adoption. The author urges Bank Indonesia to prioritize transparency, real incentives, and collaboration with private players to avoid creating a digital currency that remains unused.

18 Jul 2025
Abdulkadir Sadiq

Politics and Society East Asia and the Pacific

“Jangan Ganggu Bapak Aing” (Don’t Disturb Our Father): How Digital fandom Fuels Anti-Critique in West Java's Populist Politics

This article explores how digital fandom surrounding West Java Governor Kang Dedi Mulyadi (KDM) fuels a growing culture of anti-criticism in Indonesia's online political discourse. It shows how KDM’s performative populism on social media fosters emotionally charged support that treats critique as a personal offense. The piece warns of the democratic risks posed by this trend, where viral appeal may overshadow substantive governance and suppress dissent.

16 Jul 2025
Moch Dimas...

International Relations East Asia and the Pacific

Thailand, Cambodia, and the Limits of ASEAN Conflict Management

This article examines the 2025 border crisis between Thailand and Cambodia, triggered by a skirmish in the contested Chong Bok highlands, and unpacks how the incident exposed the limits of ASEAN’s conflict management framework. It argues that the crisis, driven as much by domestic political maneuvering as by territorial disputes, reveals ASEAN’s deep structural paralysis, as the organization’s commitment to non-interference and consensus prevents it from effectively mediating escalating tensions among its own member states.

14 Jul 2025
Aniello Iannone

Politics and Society East Asia and the Pacific

Climate Crossroads from Jakarta to Seoul: Navigating Global South, Human Security, and Pop Culture in a Warming World

This article explores how climate change is reshaping global security, diplomacy, and culture especially in the Global South by intensifying human insecurity through environmental, economic, and political disruptions. Centering Indonesia and South Korea, the authors advocate for a new form of climate diplomacy that blends regional cooperation, grassroots resilience, and pop culture to reclaim narrative power and foster global solidarity in a warming world.

11 Jul 2025
Darynaufal Mulyaman

Business and Economy East Asia and the Pacific

Bridging the Divide: How Indonesia Can Turn Economic Growth into Inclusive Prosperity

This article explores how Indonesia can transform its steady economic growth into inclusive prosperity by addressing structural inequality. Focusing on digitalization, foreign direct investment (FDI), and equitable education, it argues that meaningful reform is essential to ensure all citizens benefit from the country’s progress. The piece calls for targeted, people-centered policies that bridge economic divides and empower marginalized communities.

09 Jul 2025
Joko Susilo

Thinkers East Asia and the Pacific

The Slowly Drowning City: Rethinking Climate Governance from Below

This article examines how communities in Pekalongan, Indonesia, are responding to chronic tidal flooding through everyday, locally driven adaptation strategies. Drawing from participatory fieldwork, it reveals the limitations of top-down climate governance and calls for a shift toward decentralised, community-centered approaches. The piece underscores the urgency of empowering local actors with resources, authority, and inclusion in decision-making processes.

07 Jul 2025
Kerkulah P...

Environment and Sustainability South and Central Asia

CBAM and the Trade-Off Between Climate Responsibility and Economic Growth: The Role of Trade Openness in a Divided Global Order

This article critically examines the European Union’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) as a climate policy tool designed to curb carbon leakage and align global trade with decarbonization goals. While CBAM aims to create a level playing field between domestic and foreign producers, it raises concerns about trade protectionism, economic inequality, and its disproportionate impact on developing economies in the Global South. The article calls for a more inclusive and balanced approach that supports climate justice, technology transfer, and sustainable growth for vulnerable countries.

04 Jul 2025
Noor Ul...

International Relations Middle East

The Geopolitical Implications of the Israel-Iran Rivalry: Security, Alliances, and the Future of the Middle East

This article explores the deep-rooted and multifaceted rivalry between Israel and Iran, analyzing how ideological conflict, military doctrine, and nuclear tensions have shaped the Middle East's security landscape. It highlights how this protracted antagonism has evolved into a broader geopolitical struggle involving regional alliances, proxy wars, cyber conflict, and global power dynamics between the U.S., Russia, and China. As the rivalry intensifies, the article underscores its profound implications for international stability, diplomacy, and the future of global order.

