Pick of the month -- 1

One of the perils of an only spasmodically connected road trip is the pile of info that has to be sorted when you return. But there are bonuses. A month’s hindsight makes some stories stand out very clearly. Here are some key contenders:

• Rizal Sukma (18 Oct) gives an excellent run-down on the impact of three domestic factors on Indonesia’s quest for a greater role on the world stage.
• Amitav Acharya (18 Oct) cogently outlines another of ASEAN’s many dilemmas – how can it succeed in “courting Washington without hurting Beijing”? Although ASEAN has to date proved adept at pulling off a sophisticated balancing act among the major powers, the US’s renewed vocal focus on the Asia-Pacific will make the Association’s task harder, not easier. As Acharya argues: “America should listen carefully. There may be a possible disconnect between how some in the United States see its role, and the views of key ASEAN members about how the United States should behave in the region… In resisting Beijing’s assertiveness, ASEAN has to think very carefully about how far it might want to go to seek America’s involvement, especially when it comes to security in the South China Sea. Courting Washington without hurting Beijing will be a daunting challenge.”
• The Interpreter has recently published a number of pieces urging Australians to embrace their immediate neighbourhood more enthusiastically. Attending a writing course in Melbourne recently, I was totally underwhelmed (and baffled) by the lack of interest in SEA as a region, so I think these pieces are tackling a very genuine problem:
• Mark Carroll, director of the Australian-Thai Chamber of Commerce, kicks off by noting (25 Oct): “Damning for Australian business is that it has largely failed to recognise the importance of the Thai economy. Most Australians still see Thailand through the prism of beaches, bars and pretty girls. The US, China, Japan and Korea — among others — have moved past this perception of Thailand. It is a serious business destination for them. Australian businesses should follow their lead.”
• But Michael Wesley (2 Nov) also wonders whether “our schools teach our kids anything about Southeast Asia”, and Tim Lindsey (4 Nov) comments: “It is hard to avoid the conclusion that Australians want returns from Asia without putting effort into it… We, alone of all Western countries [well, there is New Zealand…], are located in one of the most exciting and stimulating parts of the world, with fabulously rich artistic traditions and cutting-edge modern cultures. Asia is funky! It is a place to love and be stimulated by, not to loathe and fear. It is deeply sad that we are missing out on this, and strangling ourselves with parochialism.” Amen to that.
• Meanwhile, Bangkok Pundit (31 Oct) examines the politics behind Thailand’s floods, and Steven Rood (2 Nov) charts events in the southern Philippines over recent months, and warns of the dangers of failing to make demonstrable progress in peace talks.
• And because I’m always working myself up about stereotypes of Singapore, it was nice to see this by Sharon Chen (24 Oct).