Category: Southeast Asian Studies
-
Patani di Antara Bangkok dan Kuala Lumpur: Anatomi Konflik Thailand Selatan, Jejak Malaysia, dan Retakan Geopolitik ASEAN
Konflik Patani tidak dapat lagi dibaca semata-mata sebagai persoalan keamanan domestik Thailand. Di balik kekerasan di Pattani, Yala, dan Narathiwat terdapat sejarah panjang Kesultanan Patani, jaringan BRN, arsitektur keamanan Bangkok, kepentingan strategis Malaysia, dan kegagalan ASEAN membangun mekanisme penyelesaian konflik intranegara. Kajian ini menelusuri konflik Thailand Selatan dari akar sejarahnya hingga krisis 2026, termasuk peran…
-
How the Early History of Aceh’s Relations with Penang in the Malay Peninsula
The historical relationship between Aceh and Penang developed through maritime trade, migration, religious networks, and political interaction across the Strait of Malacca. Long before modern national borders separated Indonesia and Malaysia, merchants, scholars, pilgrims, political figures, and ordinary families moved between northern Sumatra and the Malay Peninsula. This article examines how those early connections shaped…
-
Singapore’s Political Crossroads: Power, Integrity, and Recalibration in the Wong Era
Singapore has entered a consequential phase under Lawrence Wong. Beyond leadership succession, the Wong era is testing the resilience of the People’s Action Party, the credibility of Singapore’s integrity-based political model, and the government’s capacity to respond to changing public expectations. This analysis examines how power is being recalibrated, why institutional trust has become increasingly…
-
The Veranda of Mecca: Faith, Peace, and the Remaking of Aceh after the Tsunami
A forthcoming book by Kamaruzzaman Bustamam Ahmad exploring how faith, memory, and peacebuilding remade Aceh after the 2004 tsunami and the 2005 Helsinki Peace Agreement. Coming soon on Amazon worldwide.
-
Pustaka Al-Azhar: Preserving Patani’s Islamic Intellectual Heritage Through Jawi Manuscripts and Traditional Knowledge
During a journey from Songkhla to Kota Bharu on June 15, 2026, Prof. Kamaruzzaman Bustamam Ahmad visited Pustaka Al-Azhar, a small Islamic bookstore in Southern Thailand. What appeared to be an ordinary bookstore revealed a deeper story about the survival of Patani’s intellectual tradition. This essay explores how Arabic and Jawi books continue to preserve…
-
The Evolution of Islamic Thought in the Malay World: Adaptation, Reform, and Political Awakening
This essay examines the historical trajectory of Islamic thought in the Malay world, revealing a distinctive pattern of adaptation, reform, and political engagement. From early intellectual connections with the Haramayn to the rise of reformist print culture and nationalist movements, Islamic discourse in Southeast Asia evolved through complex negotiations between local traditions and global influences.…
-
China’s Economic Statecraft in ASEAN: Trade, BRI, and Strategic Leverage
China’s economic engagement with ASEAN has evolved into a sophisticated system of strategic leverage. Trade dominance, infrastructure expansion through the Belt and Road Initiative, currency maneuvering, and diaspora networks collectively form Beijing’s economic statecraft toolkit. While ASEAN benefits from market access and infrastructure financing, structural asymmetry creates vulnerabilities. This article examines the geopolitical implications of…
-
Islam in Political Affairs: Islamic Thought, Intellectual Movements, and Government Policy in Indonesia and Malaysia
Islam has always been more than a matter of private belief in Southeast Asia—it is also a powerful force in shaping politics, intellectual life, and government policy. In Indonesia and Malaysia, the 1970s marked a turning point when Islamic thought splintered into diverse paths: political activism, liberal reinterpretation, and da‘wah movements. Intellectual groups redefined the…
-
Terrorism in Southeast Asia: Networks, Field Research, and New Updates 2025
This article explores the evolution of terrorism in Southeast Asia through field research, from Jemaah Islamiyyah and Abu Sayyaf to Southern Thailand. Updated with 2025 data, it highlights new developments, intelligence dilemmas, and ongoing security challenges across the region.