02 Jul 2025
Syeda Tatheer...

International Relations Middle East

The Death of International Law

This article critically examines the U.S.–Israel strike on Iran’s nuclear sites as a turning point in the unraveling of international legal norms. It argues that the operation, conducted without UN authorization or legal justification, reveals how international law has become a tool of selective enforcement that protects the powerful while disciplining the Global South. The piece calls for a bold reimagining of the global order led by the Global South where legality, sovereignty, and justice are no longer subordinated to geopolitical dominance.

30 Jun 2025
Virdika Rizky...

International Relations Middle East

China’s Balancing Act in the Iran–Israel Conflict: Energy, Diplomacy, and Global South Alignments

This article examines how China is navigating its strategic partnerships with both Iran and Israel amid the escalating 2025 conflict. It highlights Beijing’s shift from neutral diplomacy to overt support for Iran, driven by energy interests, geopolitical rivalry with the West, and ambitions to lead Global South diplomacy. The piece explores how this balancing act exposes the limits of China’s influence and the risks of growing polarization in Asia and beyond.

27 Jun 2025
Syarifah Huswatun...

International Relations Middle East

How Multilateralism Crumbles in the Face of the Red Sea Crisis

This article explores how the Red Sea crisis, escalated by geopolitical rivalries, Houthi attacks, and the Israel-Iran conflict, has exposed the limitations of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the erosion of global multilateralism. As great powers and regional actors prioritize strategic competition over cooperation, the IMO’s capacity to ensure maritime stability is increasingly undermined. The piece calls for a multipolar and inclusive approach to reform global maritime governance and restore order in one of the world's most vital shipping lanes.

25 Jun 2025
Nia Deliana

International Relations Middle East

War Criminal Calls for More Wars

This article takes a critical look at how Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel, with international indictment and prosecution looming at home, leverages geopolitical instability in order to extend his political survival while also manipulating Western alliances and moral narratives to justify his highly aggressive regional policies. Drawing insights from psychological theory, lobbying influence, as well as fragmented Muslim world responses, it presents the argument that the so-called rules-based order is increasingly turning out to be hollow due to selective silence and strategic inaction.

23 Jun 2025
Mohammed Ahmed...

Environment and Sustainability East Asia and the Pacific

Sacred Islands at Risk: The Faithful Fight Against Extractive Greed

This article confronts the human and ecological cost of Indonesia’s nickel boom, exposing how the drive to go green is not only clearing coastal settlements, polluting water supplies but also hollowing out very sacred island landscapes. Under the guise of sustainability, these extractive policies have instead, actually resulted in higher levels of inequality, spiritual dislocation, and environmental collapse in some of the most vulnerable parts of the country.

20 Jun 2025
Hening Parlan

Politics and Society East Asia and the Pacific

Indonesia at the Edge: The Fragile Foundations of Prabowo’s Presidency

This article analyzes the fragile foundations of President Prabowo Subianto’s administration amid economic instability, rushed policy changes, and costly populist programs. It highlights growing concerns over governance, environmental degradation, and the politicization of Indonesia’s new sovereign wealth fund. The piece situates Indonesia within a broader Global South pattern of populist centralization and democratic erosion.

18 Jun 2025
Geo Dzakwan...

Environment and Sustainability South and Central Asia

Sacrificing Sulawesi’s Blue Paradise for Electric Vehicle Ambition

This article examines the way in which the electric vehicle ambitions of Indonesia are replacing Indigenous cultures, ecosystem, and livelihoods of the Bajau People of Kabaena Island in Southeast Sulawesi. Through the lens of nickel mining, it reveals a slow-motion crisis in which disregard for the environment, legal loopholes, and even the silence of the state are transforming coastal regions into collateral damages.

