Posted Mar 3, 2021
The military takeover of the Myanmar government continues to be Asia's biggest news story, with implications for regional geopolitics, the strength of ASEAN, democratisation, and inter-ethnic relations. The crisis stems from decades of political, economic, and post-colonial history.
Many likely have questions about what is happening in Myanmar. Even after the country's opening in 2012, few know much about what it's like.
From there, we move to two stories related to the COVID-19 pandemic: the debate over vaccines (perhaps today's most desired commodity) and the epidemic of loneliness sparked by social distancing. Finally, we end by revisiting the long history of the Philippines' largest and most important city, Manila.
In The Financial Times, Thant Myint-U — one of the country's most celebrated authors and a go-to commentator on what happens there — writes that “what’s hobbled Myanmar politics all these years has been gerontocracy and a narrow focus on elections and constitutions… to succeed, [the protests] will need to craft a progressive agenda across ethnic lines, centred on inequality and development as well as peace and justice. They will need to reshape society as well as restructure the state.”
Two articles in Frontier Myanmar note some of the perspectives of people on the ground. Su Min Naing — a pseudonym for an activist in the country — argues that the Myanmarese army has made a political error in pursuing the takeover and tries to give a political argument for them to return to the negotiating table. Kyaw Hsan Hlaing, a journalist from Rakhine State, notes that the crisis is an opportunity to re-examine Myanmar politics, which even during its democratisation saw tensions between the majority and various ethnic minority groups.
Read More (Frontier Myanmar)The military takeover in Myanmar has international implications: for China, for ASEAN, and for countries further afield.
In The South China Morning Post, Kishore Mahbubani — formerly Singapore’s Ambassador to the United Nations and dean of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy — presents a framework for how Myanmar may be an opportunity for both China and the United States to cooperate and start to repair the damage from the Trump Administration.
China will be an important part of any diplomatic solution. For Foreign Policy, Brian Y.S. Wong argues that Beijing had built good relations with the National League for Democracy and is likely unnerved by the potential instability of a coup. Beijing will, and should, be deeply involved in any international effort — if Beijing is willing to step up, and if others are willing to accept it has a role to play.
Read More (Foreign Policy)The COVID-19 vaccine is perhaps the world’s hottest commodity, but there is clearly not enough supply to meet the demand. Poorer countries may not receive doses for years as Western countries hoard vaccines. Russian, Chinese, and Indian vaccines could fill the gap, but have been hit by (Western) media concerns about transparency, safety, and efficacy.
Jacob Mardell from the Mercator Institute noted in The South China Morning Post that “… the picture that emerges is one of adequate solutions meeting extreme demand. China, and now Russia, are winning purchase agreements simply by being able to deliver.”
And in The New York Times, Achal Prabhala and Chee Yoke Ling examine the data around the various non-Western vaccines and argue that they are satisfactory and reliable options for any vaccination programme. The world needs global vaccination if it is to move past the pandemic, and these non-Western vaccines must be taken seriously as part of this global effort.
Read More (The New York Times)Japan is known for its tough working culture and strict organisational hierarchy. This has led to high levels of social isolation, especially among middle-aged men, who find it difficult to expand their networks beyond their workplace. COVID-19 and remote work has worsened the situation: according to Tomohiro Osaki in The Japan Times, Japan saw the first year-on-year increase in reported suicides in over a decade during 2020.
Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga recently appointed a “Minister of Loneliness” to tackle the issue, following a similar decision made in the United Kingdom. Japan is not alone in confronting issues of social isolation: remote work, longer hours, and more atomised communities have led to more isolated people in advanced and emerging economies alike.
Read More (The Japan Times)Manila is one of Asia’s most important metropolitan regions, as the capital of the Philippines and home to 12.8 million Filipinos. Manila has been consistently inhabited since 3000 BC, with successive governments by the Tondo, the Majapahit, the Rajahnate of Maynilà, the Spanish Empire, the American Territory of the Philippines, and finally the independent Republic of the Philippines building and growing the city.
Yet much of the historical city was destroyed during the Battle of Manila in 1945. As Robert Farley notes in The Diplomat, the decision to storm Manila, and whether the destruction was warranted, remains controversial.
In The Philippine Daily Inquirer, Ambeth R. Ocampo examines why many Filipinos talk about the city “in the past tense”. He revisits the work of the 19th century Filipino painter Jose Honorato Lozano, whose work captures the atmosphere of old Manila, lost after the Second World War.
Read More (The Philippine Daily Inquirer)You can subscribe to this newsletter, and other GIFT communications, through the link below.
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Karim joined GIFT in 2010 after participating in the Global Leaders Programme and has since designed and facilitated dozens of experiential programmes for high potential executives and government officials. In his current role Karim leads the ASEAN office and is responsible for GIFT’s regional activities and programmes across Southeast Asia. Prior to GIFT Karim spent a decade in Mainland China where he was a partner in a successful nationwide food and beverage business. Karim’s articles on insights gathered through GIFT programmes have appeared in a range of publications. He has an MBA from the Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business in Beijing and is a proficient Mandarin speaker.
In addition to leading GIFT’s dynamic team and business, since 2008. Eric has facilitated more than 50 experiential leadership programmes in fifteen countries. He is well versed in introducing new ideas on governance, business and sustainability and coaching participants to think critically about their role as leaders. Before joining GIFT, Eric spent several years managing multi-stakeholder partnerships between global brands and civil society groups in the United States and China. He writes and speaks regularly on topics related to leadership development and the changing role of business in society. Eric is an alumnus of Standford University and holds a Masters from Hong Kong University.
For more than three decades, Chandran has advised governments and MNCs on strategic management, leadership issues and sustainability, and is often invited to facilitate for top corporate education providers including Duke CE, INSEAD and NUS. He was previously Chairman of ERM in Asia Pacific, helping establish it as the world’s leading environmental consultancy. Chandran is on the Executive Committee of the Club of Rome and is a member of WEF’s Global Agenda Council on Governance for Sustainability and Experts Forum, where his thought leadership is sought for its fresh insights and intellectual honesty. He is the author of the best-seller – Consumptionomics: Asia’s Role in Reshaping Capitalism and Saving the Planet, and The Sustainable State: The Future of Government, Economy and Society.