IRASEC

Épargne et grande pauvreté : l'expérience des familles du cimetière Nord de Manille, Philippines

Bertrand — 2026-07-22T09:33:22Z

Jérémy IANNI
IRASEC, Bangkok
July 2026, 18 p.
French Text

This paper analyzes savings practices and attitudes within a community living in extreme poverty that has taken up residence in the North Cemetery in Manila, Philippines.

Jérémy IANNI
IRASEC, Bangkok
July 2026, 18 p.
Franch text

This paper analyzes savings practices and attitudes within a community living in extreme poverty that has taken up residence in the North Cemetery in Manila, Philippines. Rooted in the field of education and training sciences, it is based on qualitative field research involving interviews and the analysis of practices observed within the framework of a popular education program implemented by the ATD Fourth World movement. Despite widespread exclusion from the banking system, families develop complex informal savings strategies (investing in relationships, hoarding objects). The study highlights how participation in a flexible, non-judgmental savings program fosters context-specific learning, bringing about lasting changes in participants' relationship with money and their ability to plan for the future—beyond the effects typically associated with budget training alone.

Read the Discussion Paper :

Jérémy IANNI holds a Ph.D. in Education and Training Sciences, is a research associate at IRASEC, and is an honorary assistant professor at the University of Nottingham in Malaysia. His research focuses on experiential learning and shifts in relationships to knowledge, particularly in contexts of extreme poverty. In addition to his research work, he serves as director of courses at the Alliance Française in Kuala Lumpur, having previously lived in the Philippines for eleven years.

Rebel Art: Myanmar Artists Respond to Repression

Bertrand — 2026-07-08T04:28:25Z

Artistically coordinated by Kyar Pauk, a leading figure in Myanmar's contemporary cultural scene now living in exile, and introduced by Chloé Baills (Ph.D. candidate, EHESS), Rebel Art : Myanmar Artists Respond to Repression explores contemporary artistic expression and resistance in Myanmar following the military coup of February 1, 2021. The works of twenty-two photographers, painters, illustrators, and poets each offer a personal perspective on the experience of the Spring Revolution.

Organized into six thematic sections (Protest, Conflict, Trauma, Ridicule, Heroes & Martyrs, and Exit), this 167-page volume documents the many dimensions of Myanmar's resistance : from peaceful demonstrations to armed struggle, from the psychological scars of war to satire, remembrance, and the realities of exile.

Beyond its artistic significance, Rebel Art provides an original lens through which to understand the profound political, social, and cultural transformations reshaping Myanmar. In particular, it highlights the emergence of a resistance culture driven by Generation Z, characterized by the intensive use of social media, visual art, and digital cultural production as tools for mobilization, collective memory, and transnational circulation.

Freely available in open access :

Pouvoirs en Asie-Pacifique. Territoires et populations, contrôles et résistances

Bertrand — 2026-06-25T03:16:11Z

Christine CABASSET et Éric FRÉCON, chercheurs associés à l'IRASEC, ont chacun publié un article pour le dossier du dernier numéro de la Revue internationale et stratégique, consacré aux logiques de domination, aux dynamiques de contestation et aux trajectoires qui façonnent l'avenir de cet espace stratégique majeur.

Lire l'article de Christine CABASSET : Les populations frontalières d'Asie du Sud-Est, variables d'ajustement des États ?

Lire l'article d'Éric FRÉCON : Singapour : la Smart Nation, entre performance économique, contrôle social et vulnérabilités numériques

Lire l'article de Christine CABASSET : Les populations frontalières d'Asie du Sud-Est, variables d'ajustement des États ?

Le conflit ouvert entre le Cambodge et la Thaïlande en juillet 2025 a remis au premier plan les enjeux liés aux frontières héritées des colonisations européennes en Asie du Sud-Est, dont plusieurs demeurent contestées. Plus largement, les frontières et autres espaces périphériques constituent souvent un lieu privilégié d'expression des pressions exercées par l'État sur les minorités ethniques. Ces lieux cristallisent ainsi des politiques de souveraineté et de contrôle des marges territoriales, qui affectent en premier lieu les populations à la fois géographiquement éloignées et culturellement distinctes du groupe ethnique majoritaire. Dès lors, les populations locales se trouvent fréquemment transformées en instruments, voire en victimes, des politiques frontalières. Les États peuvent en effet les mobiliser au service de la consolidation, ou même de l'extension du territoire, par le déplacement, la militarisation ou l'intégration forcée. Trois dynamiques seront ici distinguées : l'héritage des contentieux frontaliers, les politiques de contrôle des minorités et l'intégration économique des marges au profit des centres. Frontières contestées, marges surveillées Des frontières coloniales en héritage L'héritage colonial constitue le premier facteur pesant sur les populations et, le cas échéant, sur les conflits frontaliers, dans la mesure où les indépendances se sont inscrites dans les limites spatiales définies par les anciennes puissances coloniales.