16 Jun 2025
La Ode...

International Relations East Asia and the Pacific

Malaysia’s Foreign Policy in ASEAN under Anwar Ibrahim

This article looks at how Malaysia under Anwar Ibrahim is managing the increasingly internal fractures in ASEAN as well as external influences through a highly strategic and realist, interest based foreign policy. It depicts Malaysian strategic hedging, economic diversification and silent diplomacy in a way that allows it to remain influential without an overreach or being too assertive

13 Jun 2025
Aniello Iannone

Environment and Sustainability Africa

Is TransJakarta the Sustainable Transportation Model Sub-Saharan African Cities Have Been Waiting For?

This article explores how Jakarta’s TransJakarta Bus Rapid Transit system offers a compelling model for sustainable, inclusive urban transport in Sub-Saharan African cities. By highlighting its environmental, social, and economic impacts, the author draws actionable lessons that can inform equitable mobility and climate-resilient urban development across the Global South.

11 Jun 2025
Kerkulah P...

Business and Economy East Asia and the Pacific

Whose Standards Matter? The Clash Between Global ESG Norms and Local Realities in the Global South

This article discusses how global ESG standards, mainly created within high income economies, often do not match with the institutional capacities, and most urgent priorities of countries in the Global South. It highlights the risks of uniform compliance requirements that can marginalize local realities and pose very strong barriers to genuine efforts aimed at sustainability and economic inclusion.

09 Jun 2025
Nani Septianie

International Relations East Asia and the Pacific

A Crisis Ignored: The Rohingya’s Struggle for Rights and a Lasting Solution

This article exposes how over one million Rohingyas stripped of citizenship by Myanmar’s 1982 law and expelled in waves of brutal military violence remain trapped in legal and political limbo across Southeast and South Asia. It argues that only very well coordinated regional action, legal reform, and real burden-sharing can dismantle the structures keeping them stateless and invisible.

06 Jun 2025
Abubakar Muhammad...

Environment and Sustainability East Asia and the Pacific

Energy Estate as the National Strategic Project, For Whom?

The Indonesian government's PSN projects, particularly palm oil-based energy estates, face criticism over land conflicts and weak community consent. The article urges inclusive decision-making and suggests tools like the GNH Index to ensure sustainable, people-cantered development.

04 Jun 2025
Muhammad Arief...

International Relations Middle East

President Trump's Middle-East Visit: Recalibrating U.S. Foreign Policy and Reshaping the Global Order

This article examines how President Trump’s recent Middle East tour marked a very important recalibration of U.S. foreign policy, combining transactional diplomacy with strategic realignment in a region pivotal to global power dynamics. It analyses the implications of sweeping economic deals, Syria’s diplomatic reintegration and how the Gulf states are no longer passive actors but assertive brokers in an emerging multipolar order.

02 Jun 2025
Abdullahi Muhammad...

International Relations East Asia and the Pacific

Indonesia – and The Rest of The Global South- Can’t Afford to Be a Spectator in the New Global Order

This article challenges Indonesia’s and much of the Global South political inertia on defense strategy, warning that dependence on foreign systems leaves the region exposed in a world where power is built through production, not just alliances. With South Korea experience, it makes a pointed case for why the Global South must stop outsourcing its sovereignty and start treating industrial self-reliance as a geopolitical imperative.

30 May 2025
Darynaufal Mulyaman

International Relations East Asia and the Pacific

Gendering Global Trade, Recentering Women’s Labour

This article explores how global trade policies affect women’s labor, highlighting Malaysia’s experience with growing yet precarious manufacturing jobs and increased unpaid care work. It critiques trade agreements like RCEP and US tariffs for overlooking women’s needs, especially in informal and care sectors while advocating for gender-sensitive trade policies that recognize unpaid domestic work and safeguard women.

28 May 2025
Christopher Choong...

Environment and Sustainability East Asia and the Pacific

The Circular Ultimatum: Why We Must Choose Between Recycling Earth or Losing It

This article argues against the illusion that recycling is an issue of individual responsibility, demonstrating it instead, as a deep structural imperative tied to global economic design. Tracking the intersections of waste colonialism, ecological innovation and circular policy, it redefines recycling as a litmus test for whether modern economies can evolve before collapse.

26 May 2025
Joko Susilo

International Relations Middle East

Who Really Won Syria?

