Democracy

This article provides an overview of how Russia's war of aggression on Ukraine is being viewed and assessed in various regions and countries in Asia, and how the governments there are positioning themselves and reacting: in the Southeast Asian ASEAN countries, in Northeast Asia, and in India, China, and Myanmar.

As soon as the Supreme Court Justice will swear in the new president of the republic, the Duterte regime will finally come to an end. Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr., the son of dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr. is leading the unofficial count and more likely to be the President-elect of the Philippines. But will Marcos Jr. remain a president for long?

With the next generation from the Marcos and the Duterte families vying to lead the country in the Philippine’s upcoming election, what is it in the nation’s history and society that has allowed these abrasive and autocratic political dynasties to continue?  

From Hong Kong to Chile to Uganda, three separate young women are fighting for a better tomorrow. The movie ‘Dear Future Children’ by young filmmakers is not only an inspiring documentary about young activism but also a call to action for those who are older – to remember their idealism in youth and to listen to the current younger generation wanting to be heard.  

The Global Feminist Pitch is back to support feminists from Latin America, Asia, Africa, Middle East and (South) Eastern Europe. This year we are looking for ten feminists who will write on the topic of feminist mobilisation in their region. Apply now!

The road to presidency of the late dictator’s son is built on a campaign that embraces the influencer culture of good vibes and toxic positivity while evading demands for accountability. 

Increase in domestic violence, lay-offs, care responsibilities, restrictions on domestic and international movement, economic insecurities, psychological burdens - these are just a few of the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic in Asia in the last two years. The gendered nature of COVID-19 impacts is obvious and has sparked large feminist responses in the region.

Since there are many hot topics and interesting developments in and around Southeast Asia, hbs Southeast Asia Regional Office in Bangkok created a non-exhaustive list of a few informative podcasts. They cover different topics from current affairs, including politics and environment to deeper insights into history and culture. Happy listening.