News
New dawn over Bougainville
The success of the recent Bougainville election was largely due to community goodwill towards the electoral process. But amendments to the electoral roll must be a top priority, writes KERRYN BAKER...
Stability and stagnation under SBY
Under ‘moderating president’ Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Indonesia’s democracy suffered no reverses – but it didn’t move forward either. Much controversy surrounds how best to interpret Susilo Bambang...
Myanmar speaker optimistic on elections
The Speaker of the upper house of Myanmar’s parliament has opened the ANU Myanmar/Burma Update and expressed optimism about his country’s transformation to democratic rule.His Excellency U Khin Aung...
Making sense of the rule of law
Among the rapid economic and political changes underway in Myanmar, one concern still stands out starkly: the want of respect for the rule of law.As the country moves from military to civilian rule,...
Making sense of Myanmar’s ongoing conflicts
Whether Myanmar’s ongoing ethnic and sectarian violence will derail rapid political, economic and social reform is the focus of a two-day conference starting at The Australian National University on...
Why China won’t dominate Asia
Economic downturns, empty cities and a lack of strategic influence - China faces almost insurmountable challenges in the race to be Asia's number one, writes John Lee. In 1980, and with an economy...
Biometrics, fraudsters and observers
An expensive biometric voting system has succeeded in reducing the scope for widespread fraud in the Solomon Islands at the 2014 parliamentary elections.But left unchecked, money politics may...
Can Xanana Gusmao anoint his successor?
Timor-Leste’s departing prime minister still seeks to play a major role in the country’s often volatile and rocky politics, writes Sue Ingram. On 5 February, Timor-Leste’s long-serving prime minister...
Strong states need people-driven constitutions
People power in putting together constitutions can help sustain post-conflict and new states.It was the first new state of the 21st century. But less than five years after gaining independence from...
