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Indonesia's Yudhoyono Puts Politics over Reform

By Prashanth Parameswaran 10 Nov 2009 | World Politics Review In announcing his 37-member cabinet last month, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono lauded his new team as "credible and accountable," and expressed confidence in its abilities. However, many experts did not join in Yudhoyono's glowing encomium, and with good reason: Most of the cabinet-level appointments seem to be based on considerations of political loyalty more than competence.

China's Climate Change Policy: The Dragon's Green Streak

By Prashanth Parameswaran 28 Oct 2009 | World Politics Review Chinese President Hu Jintao's landmark address to the U.N. Climate Change Conference last month captured the essence of China's Janus-faced climate change policy -- which, despite remarkable progress, continues to be bogged down with implementation problems and overshadowed by China's concerns with economic growth.

Indonesia Makes Gains, Raises Concerns in Fight Against Terror

By Prashanth Parameswaran 08 Oct 2009 | World Politics Review The killing last month by Indonesian authorities of Southeast Asia's most-wanted terrorist, Noordin Mohammad Top, was a major blow to Islamic militancy in Southeast Asia. But even as Jakarta's "law and order approach" to eradicating terrorism continues to net key terrorist operatives, it has come under increasing scrutiny for eroding the fabric of Indonesia's democracy.

Restoring the Military Balance in China-Taiwan Relations

By Prashanth Parameswaran 30 Sep 2009 | World Politics Review Despite the recent calming of cross-strait relations, the military imbalance between China and Taiwan continues to grow. Beijing's military modernization is rapidly dwarfing Taipei's capabilities and blunting Washington's ability to defend its ally in the event of conflict. Left unchecked, this growing imbalance will threaten long-term stability in the Taiwan Strait.

Thailand's Gains Against Insurgency Remain Fragile

By Prashanth Parameswaran 19 Nov 2008 | World Politics Review When Thailand's new prime minister, Somchai Wongsawat, paid his first visit to the country's insurgency-wracked southern provinces last month, he was cautiously optimistic. Even skeptics grudgingly acknowledge that the Thai government is making progress in its fight against the insurgency in the restive Malay-Muslim provinces. But despite the success of Bangkok's counterinsurgency strategy thus far, a recent spike in violence could worsen if the short-term emphasis on security becomes a long-term obsession.

The Future Shape of U.S.-ASEAN Relations

By Prashanth Parameswaran 30 Sep 2008 | World Politics Review Academics and diplomats converged in Washington last week to discuss the future direction of the United States' Southeast Asia strategy. Their assessments, along with broader regional developments, highlight the key challenges, shifts and continuities that will drive the next administration's policy toward the region. The next administration must be more attentive to Southeast Asia in order to balance the levers of Washington's influence and maintain its standing in this dynamic region.

Preserving the Southern Philippines' Threatened Peace Deal

By Prashanth Parameswaran 18 Aug 2008 | World Politics Review Exclusive As the world was fixated on the Beijing Olympics and Russia's incursion into Georgia, a fledgling peace process between the Philippine government and Muslim rebels in the country's restive south was beginning to unravel. The Philippine Supreme Court's suspension of a key peace agreement fanned the flames of violence in the region. The United States should be concerned about these developments, and should work to ensure the Philippine government musters the political will to overcome obstacles to peace.