Showing 221 - 227 of 227
New great game in mainland Southeast Asia
News, Thitinan Pongsudhirak, Published on 19/10/2012
» After more than a year in office with an overwhelming electoral mandate, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has parlayed her solidifying domestic standing for growing international credibility.
Many more checks but far fewer balances
News, Thitinan Pongsudhirak, Published on 20/07/2012
» The Constitution Court's verdict last Friday to dismiss petitions against the legislature for drafting a bill that would amend the charter has defused tensions and averted another round of street demonstrations in the near term.
Euro-style integration not the way forward for East Asia
News, Thitinan Pongsudhirak, Published on 31/05/2012
» Not so long ago, it was popular for university students in these parts to write term papers on comparisons between the economic integration of the European Union and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations' economic cooperation after the formation of the Asean Free Trade Area in 1992. Such interest in this European-Asean parallel has dried up following the global financial crisis that convulsed the United States and other Western economies in 2007-08 and the spiralling crisis of the euro, the EU's main currency.
Deprivation to deliverance in Myanmar
News, Thitinan Pongsudhirak, Published on 20/04/2012
» The opposition National League for Democracy's virtual sweep of 43 out of 44 MP seats in Myanmar's recent by-elections was a long time coming.
Uneasy truce and elusive reconciliation
News, Thitinan Pongsudhirak, Published on 30/03/2012
» After the post-coup years of conflict and turmoil, Thailand at last has reached uneasy terms of a truce, which will be necessary for long-term reconciliation and the way forward. To take the remaining steps towards the hitherto elusive reconciliation will require more concessions from the main parties involved. The danger going forward is that what appear like huge concessions now may well turn out later to be too little, too late.
The implications of Burma's progress
News, Thitinan Pongsudhirak, Published on 13/01/2012
» Watching Burma's ongoing progress towards democratic reforms and political dialogue from afar is like seeing sprinkling rain turning into a light downpour after a long drought over two decades. It is a spectacular and stunning sight thus far, partly because the long drought stirred pent-up demands and grievances for ways forward.
Shifting political tides portend turmoil
News, Thitinan Pongsudhirak, Published on 06/01/2012
» Thailand has arrived at the outset of 2012 more bruised and battered compared to its previous bouts of political instability, characterised by several years of protests and violence and then capped recently by the floods.