As the growing backlash against globalization picks up pace, populists and nationalists are on the march, particularly in the US and Europe. Leaders in Asia can hardly escape this growing trend, even as they grapple with their own emerging domestic challenges and the evolving transformation in the regional order. We profile some of Asia’s key leaders and the mark they are making.
Conventional explanations for the recent rise of populism and identity politics are too narrow.
The Chinese president is convinced that leadership from the top must be strengthened.
The Japanese prime minister’s challenges mount, including an erratic US and his desire to amend Japan’s constitution.
A wakeup call is needed after an erosion of the president’s popular mandate amid sputtering economic policies.
The increasing influence of Islamist issues has pushed the president to accommodate conservative Islamic parties.
Personal vulgarity and glorification of violence haven’t undermined his rule, but is Philippine democracy suffering?
The specter of Hindu nationalism has emerged as a potent force that could threaten the country’s democracy.
US President Donald Trump is leading his country into a trade quagmire. Growing hostility towards China will be hard to pull back from.
The prospect of trade talks restarting between the US and China is unlikely to lead to a major breakthrough.
The BRI is a central component of Beijing’s agenda to cement its leadership in the world.
The US under Donald Trump is taking renewed interest and seeking to boost its regional influence along with allies such as Japan and India.
Washington and Beijing should work together to promote shared leadership to achieve greater co-operation among all nations.
As China rises, how likely is it that disputes over this key body of water could lead to conflict with the US?
Indonesia and other ASEAN states could play a key role in mitigating US-China rivalry.
Was Trump’s true Singapore summit agenda to cool tensions to gain space for a harsher policy on Iran?
Why peace efforts shouldn’t focus exclusively on denuclearization.
Wherever it leads, the road to peace will be long and hard.
Tansen Sen’s India, China and the World: A Connected History highlights lesser-known links between the two countries.
New titles by Clive Hamilton; Amy Chua; Mathilde Chatin & Giulio M. Gallarotti (eds.); Brian D. Taylor; Øystein Tunsjø; Paul Thomas Chamberlin; Stephen R. Platt; Sulmaan Wasif Khan; Michiko Kakutani; Steven Levitsky & Daniel Ziblatt; Prasenjit K. Basu; Ru