The coronavirus outbreak raises some interesting questions for the social scientists and the general public. Most importantly, why are some countries more successful than the …
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Activism is Under Attack in the Philippines
Activists in the Philippines are under siege. The country is now the most dangerous place for environmental activists, with 30 killed in 2018 – more than anywhere else in the world. And environmental …
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Indigenous Struggles: A Shortfall of Philippine Democracy
The Philippines opened the 30th Southeast Asian Games this year with a performance celebrating the country’s indigenous cultures. A day earlier, indigenous Aeta communities were given a notice …
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Is There Judicial Independence in Duterte’s Philippines?
A review of salient cases that have been considered by the Supreme Court suggests a judiciary largely unwilling to rule against the president. Three years in his term, President Rodrigo Duterte has …
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China Hates “Sharp Power,” but the Feeling Is Unfounded
China is unhappy with the growing use of the term “sharp power” to describe its overseas influence activities. Unfortunately, its criticism is unfounded. China is unhappy with the growing use of …
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Democracy in Mongolia: “Oasis of Democracy” Backsliding? by Jocelyn Best-Silva
In January, the speaker of the Mongolian Parliament was removed from office after large scale protests over political corruption. Just two years ago, their Parliament also removed the Prime Minister …
What the Election Result Dispute Means for Indonesian Democracy by Jenny W. Xiao
Early results of the 2019 Indonesian elections indicate that President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has secured a second term in office. A quick vote count on April 17 shows that Widodo won 55% of the vote, …
How Disinformation is Threatening the 2019 Indian Election by Jenny W. Xiao
As the world’s largest democracy heads to the ballot box this week, political observers are worried that propaganda and “fake news” pose a threat to the country’s parliamentary elections. Earlier this …
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