In 2019, Thailand became the first country in Asia to legalize cannabis for medical purposes, before decriminalizing the substance in 2022, provoking a break with its strict drug laws. This turnaround was made possible by a political coalition in which the party in favor of decriminalizing cannabis found itself in a very favorable position following the 2019 elections. The article explores the political and economic context behind such legislative changes, as well as their impact in Thailand and the Southeast Asian region. Data were obtained during an eight-month field survey in Thailand, between September 2022 and April 2023. Semi-directed interviews and participant observation were carried out in three tourist destinations in the country, namely Phuket, Bangkok, and Chiang Mai. It is argued that, although legislative changes have fostered the emergence of a significant cannabis industry fueled by tourism, they have also provoked public health concerns, as the number of Thais consuming cannabis has increased exponentially. While several states in the Southeast Asian region are closely watching the effects of cannabis decriminalization, the results of the latest elections in May 2023 could bring about a major turnaround in Thailand’s cannabis industry.

Édité par Frédéric Lasserre, Éric Mottet, Barthélémy Courmont
Presses de l’Université du Québec
Novembre 2023, 294 p.
ISBN : 978-2-7605-5903-5

Le soft power se définit par la capacité d’un État à influen­cer et à orienter les relations internationales en sa faveur par un ensemble de moyens autres que coercitifs. Depuis la fin de la guerre froide, le concept de soft power a beaucoup été utilisé pour caractériser la puissance de la Chine. Dans ce contexte de communication proactive de la Chine, les autres États asiatiques ne sont pas en reste. Mais comment mobilisent-ils l’outil du soft power ?

Le soft power en Asie : nouvelles formes de pouvoir et d’influence ? explore, à travers les contributions de plusieurs auteurs et autrices, l’identité politique de la Chine et ses stratégies ; la façon dont le Japon tente de faire valoir son respect de la différence et sa politique de soft power ; le profit que tire Taïwan de son efficacité mariée à une démocratie robuste ; l’effort de l’Inde de se poser en alternative aux nouvelles routes de la soie et à l’influence grandissante de la Chine, etc.

Edited by Nicolas Lainé, Paul G. Keil and Khatijah Rahmat
IRD Éditions
Octobre 2023, 346 p.
ISBN: 9782709929936

Composing Worlds with Elephants is an interdisciplinary dialogue exploring the historical, social, and ecological entanglement of humans and elephants, a thousands of years old interspecies connection that is multi-dimensional, ambivalent, and always changing.

Focusing largely on elephants and peoples across Asia, the research in this volume addresses key issues in the study of their relationship including : dimensions of co-existence, cultures of elephant husbandry, and animal agency. Chapters expand how we conceptualize and study elephants, offering ideas that might also help us live better with these endangered animals. Academic texts are supported by visual contributions from three acclaimed guest artists, original visions that enrich our understanding of human-elephant worlds.

Éric Frécon, adjunct researcher at Irasec, contributed to the book “Indo-Pacific Perspectives : Australia, ASEAN and India” with a paper entitled “India, Australia, ASEAN... and, beyond, the Global South : A Sense of ‘Buddy Diplomacy’, away from the Narrow Great Powers’ Dilemma”.

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Indo-Pacific Perspectives : Australia, ASEAN and India
Edited by : Vijay Sakhuja & Anu Maria Francis
Centre for Public Policy Research (CPPR), Monash University

India announced its Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) in November 2019 at the East Asia Summit. In the same year, ASEAN came up with the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP). Similar Indo-Pacific strategies were promoted by Japan, Australia and US during the period. These strategies underlined the importance of partnerships for establishing a rule-based order in the Indo-Pacific region. In the context of rising China, the geopolitical strategies of ASEAN, India and Australia gain significance for fostering and promoting peace and security in the region.

We are pleased to announce the publication of an article written by Nicolas Lainé, adjunct researcher, in CABI One Health.

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Despite its recent growth in popularity since the COVID-19 pandemic, One Heath can be traced back to the colonial period when it was used to control the health of local communities and their animals while exploiting natural resources. At present, it is necessary to move away from this asymmetrical colonialist view and develop more inclusive perspectives.

We are pleased to announce the publication of an article written by Nicolas Lainé, adjunct researcher, and Tulyawat Prasongmaneerut, Suthee Janyasuthiwong, Kim Foyoontpanich. The article appeared in CABI One Health.

This case highlights the importance of involving local communities in a One Health perspective by valuing their knowledge and engaging them as partners in research.

We are pleased to announce the publication of an article written by Herbary Cheung, adjunct researcher, and Asuncion Fresnoza-Flot. The article appeared in volume 23, number 3 of Qualitive Research.

An article written by Éric Frécon, IRASEC adjunct researcher, with Paco Milhiet, just published in issue 189 of Hérodote.
 

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In a context which echoes Valéry’s 1875-1914 “Armed peace”, Beijing has also recently developed multimodal maritime capabilities that challenge the traditional balance of power in Indo-Pacific, namely : aggressive attitude in the China Sea, transnational economic projects through the Belt and road initiative, development of hybrid military capacities, etc.

We are pleased to announce the publication of Nicolas Salem-Gervais’ chapter “Curricular Decentralisation as an Antidote to ‘Burmanisation’? Including Ethnic Minorities’ Histories in Myanmar’s Government Schools (2011–2020)”, published in Negotiating Ethnic Diversity and National Identity in History Education edited by Helen Mu Hung Ting and Luigi Cajani, Palgrave Macmillan.

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Nicolas Salem-Gervais, Summer Aung, Amber Spreelung, Ja Seng, Jung Benatar, and Chan published an article on the website Tea Circle, a Forum for New Perspectives on Burma/Myanmar. This article outline the evolving language-in-education landscape following the coup, within and beyond military-controlled territory in Part 1 of a 2-part post.