Economics

In the wake of surging energy demand across Southeast Asia, Laos has pursued an ambitious strategy to become “the battery of Asia,” exemplified by the development of the Xayaburi Dam—its first large-scale hydropower project on the Lower Mekong River. This article explores how the dam reshaped Laos’ post-2008 economic priorities and institutions, driving a shift toward export-oriented growth and deeper regional energy integration. While it brought investment and institutional reform, it also intensified tensions between development, environmental sustainability, and transboundary cooperation.

The 1997 Asian Financial Crisis reshaped the political and economic landscapes of Indonesia, South Korea, and Thailand, triggering democratization by weakening authoritarian regimes and empowering civil society. This paper examines how the crisis disrupted developmental states, leading to short-lived democratic gains, including constitutional reforms in Thailand, Suharto’s resignation in Indonesia, and South Korea’s first opposition presidency. However, entrenched elites adapted, reinforcing clientelism and patronage politics. The resurgence of competitive authoritarianism in the early 21st century, seen in leaders like Thaksin and Prabowo, highlights the persistence of oligarchic control. This article underscores the crisis’s mixed legacy, balancing democratic aspirations with enduring elite dominance.

This paper unpacks the significant strides in digital collaboration between the European Union and Japan, shedding light on key partnerships, innovative initiatives, and futuristic strategies that could redefine socio-economic landscapes across East and Southeast Asia.

Trade agreements have been praised as a significant contributor to developing countries´ economies and overall national development. Foreign investments help countries acquire the needed capital and technology in order to develop the domestic industry. Hence, when the EU and Vietnam signed a trade agreement, political and economic actors celebrated it as a mutually beneficial deal. However, the trade agreement has only deepened unequal development across the world.

Party-state capitalism has emerged as a new term to describe China's political-economic dynamics as the Chinese Communist Party expands its institutional control over the economic sector and reduces its autonomy. While Western observers criticize the growing politicization of the economy, party-state capitalism is a necessary tool to reduce conflicts arising from the transition from one development stage to another.

Topics: Cross-Strait Relations, China-Sweden relationship, China exploration, mutual understanding

Thanon Khao San road may be Southeast Asia's most famous street. Known as backpackers paradise, hundreds of thousands tourists visit the street each year. While you may not be able to visit Thanon Khao San at the moment, join us on a journey to see how the street became a tourist mecca.

In a glass office at Wenner-Gren Center, Stockholm, I had an interview with Dr. Chris Chao, director of the Economic Division at Taipei Mission in Sweden. I wished to find out just what kind of cooperation there currently is between Sweden and Taiwan, as well as what kind of opportunities there are for interested students such as myself.

Our talk went a little like this.

Geopolitics, US-Taiwan relations under the Biden administration, the pandemic and security concerns are all topics covered in this interview with Taiwan's Ambassador Yao to Sweden by Sarah Nygård.

After many discussions on the fate of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Japan decided to open its borders to athletes, journalists, and other participants, and held a decidedly unique Olympic Games, thanks to strong anti-Covid-19 measures. The Olympics promise potential economic benefits and international glory to the country and the city organising them. This year, however, pandemic intervened. Moreover, scandals involving misogynistic comments from the (now former) head of the Japanese Olympic committee, and the indecision about holding the Games had already tainted Japan’s reputation prior to the event. Now that the Olympics have ended, what can be brought to light?