This article reevaluates the outcome of the Syrian conflict, arguing that the so-called jihadist victors have undergone a profound ideological transformation, shifting from radical Salafism to a more localized and politically adaptive form of Islamism, exemplified by the transformation of al-Jolani into Ahmad al-Shara. The piece questions whether this evolution represents a strategic win for the Islamists, the U.S., Turkey, or simply the most adaptable actor in the post-war landscape.

23 May 2025
Muhammad Khamis...

International Relations Latin America

The Emerging Trend of “Green” Resource Nationalism: Lessons from Latin America

As the shift to clean energy intensifies, resource-rich nations in the Global South are adopting Green Resource Nationalism (GRN) to reclaim control over critical minerals like lithium. Focusing on Latin America, this paper examines how GRN—through export restrictions, localization, and taxation—evolves from traditional resource nationalism in response to climate goals. It assesses both the opportunities for national development and the challenges posed by weak institutions and global power imbalances, cautioning that without strong governance, GRN may reinforce rather than reduce dependency.

21 May 2025
Muhammad Erza...

Politics and Society East Asia and the Pacific

When Democracy Becomes Inherited: Dynastic Politics in Asia and Latin America

This article examines how democracy can paradoxically bolster authority held by family rule, as the dominance of political dynasties expands in Asia-Pacific while constitutional measures in Latin America strive to limit its influence. It highlights the ways in which very weak political parties, clientelist networks, and unchecked exploitative loopholes in electoral systems undermine both local democracies and the integrity of democratic systems globally.

19 May 2025
Muhammad Aqshadigrama

Thinkers South and Central Asia

Sacred Stones and Silk Roads: Pakistan’s Place in Global Historical Tourism

This article analyses how to reorient Pakistan from a forgotten backdrop of ancient ruins to a very vibrant crossroads of civilizations with untapped potential in global historical tourism. It examines how digital tools, regional diplomacy, and South-South cooperation can turn Pakistan’s heritage from obscurity to global world relevance.

16 May 2025
Muhammad Yaseen

International Relations South and Central Asia

From Massacre to Retaliation: The 2025 Pahalgam Attack and the Escalating India-Pakistan Conflict

This article examines the 2025 Pahalgam massacre of 26 pilgrims that triggered India's Operation Sindoor airstrikes and Pakistan's retaliation, escalating the Kashmir conflict through hybrid warfare. It analyzes nuclear risks, nationalist fervor, and the urgent need for global diplomacy to secure a fragile ceasefire and prevent regional catastrophe

14 May 2025
Syeda Dur-e-Nayab

International Relations South and Central Asia

A Familiar Fear: Kashmir's Terror Reawakens

This article explores the April 2025 Pahalgam massacre as a turning point in the Kashmir conflict that escalates India–Pakistan tensions, and raises fears of external involvement in a proxy war. As Kashmir once again becomes the epicenter of geopolitical rivalry and communal fractures, the article warns that without international mediation and policy reform, the region risks spiraling toward an irreversible crisis with nuclear implications for all of South Asia.

12 May 2025
Muhammad Farhan...

International Relations Middle East

Starvation and Silence: The Human Cost of the Forgotten Yemen War

This article examines the ongoing war in Yemen as a case study in global impunity and selective outrage. It critiques the complicity of Western powers in perpetuating the conflict, the erasure of Yemeni voices in international narratives, and the failure of multilateral institutions to deliver justice. Urging readers, especially in the Global South, to challenge this silence, the article calls for a principled stance against militarized power and a renewed commitment to accountability, solidarity, and decolonial justice.

09 May 2025
Nur Afeerah...

International Relations East Asia and the Pacific

Structures in Motion: Indonesia’s Strategic Hedging and the Struggle for Autonomy in the Indo-Pacific

This article analyzes Indonesia’s strategic hedging in the Indo-Pacific, spotlighting its 2+2 dialogue with China as a response to US-China rivalry and global power shifts. It examines how Jakarta’s bebas aktif policy, economic vulnerabilities, nationalist narratives, and ASEAN’s fragile unity navigate autonomy within a polarized world order.

