Women’s representation in government is fundamental to achieving good governance and, to some extent, substantive democracy. The importance of women in politics stems from the hypothesis that shared identity leads women politicians to care more about women’s issues in policymaking than their male colleagues. Some studies support this hypothesis, showing that female member of parliaments (MPs) tend to prioritise issues related to women, such as abortion, domestic violence and rape.
Category: Opinion
No, China should not help Indonesia’s Free Meals Programme with AI
Chinese Ambassador Wang Lutong’s latest offer to help Indonesia’s Free Nutritious Meals (MBG or Makan Bergizi Gratis in Indonesian) programme with artificial intelligence (AI) may appear to be a welcome example of technological cooperation.
Saving the People Who Save Us: Close the Fiscal Gap in Indonesia’s Primary Healthcare
On May Day 2026, a young doctor named Myta Aprilia Azmy died in an intensive care unit in Palembang, Indonesia.
Is It Time for Indonesia to Rewrite Its Constitution?
Indonesia’s Reform era (Reformasi) commenced in 1998 with the resignation of President Soeharto, ending more than three decades of authoritarian rule. His resignation followed a week of widespread civil unrest amid the economic turmoil caused by the Asian financial crisis. More than two decades after the Reform era began, Indonesia still struggles with familiar political pathologies: excessive centralisation, uneven development, strained centre-periphery relations, entrenched oligarchic power and weak mechanisms of accountability.
Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines: Three Paths to Face Energy Price Shocks
The conflict in Iran that erupted in mid-2026 shook the global oil market and forced almost all ASEAN countries to adjust their fuel prices in a short period.
Thailand’s Anutinomics: Bringing the 2000s into the 2020s
Thailand has long relied on central economic planning to foster economic growth and address major socio-economic challenges. These policies range from the emergency measures implemented during the 1997 Asian financial crisis (known locally as TomYam Kung), to Thaksin Shinawatra’s ‘Thaksinomics’ reforms in its aftermath, to Prayut Chan-o-cha’s policies aimed at stabilising Thai economy during the COVID-19 pandemic and finally to Prime Minister (PM) Anutin Charnvirakul’s emerging economic agenda.
Southeast Asia Is Not In The World Cup, But It’s Not A Talent Problem
As the world’s attention is currently fixed to the largest ever FIFA World Cup tournament in history where 48 national teams are competing, Southeast Asia is also watching closely. The region is home to one of the biggest fanbases in the world, hosting about 300 million people or roughly 10% of the world’s football supporters.
The West Philippine Sea Must Not Become ASEAN’s Testing Ground for Unchecked Autonomy
When Chinese water cannons shattered the cockpit windscreen of a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessel and injured crew members in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), the incident was reported as another act of maritime harassment. But what made this confrontation different was not just the violence, it was the technology.
ASEAN Energy Security Must Be Driven by Member States’ National Self-Interest
For some time, a question has hung in the air about how ASEAN would be able to translate its political commitment into implementation. The top-down approach may never fit the “ASEAN way” of doing things. By its institutional nature, ASEAN’s energy security and speed of energy transition will largely depend on the national self-interest of its member states.
For ASEAN’s youth climate declaration to work, look at how China turns promises into proof
The ASEAN Declaration on the Empowerment of Youth in Climate Action and Disaster Resilience, adopted at the 48th ASEAN Summit in Cebu on May 8, is a welcome signal.