{"title":"Assessing Inclusiveness in Taiwan's Energy Transition: A Critical Analysis of the Net Zero Emission Policy and Marginalized Communities","authors":"Natalie Wong","doi":"10.1111/aspp.70015","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aspp.70015","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This study critically examines the inclusiveness of Taiwan's Net Zero Emission Policy, focusing on how marginalized and underprivileged communities are affected by the country's energy transition. By applying the social construction of target populations (SCTP) framework, the study explores how different groups, such as low-income households and corporations, are perceived and treated in policy design. The research highlights that despite the ambitious goals of decarbonization, the policy inadvertently favors economically advantaged groups, leaving vulnerable populations at a disadvantage. A case study of the Chuanlong Irrigation Channel micro-hydropower project illustrates how bureaucratic obstacles and lack of support exclude marginalized communities from participating in renewable energy initiatives. The findings call for more inclusive policies that actively engage all segments of society, ensuring a just energy transition. Recommendations for future research focus on addressing these social equity gaps and improving policy frameworks.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":44747,"journal":{"name":"Asian Politics & Policy","volume":"17 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143801443","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Indigenous Women in the Food Chain System: The Marginalization and Alienation of Indigenous Knowledge on Environmental Management","authors":"Nikodemus Niko","doi":"10.1111/aspp.70014","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aspp.70014","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Women hold a pivotal role in the global food supply chain, particularly in developing countries. However, traditional agricultural knowledge, often preserved by women, faces marginalization due to modern, capital-driven systems. This study, employing a feminist ethnographic approach, explores the experiences of Dayak Benawan women in Sanggau Regency, West Kalimantan, Indonesia. Through interviews and participation in daily activities, I examined the community's food chain system. The findings reveal a conflict between preserving livelihoods and adapting to capitalist pressures. The integration of capital into indigenous food systems has sidelined women's knowledge, undermining their role in sustainable practices. This dynamic reflects broader tensions between capitalist ideologies, which prioritize profit, and indigenous perspectives that view nature as inseparable from societal well-being. The marginalization of Dayak Benawan women and their traditional knowledge illustrates the need to revalue indigenous contributions to sustainable food systems amidst global economic transformations.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":44747,"journal":{"name":"Asian Politics & Policy","volume":"17 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143801440","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Bridging the Divide: Revisiting the Discrepancy Between Policy and Practice in Environmental Management in the Context of Asia","authors":"Natalie W. M. Wong","doi":"10.1111/aspp.70013","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aspp.70013","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Environmental policies are essential for promoting sustainability, yet their implementation often falls short due to governance complexities, institutional barriers, and socioeconomic disparities. Despite international agreements and evolving policy frameworks, the gap between policy design and execution remains a persistent challenge. Bureaucratic fragmentation, conflicting stakeholder interests, and limited technological capacity hinder effective enforcement. Additionally, political inertia and economic constraints exacerbate disparities in policy outcomes, particularly in developing nations. This study examines the structural inefficiencies that contribute to policy failures and explores potential solutions, including decentralized governance, enhanced stakeholder engagement, and technological innovations. Special attention is given to environmental governance in Asia, where diverse political and economic contexts shape policy effectiveness. By analyzing case studies and existing research, this paper highlights the critical need for adaptive, participatory, and enforceable governance models to bridge the environmental policy-practice divide and ensure sustainable development.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":44747,"journal":{"name":"Asian Politics & Policy","volume":"17 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143761903","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"North Korea's nuclear gambit: Coercion, deterrence, and the escalation-de-escalation paradox","authors":"Edward Kwon","doi":"10.1111/aspp.70006","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aspp.70006","url":null,"abstract":"<p>North Korea's weapons of mass destruction (WMD) development and recent nuclear law permitting preemptive nuclear use have jeopardized US and ROK security. Analyzing possible channels of Pyongyang's nuclear brinkmanship and military provocations through international relations theories—including nuclear coercive diplomacy and the nuclear stability-instability paradox—and the “escalation to de-escalation” military strategy reveals concerning trends. Pyongyang continues to develop new WMDs and conduct military drills involving tactical nuclear weapons, enhancing Kim Jong Un's adventurous brinkmanship. In response, the United States must adopt a strong nuclear retaliation strategy, expedite its nuclear triad modernization plan, and support an effective South Korean missile defense system. A military contingency plan, and diplomatic efforts to persuade Kim to abandon WMDs are crucial. The United States must take a firm stance against nuclear threats from North Korea, ensuring a robust defense and encouraging denuclearization. This multifaceted approach will help address the security challenges posed by North Korea's nuclear program.