China-India Water Disputes: Two Major Misperceptions Revisited
Synopsis
The Sino-India ‘water wars’ narrative has been overblown and there is a need for a better understanding of China’s intent.
Islamism, Radical Islam, Jihadism: The Problem of Language and Islamophobia
Synopsis
There are problems with terms used to discuss religiously justified violence, like Islamism, Radical Islam, Jihadism, etc. They may provide legitimacy to terrorists, increase Islamophobia, and distort or misrepresent the actions and ideologies they seek to describe.
ASEAN’s Post-2015 Vision: Inclusive and Non-Elitist?
Synopsis
2015 is the marker year for the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) to be realised. Whilst the focus will invariably be on the AEC, the formulation of a post-2015 ASEAN vision requires equal care and attention. It should be more inclusive and grass-roots driven.
Deaths in Paris: Separating Fact from Fiction
Synopsis
The jihadist assaults in Paris on Charlie Hebdo have sparked allegations of a failure by French intelligence and security agencies. Jihadists beyond the Middle East are also portrayed as coordinated by Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP). A closer look suggests those assertions are at best speculation.
Responding to the Paris Attack: Beware the Fatal Error
Synopsis
The killings in Paris have resulted in panic and public concern, but the authorities should not give the attackers what they seek. States and security forces should avoid the trap of reacting to terrorist violence with overwhelming state violence, which would serve the interests of radical militant groups to sow distrust and antagonism.
Deaths in Paris: Refining the Post-9/11 Model
Synopsis
Underlying the attack on the Charlie Hebdo magazine is a far greater threat than the brutalising of freedom of expression. Western leaders and security agencies too often fall into and create a vicious cycle modelled on the 9/11 attacks in the US: A Muslim community that rejects violence is put on the defensive. The upshot is polarisation that breeds radicalisation.
Enhancing Australia-Singapore Defence Relations: A View from Australia
Synopsis
2015 will provide Singapore and Australia with good opportunities to further enhance their defence relationship towards the goal of a ‘comprehensive strategic partnership’.
Islam and Buddhism: Preserving Harmonious Relations
Synopsis
The creeping Muslim-Buddhist tension and the recent alliance forged among hard-line Buddhist nationalist movements in the “saffron crescent” countries of South and South-east Asia will undermine inter-religious relations in the world today. Islam and Buddhism have always co-existed throughout history and enjoyed a special relationship.
Consensual Leadership in ASEAN: Will It Endure Under Jokowi?
Synopsis
Since President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) assumed office, many have been wondering whether ASEAN will still be the cornerstone of Indonesia’s foreign policy or merely just a vacuous diplomatic formality.
Ketuanan Melayu: What’s in a Name?
Synopsis
The idea of Malay primacy or Ketuanan Melayu in Malaysian politics tends to reverberate whenever its traditional advocate, UMNO, comes under siege. There is a need to better understand this concept.