(This piece was written with the intention of simply recording my thoughts on the ABIS 2017. As somewhat more of a reaction paper than a real think piece, the analysis is rather light and not much effort was placed on showing supporting data. Fair warning.)
During the ASEAN Business and
Investment...
Friday, January 26, 2018
The Point of ASEAN
(This article originally appeared in the Diplomat back in 2016. https://thediplomat.com/2016/07/the-point-of-asean/)
Many observers of international politics often dismiss the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as increasingly unable to manage regional crises. With the grouping marred...
Saturday, September 12, 2015
Revisiting Non-Interference in ASEAN: Some Thoughts to Move Forward
Article Two of the Treaty of
Amity and Cooperation (TAC), which is the fundamental agreement that governs
the relations of member-states within ASEAN, mentions of many principles yet
are essentially rooted in one—the principle of non-intervention. Borne out of
the high level of insecurity among...
Tuesday, September 8, 2015
Making a Southeast Asian Democracy in Their Image: Some Strategies for Democracy Activists in the Region
Southeast Asia is in a democratic
regression—both at the domestic and regional level. Domestically over the last decade, Thailand
has regressed severely from a democracy to be ruled by a military junta.
Malaysia and its dominant Barisan Nasional continues to viciously crack down on
the opposition...
Tuesday, April 28, 2015
The Challenge of China and How NOT to Respond
There is no doubting the status of
China as a global economic superpower. Through the wide expansion of its
manufacturing sector, with combined elements of statism and neoliberalism, it
created historical record double digit growth rates for 30 straight years. By
virtue of its massive size, China...
Wednesday, April 15, 2015
Constructivist Reflections on the Philippine Political Economy
(This piece was written primarily as a reaction to my International Political Economy professor's, Prof. Amado Mendoza, opinion piece on his Interaksyon opinion column, entitled "How did the PH economy grow despite the messy political situation? Since then, I have realized it is not a reaction...
Tuesday, April 14, 2015
The Post-Washington Consensus, Development Models and the Game of Leverage
The world is made up of two actors;
there are the ‘rule-makers’ and there are the ‘rule-takers.’ On one hand, the
rule-makers have a high degree of both normative and coercive power at their
disposal to illicit the obedience of rule-takers. On the other hand,
rule-takers, in the absence of sheer coercive...
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