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Politics

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Korea’s corrupt democracy

The impeachment of Korean President, Park Geun-hye, highlights Korea’s deep corruption. But it is also a testimony to the strength of Korea’s democratic institutions, writes John West. Read more...
Krorean Protesters

Asia's dearth of democracies

Not one Asian country would have a “full democracy”, writes John West. Read more...
donald-trump-021709l

Trumped by Trump

THE celebration of stupidity has surely reached its apogee in the election of Donald Trump to the presidency of the United States, writes Roger Coombs. Read more...
Exercise Cobra Gold 2014 [Image 9 of 14]

Thailand’s military madness

Thailand’s 2014 military coup may have been the 20th since 1932. But this one was also fundamentally different, writes John West. Read more...
Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte

Philippines’ authoritarian nostalgia

The Philippines’ fiesta politics has drawn another wild card, in the form of its new President, Rodrigo Duterte, writes John West. Read more...
L20 press conference

Korea should drop charges against imprisoned trade unionists

The 20th anniversary of Korean OECD membership will be overshadowed by labour rights and freedom of assembly violations, argue TUAC. Read more...
Tsai Ing-wen 蔡英文

China and Taiwan -- Apocalypse Now?

Will the arrival of a new President in Taiwan bring even more “interesting times” in relations with mainland China asks John West. Read more...
Silk Street

China leads the world in the production and export of illicit goods

Production and trade of counterfeit, pirated and other illicit goods are large and growing, and are led by China, writes John West. Read more...
Money

Corruption, Economic Development and Poverty Alleviation

Corruption continues to be a major drag on economic growth in developing countries, argue Asit K. Biswas, Cecilia Tortajada and Augustin Boey. Read more...
Syria

Conundrum syrien

Brève portant sur le conundrum syrien : pertinence de la notion de développement économique et social pour l’appréhender ? Par Claude DUVAL et Alexandra TRZECIAK. Read more...
TAMIL TEMPLE

Sri Lanka’s karma

“Sri Lanka must confront and defeat the demons of its past”, said the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, on the occasion of his mission to Colombo in February 2016, reports John West. Read more...
Tsai Ing-wen 蔡英文 五都選舉

Looming Trouble in the Taiwan Straits

Trouble looms in the Taiwan Strait with the expected victory of a candidate from the pro-independence party in the upcoming Taiwanese presidential elections, writes John West. Read more...
UTown, National University of Singapore

The Rise of Asia’s Think Tanks

Regional think tanks are proliferating. But is the quality keeping pace, ask Asit K. Biswas and Kris Hartley. Read more...
Singapore General Election 2015

Singapore’s Surprisingly Predictable Election Result

Most analysts were surprised that the ruling PAP did so well. They shouldn’t have been, argue Asit K. Biswas and Cecilia Tortajada. Read more...
Mars - Processed 10 May 14

Singapore and sharing data

Singapore can afford to be more open in sharing data, argue Asit K. Biswas and Kris Hartley. Read more...
Miami - Wynwood: Wynwood Walls - Wynwood Walls - Shepard Fairey's Aung San Suu Kyi

Elections in Myanmar/Burma

The last days of the election campaign in Myanmar are torn between hope for renewal and the need to ensure a smooth transition writes Stefano Pelaggi. Read more...
June 4th March / 六四遊行

China’s political predicament

Turmoil in China. Sudden exchange rate devaluation. Shanghai stock exchange meltdown. Factory explosion in Tianjin. Massive capital flight. Is the infallible Chinese government losing its touch? Read more...
Protests in Bangkok, Thailand

Democracy and Asian development

The Chinese authoritarian juggernaut is now wobbling forward, sideways and backwards. Could in the end democracy be the best political system for fostering Asian development, asks John West? Read more...
OECD Week 2014: Forum 2014/High-Level Ministerial Council Meeting - Keynote address by Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan and Ministerial Council Meeting Chair

Japan's stunted democracy

With thousands of Japanese citizens in the streets protesting against Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, could Japan be on the verge of becoming a mature, full-fledged democracy asks John West. Read more...
Umbrella Revolution in Hong Kong 2014

Asia’s democracy deficit

Democracy has very shallow roots and many enemies in Asia -- and not only in China -- argues John West. Read more...