Publikationen

The Displaced

Disrupted Trade, Labour, and Politics in the Mekong River Basin

The ‘Mother of Waters’ is heavily troubled. There is an immediate need to reset the institutional rules that are either too outdated, lack regulatory teeth, or fail to substantially address both old and emerging concerns. If governments fail to do this, a unique ecosystem will die, in effect destroying the lives of millions of people. The volume, published by the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung’s (KAS) Regional Economic Programme Asia (SOPAS), contains country-specific papers or case studies on trade, labour, and China’s growing political influence in the Greater Mekong Region. Topics include (1) labour migration and displacement in the Mekong River basin, (2) the impact of pandemics on economic and social patterns, (3) interregional trade and growing competitiveness, and (4) geopolitical issues resulting from coercive water and energy politics, among others. The chapters also provide discussions on how each state’s respective national framework attempts to address these issues.

In der Sache richtig, aber ohne viel Substanz

Bundeskanzler Olaf Scholz besucht Japan

Während in Berlin der Bundestag an der verteidigungspolitischen Zeitenwende arbeitet und das Sondervermögen der Bundeswehr diskutiert, reiste Bundeskanzler Scholz nach Japan. Dass die Wahl auf Japan fiel, macht das Zögern des damaligen Koalitionspartners bei der Entsendung der Fregatte Bayern in den Indo-Pazifik wieder wett. Dass die erste Asienreise nicht nach China führte, ist ein starkes Zeichen der neuen deutschen Außenpolitik – die jedoch maßgeblich vom grünen Koalitionspartner bestimmt wird.

Transitions and Transformations

Perspectives on the Future of Work in Asia

The publication examines how technology, digitalization, and other relevant forces shape the future of work in Asia. The first section provides an anticipatory look at how life and work is restructured by wide-ranging technological changes. The second section focuses on how our educational systems can be reconfigured to keep up and take advantage of these changes. Lastly, the third section evaluates how similar technologies have different impacts on different sectors of the economy.

Path to Success: How Women-Owned Businesses Transform in the Era of Digitalisation

South Korea Case Study

One of three case studies that were published in 2022, the South Korea case study explores the present and future new opportunities of digitalisation for South Korean women-owned small and medium-sized enterprises (WSMEs) and provides insights to address the challenges for all ecosystem stakeholders. It is part of a continuation of the same study conducted in 2020 by the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung's (KAS) Regional Economic Programme Asia (SOPAS) and Woomentum, focusing on the role of digitalisation in helping WSMEs navigate throughout the COVID-19 crisis. The South Korea Case Study is structured around four pillars: 1) access to financing; 2) access to mentoring, networking, and skills; 3) business process management; 4) crisis management (COVID-19).

Beyond Indo-Pacific, Toward Great Power Competition:

On German Indo-Pacific Engagement Under the New Government

Germany’s new government was formed in December 2021, after sixteen years of Merkel’s administration. While continued Indo-Pacific engagement is required, the implementation of the regional strategy may waver under the new administration. Further, the divergence of strategic interest in the Indo-Pacific strategy among countries of the EU undermines its security dimension. This article proposes to differentiate multilateral efforts to shape a ‘rules-based international order’ in the Indo-Pacific region and military engagement in the ‘security realm’ toward the US-China great power competition. By doing so, Germany and the EU can progress in their Indo-Pacific policy and cooperation with Japan’s free and open Indo-Pacific vision and ASEAN’s Indo-Pacific outlook and make a military contribution to regional security.

COVID-19 and the Future of Doing Business in Asia

Towards A Better Normal for SMEs and Workers

As a follow up to the 'COVID-19 and the future of doing business in Asia' which discussed how small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in selected East and Southeast Asian countries had to improve their agility, innovation, and resilience in response to the pandemic, the new volume is more in-depth and provides a more thorough discussion on the insights for policies, business strategies, and international relations. The report specifically focuses on SMEs in Japan, Singapore, Thailand, and the Philippines and looks into their corresponding strategic crisis responses as they sought to ensure business continuity while concurrently protecting the welfare of their workers and adhering to the safety protocols imposed by the government.

政党がつくる民主主義

政党の存在無くして民主主義はありえない。民主主義を重んじる人であれば、政党とは何か、それは民主主義のためにどのような役割を果たし、その役割をどのように認識し、いかにして民主主義への政党の貢献をさらに向上させることができるかについて考え、知る必要がある。これが本書のテーマである。本書は政党についての理解に貢献するものだ。そのために政党の置かれている状況とその発展についてグローバルな視点から政党システムを紹介する。つまりドイツや欧州の政党システムだけではなく、他の大陸における政党の発展をも一望する。同時に、本書は実践的な党活動のための多くの提案も示す。全ての政党は、政治的な目的のために尽力する積極的な党員を必要としている。効果的に政治競争に参加するためには、政党がどのように機能し、政党には何ができるのかということも党員は知っておかなければならない。

Path to Success: How Women-Owned Businesses Transform in the Era of Digitalization

Vietnam Case Study

One of three case studies that will be published in 2022, the Vietnam case study investigates whether digitalisation offers opportunities to women-owned small and medium-sized enterprises (WSMEs) to overcome gender-related challenges in Vietnam and provides policy and practical recommendations to all stakeholders. It is part of a continuation of the same study conducted in 2020 by the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung's (KAS) Regional Economic Programme Asia (SOPAS) and Woomentum, focusing on the role of digitalization in helping WSMEs navigate throughout the COVID-19 crisis. The Vietnam Case Study is structured around four pillars: 1) access to financing; 2) access to mentoring, networking, and skills; 3) business processes and management; 4) crisis management (COVID-19).

Path to Success: How Women-Owned Businesses Transform in the Era of Digitalization

Singapore Case Study

One of the three case studies which we will be published in 2022, the Singapore case study investigates whether digitalization offers opportunities to women-owned small and medium-sized enterprises (WSMEs) to overcome gender-related challenges in Singapore and provides policy and practical recommendations to stakeholders, such as policymakers, private sector, and business associations, on mitigating obstacles to digitalization faced by WSMEs. It is part of a continuation of the same study conducted in 2020 by the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung's (KAS) Regional Economic Programme Asia (SOPAS) and Woomentum, focusing on the role of digitalization in helping WSMEs navigate throughout the COVID-19 crisis. The Singapore case study was carried out between April and July 2021 and was structured around four pillars: 1) access to financing; 2) access to mentoring, networking, and skills; 3) business processes and management; 4) crisis management (COVID-19).

Public Health in Asia during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Global Health Governance, Migrant Labour, and International Health Crises

Every nation in Asia has dealt with COVID-19 differently and with varying levels of success in the absence of clear and effective leadership from the World Health Organization (WHO). As a result, WHO’s role in Asia as a global health organization is coming under increasing pressure. As its credibility is slowly being eroded by public displays of incompetence and negligence, it has also become an arena of contestation. Moreover, while the pandemic continues to undermine the future of global health governance as a whole, the highly interdependent economies in Asia have exposed the speed with which pandemics can spread, as intensive regional travel and business connections have caused every area in the region to be hit hard. The migrant labour necessary to sustain globalized economies has been strained and the security of international workers is now more precarious than ever, as millions have been left stranded, seen their entry blocked, or have limited access to health services. This volume by the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung's (KAS) Regional Economic Programme Asia (SOPAS), Leiden Asia Centre, and International Academic Forum provides an accessible framework for understanding the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in Asia, with a specific emphasis on global governance in health and labour.