This week we hear from U.S. Deputy National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes who discussed his recent trip to Myanmar and what the White House is watching for in the November 8 elections with Sumitro Chair for Southeast Asia Studies Ernie…
By Aung Din As I am writing this blog from Yangon, the November 8 election in Myanmar, or Burma, is only a few days away. As a long-time foot-soldier of Myanmar’s democracy movement, I view this historic election with both…
By Jonathan Bogais — Indonesia’s president, Joko Widodo, Jokowi, for short, is in Washington for high-level talks with President Barack Obama, U.S. officials, and business leaders. Indonesia is the largest Muslim country in the world, the third biggest democracy, and…
This week feature a conversation hosted at CSIS by noted journalist Bob Schieffer which reviewed the recent U.S.-China summit. CSIS Freeman Chair Christopher Johnson, former senior U.S. government official Dr. Kurt Campbell, and Financial Times Washington Bureau Chief Demetri Sevastopulo…
By Jonathan Bogais — Tensions are running high in Myanmar’s northwestern Rakhine State ahead of the November 8 general elections. The Organization for the Protection of Race and Religion, a body of ultra-nationalist monks—known locally as MaBaTha—is raising the stakes…
This week we discuss the outlook for Myanmar’s upcoming general elections with the U.S. Ambassador to Burma Derek Mitchell. Ambassador Mitchell describes some of the key issues the U.S. government is monitoring in Myanmar in the run up to voting…
By Phuong Nguyen On September 8, Myanmar entered a two-month election campaign period, the culmination of at least a year of excitement, political intrigue, and wrangling among different players. The United States and other international players have been concerned that…
By Jonathan Bogais — Australia’s new prime minister Malcolm Turnbull singled out Tony Abbott’s apparent denial about the serious challenges facing the country’s economy and his inability to communicate his economic agenda to explain why he challenged his predecessor in…
By Derwin Pereira Fourteen years after al-Qaeda redrew the religious map of the world, it has receded from the global frontlines. However, it has been replaced by a stronger subversive entity, the Islamic State (IS), proving how hard it is…
This week Sumitro Chair for Southeast Asia Studies Ernie Bower joins to analyze Singapore’s general election returns and discuss the future direction of the country’s democracy and foreign policy. Hosted by Colm Quinn. Audio edited by Sam Ellis. Produced by…