</p>","PeriodicalId":44747,"journal":{"name":"Asian Politics & Policy","volume":"17 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143117385","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Use of drones in Indo-Pak cross border terrorism: Challenges, regulations and evolving responses","authors":"Ankit Kumar, Arun Vishwanathan","doi":"10.1111/aspp.70003","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aspp.70003","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The proliferation of drones to states and non-state actors has created newer challenges for national security & border management. Globally, drones are being used by security forces as force multipliers in military operations, while non-state actors are employing drones for carrying out terror strikes, smuggling arms, narcotics, and by citizen journalists and other groups for disseminating information on government crackdown on public protests. The paper traces the increasing usage of drones in India, especially since 2019, while also analyzing the multifarious challenges faced by Indian security forces and law enforcement agencies from the use of drones by non-state actors. It analyses the rules and regulations that have been put in place in India to manage the spread of UAS/drones in the country while not stifling the domestic manufacturing. Finally, the paper explores the possible systems that have been explored by India and other countries to counter UAS/drones and the challenges posed in effectively countering drones in border regions.</p>","PeriodicalId":44747,"journal":{"name":"Asian Politics & Policy","volume":"17 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143114486","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Myo Thida, Khine Zar Thwe, Thiha Ko Ko, Han Thuya, Hnin Ei Ei Naing, Hnin Oo Wai Hlaing
{"title":"Digital disparities in Myanmar: A case study for sustainable digitalization","authors":"Myo Thida, Khine Zar Thwe, Thiha Ko Ko, Han Thuya, Hnin Ei Ei Naing, Hnin Oo Wai Hlaing","doi":"10.1111/aspp.70002","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aspp.70002","url":null,"abstract":"<p>This study explores the digital disparities in Myanmar, particularly in the Education Sector, and the challenges the country faces in achieving sustainable digitalization. Employing both quantitative and qualitative research methods, including surveys and interviews, the researchers collected data from online learner students across various regions in Myanmar to assess the digital skills gap and access to online education. The findings reveal significant digital divides exacerbated by the 2021 political crisis, with issues such as unstable internet access, frequent power outages, and financial constraints impeding progress. These challenges disproportionately affect rural and conflict-prone areas. Despite efforts toward digitization, many students lack access to essential digital resources, further widening the digital gap. The study concludes that strategic interventions are necessary to address these disparities in Myanmar's digital future.</p>","PeriodicalId":44747,"journal":{"name":"Asian Politics & Policy","volume":"17 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143111175","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Articulating populism in the Philippines: The rhetorical strategies of Joseph Estrada and Rodrigo Duterte","authors":"Fernan Talamayan","doi":"10.1111/aspp.70001","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aspp.70001","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The article compares the rhetorical strategies of two of the most popular post-martial law presidents in the Philippines, Joseph Estrada (1998–2001) and Rodrigo Duterte (2016–2022). Adopting Laclau's definition of populism and localizing De Cleen and Stavrakakis's analysis of socio-spatial dichotomies, I examine the political logic that guided the consolidation of the people and the formation of antagonistic frontiers during the Estrada and Duterte presidencies. I identify the nodal points in their articulation of sympathy, compassion, elite opposition, political will, and belongingness, and plot them on a down/up and in/out axes. In uncovering the operation of populist logic in their political speeches, the article finds that leveraging people's frustrations and unsatisfied demands reinforced Estrada's and Duterte's ability to mobilize support and project themselves as the people's protector and champion. Through an in-depth interrogation of their populist articulation, the article contributes to a more nuanced understanding of populism's durability and enduring appeal.</p>","PeriodicalId":44747,"journal":{"name":"Asian Politics & Policy","volume":"17 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143111209","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Indian mainstream media perception of the 2024 Sri Lankan presidential elections","authors":"Abhijit Anand","doi":"10.1111/aspp.70004","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aspp.70004","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":44747,"journal":{"name":"Asian Politics & Policy","volume":"17 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143111176","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Taiwan's digital divide during the COVID-19 pandemic and its implications for e-public services","authors":"Carol Chiao-Han Chang, Natalie W. M. Wong","doi":"10.1111/aspp.70005","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aspp.70005","url":null,"abstract":"<p>With the outbreak of COVID-19, many elderly people have experienced unfavorable difficulties accompanying e-public services during the epidemic. This study takes Village (Li) A in Xinyi District, Taipei City, as a case study, using in-depth interviews to understand the experiences of e-public services usage among residents aged 60 years and above, as well as local chief of village (Li Chang) and council members. In conclusion, street-level bureaucrats proactively take on the role of “information agents” for elderly adults, assisting in listening to their real needs and facilitating the matching of them with the services they need. It points out that even though Taiwanese society is moving toward an aging and digital future, with many public services transitioning to digital forms, the abilities of street-level bureaucrats in terms of “responsive listening” and “situational adaptation,” especially for elderly people, remain crucial and cannot be replaced by AI and information systems.</p>","PeriodicalId":44747,"journal":{"name":"Asian Politics & Policy","volume":"17 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143111208","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Comparing Indian and Western media reports on the “BRICS Summit 2024 and India's Participation”","authors":"Simant Shankar Bharti, Sandhya Nepal","doi":"10.1111/aspp.70000","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aspp.70000","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":44747,"journal":{"name":"Asian Politics & Policy","volume":"17 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143111210","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}