Criminal cyber libel and online defamation laws across Southeast Asia raise concerns about freedom of expression, press freedom, and foreign investment. With particular attention to the Philippines, this analysis examines how criminal penalties, legal disputes,…
Southeast Asia is becoming a major geography of artificial intelligence, with Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines competing for data centers, hyperscaler investment, computing capacity, and greater control over AI development.
Skin whitening is deeply embedded in Southeast Asia’s beauty culture. From affordable creams to cosmetic procedures and glutathione treatments, the pursuit of lighter skin reflects longstanding class ideals, colonial legacies, media influence, and modern social…
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…
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…
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…
