As demand for water for the 700 million people living in the world’s most densely-populated river basins – the Indus, Ganges, and Brahmaputra – rises, new tensions are surfacing that threaten South Asia’s stability. To respond, The Asia Foundation just announced an expansion of its partnership with the Skoll Global Threats Fund, to strengthen access to information on transboundary issues and foster a regional dialogue between stakeholders on the critical issue of international water sharing. 
Posts By Pauline Tweedie
New Round of Talks Gives Hope for Peace in Thailand’s South
June 19, 2013
After nearly a decade of deadly conflict in Thailand’s Deep South, Thai officials and insurgent groups met in Kuala Lumpur last week for the third round of peace talks in hopes of finding common ground to end the violence. While both sides agreed to reduce violence during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, which starts next month, few concrete solutions emerged. The Thai government has been requesting a cessation or reduction of violence since discussions began on March 28, 2013, but judging from the ongoing violence on the ground, and the apparent inability by the self-proclaimed separatist leaders to influence the militants on the ground, this upcoming Ramadan is likely to be a significant test for the Barisan Revolusi Nacional (BRN) separatist movement.
Topics: Conflict and Fragile Conditions | Development and Aid Effectiveness | Foreign Aid | Governance | International Development | Subnational Conflict | Washington DC
Countries: Indonesia | Philippines | Thailand
Thailand’s Deep South: A Political Labyrinth
July 13, 2011
Contrary to the predictions made by the plethora of political pundits watching Thailand’s elections that the Democrats would have difficulty holding their five current seats in Thailand’s Deep South, the Democrats instead ran away with nine out of 11 constituent seats.
Topics: Conflict and Fragile Conditions | Elections | Peacebuilding in Asia | Thai Elections
Countries: Thailand
Thailand Election Primer
June 29, 2011
Thai elections can be challenging to follow for even the most ardent political watchers. On July 3, Thai voters will head to the polls for the 26th time since the country became a Constitutional Monarchy in 1932. This means that, over the past 79 years, Thais on average have cast their ballot every three years.
Topics: Elections | Thai Elections | Washington DC
Countries: Thailand
After Unrest, Deep Divisions Still Persist in Thailand
June 16, 2010
Most physical reminders of the violent clashes that took place in the center of Bangkok last month have been swept away. Protest graffiti has been scrubbed off the walls and shattered windows have been replaced with sparkling new glass. Aside from the charred skeletons of burned buildings, all other visual reminders of the thousands of [...]
Topics: Conflict and Fragile Conditions | Elections
Countries: Thailand
Global Recession Strikes Thailand’s Workers, New Center Gives Voice
March 24, 2010
Last week, I found myself sitting in a cramped room on the top floor of a hired shop-house in a northern suburb of Bangkok, Thailand. The faded curtains drawn across the windows were no match for the blistering hot sun – the room was warm and airless. Some 40 people had crowded into the small [...]
Topics: Conflict and Fragile Conditions | Economic Development
Countries: Thailand