Could tourism be a better road forward for Laos now that its hydropower development schemes are increasingly being called into question?
Category: Analysis
Rising Inequality in Laos
Laos is an example of the challenges that many developing nations face in balancing the need for growth and poverty reduction against a seemingly inexorable rise in inequality.
Chinese investors shift agriculture practices in North
Over the past two years, Chinese investors appear to have invaded provinces in the North, such as Chiang Rai and Phayao, to grow Cavendish bananas after the practice was banned in Laos.
Chinese gambling boom looms over Cambodia’s Kampot
Kampot is one of Cambodia’s cultural jewels, but as George Styllis writes, a flood of Chinese gambling money is making residents of this small sleepy town nervous.
SEZs in Vietnam: What’s in a Name?
Why are Special Economic Zones so attractive to Vietnam’s government, despite proven shortcomings?
Fight deforestation and climate change by granting indigenous rights to forests: Report
In Thailand, however, communities are being evicted from national parks under a law aimed at conserving forests.
More problems to come for Cambodia from Lao dam failure
Though floods from the Lao dam collapse occured two months ago, people are yet to experience the worst of it.
How better hydropower planning can avert future disasters on the Mekon
Those in power must give stronger voices to marginalised communities and protection to natural flood defenses.
China can’t always get what it wants in Thailand
Long before Belt & Road projects were seen as sovereignty-eroding debt traps, Bangkok’s military rulers were tactfully resisting the terms and reach of Beijing’s advances.