Lire l'article d'Éric FRÉCON : Singapour : la Smart Nation, entre performance économique, contrôle social et vulnérabilités numériques

Prenez le métro à Singapour. À la sortie de son tunnel, sous les gratteciel des banques puis les condominiums des expatriés, apparaît un autre visage de la cité-État : celui des cités-dortoirs, où les longues barres cèdent progressivement la place aux hautes tours, puis celui d'une banlieue industrieuse, faite d'entrepôts, d'ateliers et de dortoirs pour travailleurs sud-asiatiques. Loin de l'image habituelle de l'« air-conditioned nation », le visiteur retrouve ici le visage laborieux du pionnier singapourien. L'industrie manufacturière demeure en effet un pilier de l'économie nationale : en 2023, elle représentait environ 19 % du produit intérieur brut (PIB) singapourien. Le virage numérique s'inscrit dans cette continuité productive. Les data centers trouvent désormais leur place dans un paysage longtemps structuré par les containers et les infrastructures logistiques. Portée par l'« Industry 4.0 », la part de la manufacture pourrait atteindre 28,4 % du PIB en 2028.
D'abord « cité-entrepôt » à l'époque de Temasek (aux abords du XIVe siècle), puis sous domination britannique à partir de 1819, Singapour s'affirme dès 1972 comme une « global city », selon la formule employée par le ministre des Affaires étrangères S. Rajaratnam. Lee Kuan Yew, Premier ministre de 1959 à 1994, œuvre continuellement en ce sens, notamment en promouvant très tôt l'usage d'un anglais fonctionnel et internationalisé.

La main-d'œuvre touristique face à la crise de la Covid-19 à Chiang Mai : des mobilités professionnelles sous contrainte

Bertrand — 2026-05-21T03:14:41Z

Pongsa KANTASORN
IRASEC, Bangkok
May 2026, 26 p.
French Text

The COVID-19 pandemic brought international tourism in Thailand to a standstill, leading to business closures, unemployment, and significant income losses for workers in the sector. Based on a qualitative survey conducted in Chiang Mai—based on 101 interviews between July 2021 and February 2022—this research examines the strategies adopted by the tourism workforce in response to the crisis. Findings reveal that public assistance, which was limited and sometimes discriminatory, proved insufficient, pushing workers to develop individual survival strategies, including professional and geographical mobility into other sectors. These forced transitions raise issues of resource access, living conditions, and well-being, while also resulting in a loss of skills for the local tourism sector. The study thus sheds light on recent transformations in the tourism industry and the challenges posed by future crises.

Read the Discusion Paper :

Pongsa KANTASORN began his career as a French teacher specializing in tourism, while also gaining practical experience as a tour guide. He later collaborated with a French NGO dedicated to improving the living conditions of underprivileged children and youth in Southeast Asia. This experience inspired him to pursue university studies on the impact of migration in Southeast Asia, particularly in relation to the tourism sector. Pongsa Kantasorn holds two master's degrees—one in French language and the other in tourism development—both obtained in France. He is currently a PhD candidate at Paul-Valéry University Montpellier 3, within the Department of Geography and Spatial Planning, where his thesis examines “COVID-19 as a Revelator of Dysfunctions in Tourism Structuring : Precariousness and the Search for a Crisis Exit Trajectory for Thailand's Tourism Workforce in the Era of Sustainable Tourism” (« La Covid-19 comme révélateur de dysfonctionnement dans la structuration du tourisme : la précarité et la recherche d'une trajectoire de sortie de crise de la main-d'œuvre touristique en Thaïlande dans l'ère du tourisme durable »).

Learning from animals? shared plant use between Lua herders and water buffalo in Northern Thailand

Bertrand — 2026-05-08T03:41:59Z

Nicolas LAINÉ, associate research fellow at IRASEC, co-authored an article with Kim Fooyontphanich, Suthee Janyasuthiwong and Phattaravee Prommanut, published in “Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine” on April 29, 2026.

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In this study, the interplay between animal feeding behaviors and the evolution of local human and veterinary pharmacopeias is examined through the lens of the Lua people and their water buffalos in Northern Thailand. By interviewing 18 Lua herders in Ban Huay Phan, researchers explored buffalo grazing habits, health issues, and specific plant consumption during various physiological or pathological states, alongside local ethnoveterinary practices. The investigation focused on the shared use of natural resources, documenting plant parts consumed by buffalos, their preparation and administration methods if used by humans, and collecting species samples for identification at the Bangkok Herbarium (BBH). This approach highlights the interconnectedness of human ethnomedicine and animal self-medication, shedding light on the development of local medicinal knowledge and practices.

