The Southeast Asia Program

The Southeast Asia Program aims to explain the latest developments in this vital region, inform and influence policymakers, and help build connections across countries and sectors. At a time of intensifying great-power competition in the region, it is more important than ever to understand the diverse nations of Southeast Asia in their own right and how they interact with each other and outside states. We organise regular events, roundtables and online engagements with leading policymakers and experts focusing on Southeast Asia. We also contribute to the Lowy Institute’s core research publications.

Experts

Latest publications

News and media

Podcasts

Conversations: The South China Sea - Has the United States lost to China?

Susannah Patton talks to Greg Poling, Director of the Southeast Asia Program and Director of the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative at the Center for Strategic and…

Analyses

Jagged sphere

China’s quest for infrastructure and influence in mainland Southeast Asia

Commentary

Time for talk is over: Australia must take a greater role in tackling Myanmar crisis

Originally published in The Australian.

Podcasts

Lowy Institute Conversations: Nathan Law on exile, China and the struggle for democracy in Hong Kong

In this episode of Lowy Institute Conversations, Director of the Southeast Asia Program Ben Bland sits down with Nathan Law to discuss exile, China’s repressive policies and the…

Commentary

Jokowi’s contradictions and the struggle to remake Indonesia

Originally published in The Jakarta Post.

Podcasts

Lowy Institute Conversations: Aye Min Thant and Melissa Crouch on the coup in Myanmar

In this episode of Lowy Institute Conversations, Ben Bland, Director of the Southeast Asia Program at the Lowy Institute, sits down with Aye Min Thant and Melissa Crouch to…

Commentary

In the defining year of his presidency, Joko Widodo faces an incredibly difficult challenge

Originally published in the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age.

Commentary

Indonesia's Jokowi turns politics into a family business

One-time furniture maker who fought his way to the top was meant to be different. Originally published in Nikkei Asia.

Podcasts

COVIDcast: Chatib Basri on Indonesia’s struggle with COVID-19 and its first recession since 1998

In this episode of COVIDcast, Ben Bland, the Director of the Southeast Asia Program at the Lowy Institute, sat down with Chatib Basri to discuss Indonesia’s struggle with COVID-19.

Podcasts

COVIDcast: Ben Bland On Indonesian President Joko Widodo, A Man Of Contradictions

In this episode of COVIDcast, Hervé Lemahieu, Director of the Asian Power and Diplomacy Program at the Lowy Institute, sat down with Ben Bland to discuss his new book.