07 May 2025
Aniello Iannone

Politics and Society Africa

Freedom of Expression versus Sacred Boundaries: Interrogating the ECOWAS Decision on Blasphemy Laws in Northern Nigeria

This article examines the ECOWAS Court’s ruling against Nigeria’s Kano State blasphemy laws, highlighting tensions between international human rights, Islamic ethics, and Nigeria’s constitutional pluralism. It dissect how Nigeria can balance freedom of expression with sacred values, and a just path forward.

05 May 2025
Samaila Ali

Environment and Sustainability East Asia and the Pacific

Mangroves on the Edge in Indonesia: Can We Save Our Green Fortresses Before It’s Too Late?

This article examines the alarming loss of Indonesia’s mangrove ecosystems, vital carbon sinks and coastal lifelines facing extinction by 2050 due to logging and habitat destruction. It highlights innovative restoration efforts, including Sulawesi’s 25-hectare project and AI-powered virtual planting, urging collective action to protect biodiversity and coastal communities.

02 May 2025
Joko Susilo

Business and Economy East Asia and the Pacific

The Strategic Importance of a People-Based Economy in the Era of Global Trade Disruption: The Case of Indonesia

This article explores Indonesia’s resilient people-based economy, driven by 65 million MSMEs and digital platforms like QRIS, as a shield against global trade disruptions from Trump’s tariffs. It advocates for cultural shifts via “Bangga Buatan Indonesia,” rural entrepreneurship, and policy reforms to ensure economic sovereignty and inclusive growth.

30 Apr 2025
Darynaufal Mulyaman

International Relations East Asia and the Pacific

Beyond Applause: Malaysia’s Smart Diplomacy Amid China-US Rivalry

This article examines Malaysia’s diplomatic balancing act amid Trump’s 25% tariffs and 31 Memorandum of Understanding with China (MoUs), highlighting risks of non-binding agreements and China’s strategic interests in the South China Sea. It advocates for inclusive policies and a task force to ensure MoUs deliver grassroots benefits and safeguard Malaysia’s autonomy, drawing lessons from the failed High Speed Rail (HSR) project.

28 Apr 2025
Muhammad Izzuddin...

Business and Economy East Asia and the Pacific

IHSG Turbulence: Indonesia’s Economic Uncertainty Wake-Up Call

This article examines Indonesia’s 2025 economic turmoil, marked by a 24% Eid travel decline, Coretax system failure, and IHSG volatility, driven by policy missteps and global tariffs. It underscores the urgent need for transparent, consistent governance to restore investor trust and stabilize the rupiah amidst a deepening fiscal crisis.

25 Apr 2025
Chikara Syam

International Relations East Asia and the Pacific

The Global South and the Myth of Neutrality

This article critiques the outdated notion of neutrality for the Global South, arguing that in a 2025 world of U.S.–China trade wars and systemic inequities, strategic alignment is essential for developing nations to assert sovereignty. It advocates for autonomous engagement with global powers, drawing on examples like Vietnam and China’s Belt and Road to propose a pragmatic path toward agency and global justice.

23 Apr 2025
Virdika Rizky...

International Relations East Asia and the Pacific

Indonesia Misses the Chance to Revive the Spirit of the Asia-Africa Conference

This article examines Indonesia’s failure to mark the 70th anniversary of the Asia-Africa Conference, highlighting how this inaction weakens the Global South’s resistance to tariff wars, climate crises, and great power dominance. It underscores the enduring relevance of the Bandung principles, urging renewed multilateralism to amplify developing nations’ voices on issues like Palestine and global equity.

21 Apr 2025
Idil Syawfi

International Relations East Asia and the Pacific

Can Indonesia’s Climate Diplomacy and Clean Energy Benefit Much From BRICS Membership?

This analysis explores whether Indonesia’s newly formalized BRICS membership can meaningfully advance its climate diplomacy and clean energy ambitions. Arguing that true leadership begins at home, the piece critically examines Indonesia’s inconsistent renewable energy commitments and lack of strategic direction in its critical mineral supply chains. While BRICS offers Indonesia greater geopolitical leverage and a platform for South–South cooperation, the article emphasizes that without clearly defined national interests and stronger domestic policies, these opportunities risk going unrealized.

