Managing transitions: Philippines to Bangladesh
The writer argues: "Yet, like development models, protest movements are not portable. Conditions that make them plausible or even necessary in one society may be absent in…
It is a national disaster: The Jakarta Post
It is evident that local administrations in North Sumatra, West Sumatra, and Aceh are overwhelmed and lack the capacity to handle the impacts of the deadly floods without the…
Bay of Bengal’s slow death threatens our future
In just seven years, nearly four-fifths of the bay's fish that live in the pelagic zone—neither close to the sea-bed nor the shore—have vanished. This is not a routine…
A prepared but impatient vice president: Philippine Daily Inquirer
Vice presidents do not exist to rattle markets or deepen insecurity. They exist so that, should the moment come, the country does not plunge into chaos. VP Sara Duterte’s recent…
Curing the Philippines’ cancer of corruption
Educator Feliece Yeban posted on social media last week: “The ‘cancer cells’ are the officials, government employees, contractors, and power brokers who have fed on public…
Sukarno, Soeharto and authoritarian failures in Indonesia
Centralisation, which is prone to authoritarianism, may serve as an emergency structure in moments of collapse, but it cannot drive innovation, productivity, or global…
Philippine politics in the grip of families—and vice versa
The writer laments: "But, unless we learn to honor these boundaries—between family and politics, faith and power, public duty and private interest—we will continue to see…
Dhaka’s earthquake danger ignored for too long
The fate of a megacity like Dhaka facing a potential major earthquake depends on its level of preparation, scientific insight, and coordinated action, says the writer. Without…
The oust Marcos plot
The oust-Marcos plotters incorrectly misread the lay of the land if they expected a massive migration of support for VP Sara, the writer says.
Crime and punishment: Sheikh Hasina’s conviction comes as lesson for all authoritarian rulers
Ultimately, says the writer, the coercive power of the state could not withstand the power of the people.