Two of ASEAN’s most durable authoritarian democracies (or is it democratic authoritarianism) come under scrutiny at the Australian National University this month.

A colourful parade of some 100 people marched through Hanoi on 5th August, waving flags, riding decorated bicycles, and chanting “We support same-sex marriage” in Vietnam’s first ever police-sanctioned Gay Pride event.

The state has become a very important source of income, but state expenditure has done little to produce more productive forms of economic activity.

A new mode of governing is transforming state formation, state-society relations, political organisation and civil society throughout Southeast Asia.

Thaksin has a track record of indestructibility. It makes sense that in the difficult years to come the palace will want him on their side.

The main challenge for Thailand's agriculture–its relatively low labor productivity–arises from the persistence of an agricultural peasantry, not its disappearance.