18 Apr 2025
Benita Sashia...

Business and Economy South and Central Asia

Hospitality as Soft Power: Unlocking Pakistan’s Cultural Capital for Economic and Diplomatic Gains

This piece explores how Pakistan can harness its rich cultural heritage and hospitality sector as instruments of soft power and economic diplomacy. Drawing on examples from across the Global South, the article argues that reimagining hospitality beyond tourism, as a tool for strategic branding, social inclusion, and international engagement, can elevate Pakistan’s global standing while fostering inclusive local development.

16 Apr 2025
Muhammad Yaseen

International Relations South and Central Asia

Borders in Turmoil: Refugees, Retaliation, and the Durand Line Divide in 2024

This article examines the 2024 Durand Line crisis, where colonial borders fuel mass deportations, airstrikes, and economic blockades, transforming refugees into geopolitical pawns. Through a lens of postcolonial critique, it proposes decolonial policies to foster justice and regional stability.

14 Apr 2025
Awais Ahmed

Business and Economy East Asia and the Pacific

Reading Through Global South Lenses: Order Behind the Disorder in Trump’s Tariffs

This incisive piece unpacks the deeper logic behind Trump’s so-called “reciprocal tariffs,” arguing that beneath their apparent chaos lies a strategic project to preserve U.S. hegemony. Drawing on recent policy thinking from within Trump’s inner circle, Choong explores how tariffs function not just as economic tools, but as geopolitical levers—ultimately threatening the autonomy of Global South nations. Through a Global South lens, he highlights how these policies reconfigure international order, pressure Southeast Asian non-alignment, and demand a renewed, coordinated regional response.

11 Apr 2025
Christopher Choong...

Thinkers East Asia and the Pacific

Rethinking Corruption in the Global South: Economic and Ethical Implications

This article challenges the conventional view that all corruption is inherently harmful by exploring cases like China and parts of Latin America where certain forms of corruption may, under specific conditions, contribute to economic growth. It also invites ethical reflection, arguing that context and consequences matter in evaluating the morality of corrupt practices in the Global South.

09 Apr 2025
Rizky Adhyaksa

International Relations Africa

Judgment Day in Global Trade: Trump’s Economic Wrath Hits an Unprepared World

This article examines the multifaceted implications of President Donald Trump’s tariffs, initiated on April 2, 2025, which aim to address a $1.2 trillion U.S. trade deficit by generating $3.2 trillion in revenue over a decade, while risking economic disruption domestically and a potential derailment of development in the Global South.

07 Apr 2025
Abdullahi Ahmed

Politics and Society South and Central Asia

Mahrang Baloch: A Defiant Voice for Justice in Balochistan

This article explores the fearless activism of Mahrang Baloch, a leading voice against enforced disappearances and state repression in Balochistan, Pakistan. It examines her role in mobilizing a women-led resistance, the global significance of her struggle, and its broader implications for human rights and authoritarianism in the Global South.

31 Mar 2025
Awais Ahmed

Politics and Society Africa

Rivers State Crisis in Nigeria: National Assembly Approves Emergency Rule Amid Controversy

This article examines the controversial approval of a presidential state of emergency in Rivers State, Nigeria, by the National Assembly, which suspended elected state officials. It analyzes the legal, political, and democratic implications of this decision within the broader context of governance in the Global South, exploring the federal government’s justifications, the National Assembly’s role, and the potential consequences for state autonomy, democratic stability, and the balance of power in emerging democracies.

28 Mar 2025
Abubakar Shehu...

Politics and Society Africa

The State of Democracy in Sudan: Challenges and Prospects for the Future

This article examines Sudan’s turbulent path toward democracy, where military dominance, political fragmentation, and economic instability continue to obstruct lasting reform. It explores the complex interplay of internal struggles and external influences, questioning whether Sudan’s future holds genuine democratic renewal or a continuation of its cyclical power struggles.