Surveys that ask voters, “were you offered money or goods for your vote?” put Thailand, the Philippines, and Indonesia at the high (most widespread) end in Southeast Asia. A Transparency International Global Corruption Barometer round…
PLAGUED WITH POWER OUTAGES THAT ARE GETTING WORSE, WHY HAS ASEAN CHOSEN TO STEER CLEAR OF NUCLEAR POWER?
Japan has 15 operable nuclear powerplants, providing nearly 10% of all electricity throughout the country. China has…
ASEAN member nations are struggling to keep their proverbial heads above water, as well as their feet wet. An enhanced cycle of floods and droughts are today more and more challenging their abilities to adequately…
The Philippines proudly ranked 65th in the 2026 Atlas of Impunity, high-fiving itself for staying competitive in the regional “nothing ever happens to anyone” league while trailing only the true professionals of chaos. Officials celebrated…
The Absence of Jury Systems in ASEAN Nations and the Case for Selective Reintroduction in Contemporary Democracies
Forget the nonstop “Trump, Trump, Trump!!” screams and click-baiting in America; Southeast Asia also knows how to produce good political theater. Lately the region’s ancient gods and goddesses appear to have grown bored with the…
ASEAN comprises a politically diverse bloc of ten member states. Democracy levels vary widely, shaped by historical legacies of colonialism, authoritarian rule, ethnic diversity, and economic priorities. Using indices like the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU)…
Corruption remains a significant challenge across much of ASEAN, as reflected in the 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI – published annually by Transparency International), where Singapore ranks highly clean while countries like Myanmar, Cambodia, and…
Political polling and public opinion surveys are essential tools for gauging citizen preferences in democratic societies. However, in hybrid and authoritarian-leaning contexts within ASEAN – particularly the Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, and Indonesia – standard…
Embarrassing political chaos, Duterte’s imprisonment, elite squabbles, and an economic slowdown are causing concern and skepticism after Manila assumed ASEAN chairmanship in January of this year. Malaysian and Indonesian figures are criticizing the Philippine legal…
