Southeast Asia | Council on Foreign Relations

Timor-Leste

Timor-Leste: Twenty-Five Years After Independence

Timor-Leste has emerged as a democratic bright spot in a region struggling with democratic regression.

Blog Post by Joshua Kurlantzick September 11, 2024 Asia Unbound
Election 2024

How Harris and Walz Might Handle Asia Policy

Former President Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris would take vastly different approaches to Asia policy if they won the White House.

Blog Post by Joshua Kurlantzick August 29, 2024 Asia Unbound
Thailand

Paethongtarn Shinawatra, Thailand's New Prime Minister, Demonstrates the Excessive Power of the King and Royalist Elites

Thailand’s new prime minister is a member of the Shinawatra political dynasty.

Blog Post by Joshua Kurlantzick and Pavin Chachavalongpun August 26, 2024 Asia Unbound

Experts in this Keyword

Joshua Kurlantzick

Senior Fellow for Southeast Asia and South Asia

Gideon Rose

Adjunct Senior Fellow

Election 2024

What a Harris-Walz Administration Would Mean for Southeast and South Asia

A Harris-Walz administration would build upon the Biden administration’s focus on partners and allies and likely struggle to respond to regional democratic backsliding.

Blog Post by Joshua Kurlantzick August 19, 2024 Asia Unbound
Vietnam

What Nguyen Phu Trong's Death Means for Vietnam

Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong strengthened Vietnam’s place on the world stage while increasingly consolidating control and limiting dissent.

Blog Post by Joshua Kurlantzick July 19, 2024 Asia Unbound
Indonesia

What to Expect From Indonesia Under President-elect Prabowo Subianto

Despite expectations that incoming President Prabowo Subianto will continue the policies of his popular predecessor, he will chart his own course on foreign and domestic policy.

Blog Post by Joshua Kurlantzick June 26, 2024 Asia Unbound
Myanmar

Myanmar's Junta Is Increasingly Isolated

The junta’s grip on power is continuing to deteriorate.

Article by Joshua Kurlantzick June 24, 2024 Asia Unbound
Malaysia

Anwar Struggles With Foreign Policy—and at Home

Despite his reformist credentials, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has struggled to enact the policy transformation he promised.

Blog Post by Joshua Kurlantzick June 10, 2024 Asia Unbound
Thailand

Thailand’s Draconian 112 Lèse-majesté Law: Any Hope for Change?

A repressive law limiting criticism of the Thai monarchy has placed the current king beyond reproach, but popular discontent with the legislation and the monarchy is growing.

Blog Post by Joshua Kurlantzick June 3, 2024 Asia Unbound
Thailand

Has the King of Thailand Split With Thaksin?

The king of Thailand had seemingly allied with Thailand’s most powerful civilian politician, Thaksin Shinawatra. Now, the alliance may be collapsing—again showing the vast, hidden power of the Thai monarchy.

Blog Post by Joshua Kurlantzick and Pavin Chachavalpongpun May 31, 2024 Asia Unbound
Myanmar

How Myanmar Became a Global Center for Cyber Scams

Organized crime groups in Southeast Asia have seized on Myanmar’s instability amid civil war to establish a string of scam centers engaged in global online fraud operations.

In Brief by Clara Fong and Abigail McGowan May 31, 2024
Election 2024

A Second Trump Term: How Will Each Southeast Asian State Respond? Part 2

A potential second Trump administration would force Southeast Asian countries to make difficult choices between the United States and China.

Blog Post by Joshua Kurlantzick May 23, 2024 Asia Unbound
Election 2024

A Second Trump Term: How Will Each Southeast Asian State Respond? Part 1

A potential second Trump administration would upend Southeast Asia’s preferred strategy of hedging between the United States and China.

Blog Post by Joshua Kurlantzick May 22, 2024 Asia Unbound
Thailand

Thailand’s Government Promised Change. It’s Delivering Chaos

The government of Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has done little to address Thailand’s pressing issues, and now, after a Cabinet reshuffle and high-profile resignations, it seems to be in chaos.

Article by Joshua Kurlantzick May 16, 2024 Asia Unbound
Thailand

Thailand’s Politics Suffer More Turbulence

The current Thai government, which assumed power in 2023, has proven ineffective in tackling the nation’s challenges, while its politics have become increasingly fractious.

Blog Post by Joshua Kurlantzick May 16, 2024 Asia Unbound