Timor-Leste and its partners need to step up as Chinese interest in Timorese waters increases

Bertrand — 2026-04-22T08:59:59Z

Christine Cabasset and Éric Frécon wrote an article about the relations between Timor-Leste, Australia and China for The Strategist, the commentary and analysis site of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, an independent, non-partisan think tank based in Canberra.

Read the article.

Voices from Boten

Bertrand — 2026-04-21T10:47:52Z

Souvanxay PHETCHANPHENG and Pascale HANCART PETITET
IRASEC, Bangkok
April 2026, 24 p.
English text

The urban migration of young people in Laos is often driven by the dual motivations of escaping poverty and seeking a different way of life. Previous research has demonstrated that rural-urban migration brings with it a mix of economic opportunities and heightened sexual risks. However, less attention has been given to sedentary populations residing in areas with significant migratory activity. While migration is often viewed in terms of economic opportunities, it also brings vulnerabilities, particularly in regions of rapid development like Special Economic Zones (SEZs). The presence of the SEZ has created an environment where sexual conducts and practices among local youth have become increasingly risky, yet these risks are often overlooked. Both migrants and local, sedentary populations are affected by shifting social norms and health risks, such as sexually transmitted infections. Furthermore, the stigma attached to sex workers, particularly from ethnic minorities like the Khmu, contributes to a broader social narrative that ignores the vulnerabilities of other groups, such as secondary school students, are at risk as well. Understanding migration requires attention to how both migrants and sedentary populations are implicated and impacted by these evolving patterns of interaction, risk, and social judgment.

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Souvanxay Phetchanpheng is an anthropologist, associate member of International Research Unit the International Unit TransVIHMI (Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, INSERM, Université de Montpellier). Since 2005, his research focuses on the transmission of knowledge, migration of young people from rural areas to urban areas for educational purposes and the process of social mobility in Laos (https://www.researchgate.net/profil...).

Pascale Hancart Petitet is an anthropologist and permanent researcher at the International Unit TransVIHMI (Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, INSERM, Université de Montpellier). Since 2013, her research in Laos work lies within the academic field, at the interface between public health and the arts, and at the intersection of the anthropology of human reproduction, vernacular knowledge and biomedical technologies, gender, migration and infectious diseases. She has developed a strong interest in the co-construction of transdisciplinary research (https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7377-8038) and experiments with innovative approaches for scientific production (forum theatre, photo voice, collective intelligence) and arts and sciences initiatives (radio program, films, dance and theatre performance (https://anthroms.com/).

Seroprevalence and preventive practices of dengue and chikungunya among school children in Bangkok: Gaps in prevention and vaccination strategies

Bertrand — 2026-03-24T05:11:12Z

The article on the seroprevalence of dengue and chikungunya infections among children aged 10–15 years in Bangkok, in which Éric Daudé collaborated with Chulalongkorn University and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), has been published in Plos Negelected Tropical Disease.

Read l'article.

Dengue and chikungunya, both transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, continue to pose significant public health concerns in Thailand, particularly during the rainy season. Despite ongoing vector control efforts, the incidence of infection remains high, with an increasing trend observed in chikungunya. This underscores the need for additional control measures, including vaccination, to reduce disease burden and morbidity. This study aims to assess the seroprevalence of dengue and chikungunya infections among children aged 10–15 years in Bangkok and to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) related to mosquito-borne disease prevention.

Methodology
A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted across 12 schools in Bangkok. Children aged 10–15 years were included. Seroprevalence was determined using rapid diagnostic tests (Abbott DENGUE IgG/IgM and Citest Chikungunya IgG/IgM) based on the immunochromatography technique, using fingertip blood samples. Parents completed KAP questionnaires, including factors influencing vaccination decisions.

Principal findings
From June to August 2024, 937 participants were enrolled, with a mean (SD) age of 11 (1.6) years ; 67% were aged 10–12 years, and 33% were aged 13–15 years. The seroprevalence of dengue was 28.1% (95% CI 25.2-31.0), while that of chikungunya was 6.3% (95% CI 4.7-7.9). KAP assessments revealed a high level of awareness regarding symptoms and transmission ; however, notable deficiencies in preventive behaviors were identified. Only 14.8% of respondents reported consistent use of mosquito repellent, and 17.5% routinely inspected and removed mosquito larvae from their homes.

