Michael Hart

My preview of the Bangsamoro elections in @WPReview. If all goes well later this year, it will signal the end of Moro separatism, but clan warfare and local political violence in the #BARMM will threaten any peace. worldpoliticsreview.com/philippines-ba…

“The Philippine public wants an effective government to deal with its everyday concerns. Unfortunately, for the foreseeable future, the Marcos-Duterte family feud will take political precedence.” @JoshKurlantzick on impact of dynastic politics in @WPReview:worldpoliticsreview.com/philippines-ma…

“Anwar’s government has adopted an outward-looking stance in the past few months, especially on trade ties, to guard against the risks of Trump’s return.” My latest in @WPReview, on #Malaysia’s preparations for tariffs: worldpoliticsreview.com/malaysia-tarif…

“For the United States, forgone influence along a substantial length of the Mekong represents a geopolitical setback. Lost partnerships in Laos could damage its already waning reputation as a reliable partner.” @Diplomat_APAC by Talisker Scott Hunter: thediplomat.com/2025/03/in-lao…

In our latest issue, Xuan Dung Phan explains that #Vietnam’s hedging amidst US-China rivalry in the #Mekong aims to limit its exposure to non-traditional security risks including ecological damage, water and energy insecurity, and economic vulnerabilities. bit.ly/TPR_PhanD_0725

In @WPReview, I write that the implied message from Hun Sen, amid his stirring of #Thailand’s political divides is that one-party rule in #Cambodia is better than the repeated cycles of political chaos and jostling for power among parties across the border.worldpoliticsreview.com/thailand-cambo…

In this new paper, Qing Lu and Ravichandran Moorthy assess #Malaysia’s strategic responses to the intensifying United States–China semiconductor rivalry as a critical node in the supply chain. ⤵️ bit.ly/TPR_LuQ_0725

Our fourth issue of 2025 (Vol. 38, Issue 4) is out! 📖 Take a first look at the line-up here: bit.ly/PacificReview3…

In this new article, @munvong, @sovinda_po, and Manghout Ki offer insights into the status-seeking of small authoritarian states, asking how #Cambodia seeks a favourable international image to boost the political legitimacy of the ruling party at home. bit.ly/TPR_VongM_0625

At 80 and in her fifth year of imprisonment, Aung San Suu Kyi fades from global view. But in Myanmar, her legacy still casts a long and complicated shadow. Story by @DSMathiesonHRW: asiasentinel.com/p/twilight-mya…

New open access (🔓) article: @yaguerika and @hmberents argue that understandings of #peace and security in Southeast Asia can be enhanced via a focus on the overlooked role of #youth and shifting relationships between youth and institutions. tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.10…

A busy few weeks in Hanoi balanced with some time on the northeast coast. On the horizon, container ships leaving the port of Hai Phong.

ICYMI : A short interview with the anchors of "The Big Story" on the recent elections in BARMM and the peace process. A tidbit also re: Manila's efforts to shift from internal to external security - part of a series by @CrisisGroup, coming soon. youtube.com/watch?v=9UBZwn…

In @WPReview, I argue that regional diplomacy in the aftermath of the earthquake in #Myanmar, added to increased support for the post-coup regime from China and India over the past year, has handed the junta a route out of isolation. worldpoliticsreview.com/myanmar-earthq…

An update to the journal’s aims and scope ⤵️ The aims and scope has been updated by the Editors to provide greater clarity on geographical and topical coverage, methodological approaches, and our stance on submissions that have a domestic or historical focus.

Armed resistance groups have expelled regime forces from most of Chin State in western Myanmar. To prevent misunderstandings and flare-ups, they should put in place real-time de-escalation measures. crisisgroup.org/asia/south-eas…

Our second issue of 2025 (Vol. 38, Issue 2) is out! 📘 Take a first look at the line-up here: bit.ly/PacificReview3…

In @WPReview, I argue that #Vietnam's work to establish a permanent presence on its features in the South China Sea has put it in the strongest position of the ASEAN claimant states to deter China and defend its own claims to sovereignty. worldpoliticsreview.com/vietnam-south-…

"The current trend of incremental regime decline is coinciding with a rise in factionalism, ethno-national military autocracy and state failure." @IISS_org report by @morgmichaels on conflict dynamics in Myanmar: myanmar.iiss.org/updates/2025-02

Laos will be heavily indebted to China for decades to come. In the long term, hedging its bets with neighbors Vietnam and Thailand presents the only path out of dependency, @_MichaelHart writes. worldpoliticsreview.com/laos-china-tha…