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Politics in Action 2022: Polls, the pandemic, and civil society in Southeast Asia
19 May 2022
Six researchers from across the region offered expert analysis on politics in Southeast Asia.
Back in person in 2022, our annual Politics in Action forum focused on the latest political, social and economic developments in six countries of Southeast Asia.
Our annual听Politics in Action听forum was back in person in 2022, with an exciting line-up of speakers covering recent developments in Southeast Asia. It was great to see a mix of students, staff, researchers and others at the event, as well as a healthy online audience.
This year鈥檚 one-day forum focused on the latest political, social and economic developments in six Southeast Asian countries: Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Timor-Leste and Vietnam. Designed to be concise, speakers鈥� presentations were packed with information and analysis, and prompted engaging questions from the audience.
Professor Michele Ford speaking at Politics in Action 2022
Key topics discussed included general elections鈥攋ust completed or upcoming鈥攊n several countries; the ongoing impact of the pandemic and plans for social and economic recovery; and evolving challenges facing civil society, young people and political participation across the region.听
- 听(Universiti Sains Malaysia) covered听听in Malaysia, including the return of ethnoreligious political parties, the future of coalition politics and what might happen ahead of a looming general election.
- 听(Swinburne University) had just returned from Timor-Leste, where Jose Ramos-Horta was recently elected president for a second time. Professor Leach听听the implications of the election鈥攊ncluding an intriguing snippet about the political influence of martial arts groups鈥攖he powers of the president and major governance challenges.
- Polls were also a focus of the听, presented by听听(University of the Philippines Diliman). Assistant Professor Mendoza previewed the听country鈥檚 election听(since won convincingly by Ferdinand Marcos Jr.) and also spoke about the incumbent government鈥檚 pandemic response, corruption and human rights issues.听听
- 听(Griffith University) covered Laos, with a focus on the economy, including concerns over growing public debt, slowing economic growth and the influential role of China. Dr Haefner听听hydropower dam projects in Laos, and the country鈥檚 ambition to becoming the 鈥渂attery of Asia.鈥�
- 罢丑别听听was presented by PhD candidate听听(Victoria University), who explored recent changes in political leadership, the 鈥渂lazing furnace鈥� anti-corruption campaign, Vietnam鈥檚 鈥渁spiring, yet hesitant鈥� ambition to be a regional middle-power, and relations with China, Russia and the US.
- The afternoon was rounded off by听听(University of Melbourne), who provided the Indonesia update. Dr Setiawan听听in Indonesia, human rights issues and increased securitisation in Papua, curbs on freedom of expression, gender equality and gender-based violence.听
Nguyen听Khac听Giang delivering the Vietnam update
If you missed the event, catch up on the speakers鈥� presentations on the SSEAC听website, our听听channel or听听辫补驳别.
Many of the issues discussed are also touched on in our podcast series,听SSEAC Stories, including a听听on energy politics in Laos and Cambodia with Dr Andrea Haefner.
Thank you to all our speakers and attentive audience members, in person and online, for making this year鈥檚 Politics in Action forum such a success!
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Dr Gregory Raymond joins SSEAC Stories to discuss听how Buddhism is used within the geopolitical strategy of China鈥檚 Belt and Road Initiative across mainland Southeast Asia.