Conclusion
The substantial seroprevalence of dengue and the emerging trend of chikungunya among children in Bangkok highlights the urgent need to enhance community education and strengthen vector control interventions. Expanding dengue vaccination coverage and raising awareness about chikungunya prevention, including consideration for future vaccine implementation, are essential to mitigating future outbreaks and reducing the disease burden.

Just released

Bertrand — 2026-02-23T06:37:40Z

Edited by Gabriel Facal and Jérémy Jammes
IRASEC, Bangkok,
February 2026, 488 p.

L'Asie du Sud-Est 2026 propose une analyse claire et approfondie des principaux événements ayant marqué l'année dans les onze pays de la région. Évolutions politiques, dynamiques économiques, transformations sociales, enjeux environnementaux et diplomatiques : chaque chapitre offre un panorama rigoureux et accessible. Il met également en lumière, pour chaque pays, deux personnalités marquantes et revient, à travers une image forte, sur un événement emblématique.

Bilan, enjeux et perspectives

Edited by Gabriel Facal and Jérémy Jammes
IRASEC, Bangkok,
February 2026, 488 p.

See the presentation / Read the book :

L'Asie du Sud-Est 2026 offers a clear and in-depth analysis of the main events that marked the year in the eleven countries of the region. Political developments, economic dynamics, social transformations, environmental and diplomatic issues : each chapter provides a rigorous and accessible overview. It also highlights two prominent figures from each country and revisits an emblematic event through a powerful image.

The book includes three thematic sections devoted to major regional issues : food security in the face of climate change, the reshaping of multilateralism (around the BRICS+), and road safety. A debate completes this collection with a cross-cutting and interdisciplinary reflection on traffic dynamics. Finally, practical tools enrich the volume : maps, fact sheets, and annual chronologies by country, as well as a section compiling the main demographic, social, economic, and environmental indicators.

Tourisme and Covid-19 dans le village javanais de Bejiharjo (Java, Indonésie)

Bertrand — 2026-01-13T04:58:39Z

Juliette SENDRA
IRASEC, Bangkok
december 2025, 29 p.
Text in French

This article is a reflection on tourism in Asia in light of the consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic, based on a case study of the Javanese village of Bejiharjo. The village is located in the Gunung Kidul region (“southern mountains”), which was classified as a geopark by UNESCO in 2012. The Indonesian government took advantage of this ranking to boost tourism in an effort to combat the economic stagnation and rural exodus that had been ongoing since the 1970s. However, in this region, which had long remained peripheral, the speed and brutality with which tourism developed over the last ten years disrupted the villagers' way of life.

In 2020, during the Covid-19 pandemic, the sudden halt to this activity—which had become dominant in Bejiharjo—reversed the momentum that had been built up : the social category of young people that seemed to be emerging in favor of tourism found itself at an impasse. Government investment in mass tourism (both domestic and international) appears to be under scrutiny at both the institutional and village levels. Furthermore, with the halt in tourist flows, the dual social and environmental deterioration caused by overtourism has become more apparent.

Agricultural activity and circular rural economies have once again become indispensable. Former political and economic leaders embodying traditional authority have been reinstated, and discourse denouncing the loss of vernacular knowledge and practices has gained visibility in the village social sphere.

This geopark illustrates the new challenges posed by Indonesian tourism recovery systems in terms of environmental, social, and economic sustainability.

Read the Discussion Paper :

Juliette SENDRA holds a PhD in social anthropology and is a research associate at the Institute for Asian Studies (IrAsia) at the University of Aix-Marseille. Her research focuses on sociopolitical dynamics in rural areas of Java (Indonesia), examining the transmission of local knowledge, ritual initiation, and relationships with the environment in the context of recent processes of heritage preservation and tourism development.

IRASEC

Épargne et grande pauvreté : l'expérience des familles du cimetière Nord de Manille, Philippines

Rebel Art: Myanmar Artists Respond to Repression

Pouvoirs en Asie-Pacifique. Territoires et populations, contrôles et résistances

La main-d'œuvre touristique face à la crise de la Covid-19 à Chiang Mai : des mobilités professionnelles sous contrainte

Learning from animals? shared plant use between Lua herders and water buffalo in Northern Thailand

Timor-Leste and its partners need to step up as Chinese interest in Timorese waters increases

Voices from Boten

Seroprevalence and preventive practices of dengue and chikungunya among school children in Bangkok: Gaps in prevention and vaccination strategies

Just released

Edited by Gabriel Facal and Jérémy Jammes IRASEC, Bangkok, February 2026, 488 p.

Tourisme and Covid-19 dans le village javanais de Bejiharjo (Java, Indonésie)

Edited by Gabriel Facal and Jérémy Jammes
IRASEC, Bangkok,
February 2026, 488 p.