The Spectacular Rise of Joko Widodo: How Long Can He Last as President?
Synopsis
The inauguration of President Joko Widodo today, 20 Oct 2014, has raised hopes of a new beginning for Indonesia. Can he assuage doubts about his political longevity?
Is Prime Minister’s Anger at ‘Hate Preachers’ Justified?
Hizb ut Tahrir has condemned the terrorist group Islamic State and is overtly non-violent - so why is Tony Abbott "angry and frustrated" he hasn't been able to ban the group, and hopeful new laws will allow him to do so?
Brazil’s Re-emerging Arms Industry: The Challenges Ahead – Analysis
Brazil’s defence industry is experiencing a mini-comeback. However, it faces tough decisions in creating an economically and technologically competitive arms-producing capability.
Returning ISIS Fighters: What Should Be Done With Them?- ANALYSIS
Reports that several disillusioned ISIS fighters want to return to their home countries pose a serious Reports that several disillusioned ISIS fighters want to return to their home countries pose a serious challenge of developing an effective response. Their governments will have to strike a careful balance between deterrence, rehabilitation, intelligence-gathering needs and cost effectiveness.
New Map Of Indonesian Jihadists: PRO-IS And NON-IS? – ANALYSIS
The debates within the jihadist community in the conflict zones of Syria and Iraq influence contemporary jihadists around the world into making tactical choices. Analysing and studying their reception and influence are useful for predicting their trajectories. These provide options for counter-terrorism efforts.
Keeping EBOLA Away From ASIA: Lessons From SARS – ANALYSIS
Is East Asia prepared for an Ebola outbreak? Even with lessons from the SARS epidemic and the current cooperative mechanisms in place, the region cannot let its guard down in the face of a grave threat to global health security.
Women’s sporting rights put Saudi Arabia and Iran on the defensive
The struggle for women’s rights to engage in and attend sport events has commanded increased attention with the hunger strike of a British-Iranian national incarcerated in Tehran’s notorious Evin prison, the expected arrival in Saudi Arabia of Australian women fans for the Asian Champions League final, and the rare appearance of Saudi women in an all-male stadium in Abu Dhabi.
HK protests have roots in old and new social movements
The standoff is not a single-issue triggered mass event but the result of two strands of social mobilisation, which includes radicalised youth activism
Headlines in the mainstream media such as "Hong Kong's gone crazy", "Umbrella Revolution" and "Communist China's worst nightmare" have attracted widespread attention. They depict recent events in Hong Kong with spectacular images of riot police firing tear gas, protesters chanting and raising fists, and students camping on streets between Transformer-style skyscrapers and in the midst of subtropical thunderstorms.
Governing ASEAN E-Commerce Getting Cloudier – ANALYSIS
Big business has tapped into ASEAN’s burgeoning e-commerce market and regional governments have enacted measures to govern the Internet “cloud”. However institutional gaps remain and a region-wide legislation for e-commerce is required.
Indonesia in Transition: Impediments To Fuel Subsidy Reform – ANALYSIS
President-elect Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo is bracing himself to face policy challenges left behind by his predecessor, chief of which is the fuel subsidy issue. What impedes the reallocation of fuel subsidy funds and what are the possible solutions?