Understanding Southeast Asia

The implementation of the ASEAN Economic Community in 2015/2016 will have drastic impacts on the socio-economic development and democratization of the ten member countries. This dossier and the lecture series seek to explain current political developments, societal changes and economic trends in the region. Our next focus will be on gender politics.

"If you improve the situation of women, everyone will benefit"

Thida Khus is the Executive Director of SILAKA, a Cambodian NGO that has been working since 1997 to increase the participation of women in Cambodia. Thida will be speaking at the Heinrich Böll Foundation about the situation of women in Southeast Asia.

Refugees and Maritime Movement in Southeast Asia 2015

Refugees in Southeast Asia live in legal limbo and are subject to harassment, arrest, and detention. Especially Rohingya refugees are in indefinite detention and have been forgotten by the international media.

By Julia Mayerhofer and Lilianne Fan

Migration in Southeast Asia

Burmese migrant working on a Thai boat, Samut Sakhon, Thailand

Labour Migration in the ASEAN Region

Migrant workers in the Asean Region live and work under inhumane conditions. To improve this situation policies, the migration industry and the accountability of employers must all get a lot more attention.

By Ashley William Gois

Movement of People in the ASEAN Region: Nomenclature and Concepts

In times of increased ASEAN economic integration the official rhetoric around migration is one of free labour markets, opportunities and exchange. However, there are indications that ASEAN's migration management is in fact a "politics of return".

By Sverre Molland

ASEAN and the AEC

More articles and publications about Asia

Afghan Musicians

Report

The story narrates ordeal of artist community of Afghanistan who are in deep crisis after toppling of Afghan government by Taliban. Almost all musicians and melody performers in Afghanistan abandoned their profession and went into hiding to escape Taliban’s wrath.

By Ahmad Jan

Five women in black dresses are sitting on a bench and showing their show their outstretched hands

Civil Society Organisations in Cambodia: Impact, Challenges and Opportunities

Background

CSOs in Cambodia have had to maneuver in an increasingly repressive environment, but the challenges and failures that they have had to face thus far have led to important reflections and learnings.

By Sok Leang

schwarzer Frauenschatten hinter zersplitterter Scheibe

Thailand’s Silent Pandemic: Domestic Violence during COVID-19

Porntip wanted out of her abusive marriage and filed for divorce. But her husband wouldn't leave. Then the Thai government's COVID-19 response locked them both behind the same front door in the northeastern Khon Kaen countryside. His drug abuse continued, and the tensions between them increased. As did the beatings. He often told their two daughters he wanted to kill their mother.

By Annelie Langerak

Eine Deponie voller Plastikmüll in Ayutthayas Bang Ban District

Thailand’s Plastic Waste Conundrum

Analysis

Despite the Thai government’s ban of four more types of single-use plastics in 2022, up to 250,000 tonnes of imported plastic waste from other nations continues to flow into the country annually through the international plastic waste trade. Thailand is trying to stay the course with further efforts to mitigate plastic pollution, but there are still challenges in waste sorting and collection on the ground.

By Pratch Rujivanarom

Two women fencing with sticks on a small stage

Giant Satrey: the strength of contemporary Cambodian women

Video performance

Violence against women and environmental pollution: current social issues are embodied in contemporary and symbolic pieces by the dance company New Cambodian Artists.

By Elaine Haller

In the wake of the coup: how Myanmar youth arose to fight for the nation

E-paper

The Myanmar military coup, on 1 February 2021, devastated the country and the youth have played a leading role in protesting and resisting the military dictatorship. This paper explores Myanmar youth’s motivations for their resistance to the 1 February coup, their imaginations of post-revolution society, and their goals. The paper also attempts to evaluate the many challenges that youth activists are facing in post-coup Myanmar - a state that has again become severely repressive. Based on 34 individual interviews with youth activists involved in the peaceful anti-coup resistance movement in Myanmar, this paper asks: What are the conceptualisations, motivations and expectations held by youth activists participating in the peaceful 2021 anti-coup movement, and what challenges do they face?

pdf

Perspectives Asia #10: Fabrics of Society

The 10th issue of Perspectives Asia takes a look at how the pandemic is reshaping state/society relationships in different Asian countries; it also shares down-to-earth Covid-19 experiences from different regions and cultures, on issues as diverse as trust in government institutions, the situation of migrant workers, and gender relationships.

Add to cart pdf

Sharing life. The Ecopolitics of Reciprocity

Book/E-Book

Evolving around the main essay “Sharing life. The Ecopolitics of Reciprocity”, all contributions to this assemblage reflect a common understanding that ecology and biodiversity needs to be reclaimed – and constantly generated – as a process of lived and living realities in a system of reciprocal relationships.