Michael Hart

Michael Hart is a writer and researcher covering civil conflict, peacebuilding and war legacy issues in Southeast Asia. He has written about these issues and Asia-Pacific politics more broadly for publications including Geopolitical Monitor, The Diplomat, Asia Sentinel, World Politics Review and Southeast Asia Globe. Michael is currently editorial assistant for The Pacific Review journal, based at the University of Warwick. He previously researched for Action on Armed Violence (AOAV) and the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) and studied an MA in International Relations at the University of Westminster.

Gauging the Success of Bangladesh’s Anti-Terror Crackdown

cc Fredrik Rubensson from Stockholm, Sweden, modified, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Flag_of_Bangladesh_and_tree.jpg

The 2016 Dhaka café attack was a wake-up call on the threat of extremism in Bangladesh. But did the authorities get the message?

Indonesia Faced with a Resurgence of Islamist Terrorism

Generated by Google Gemini on July 28, 2025.

Indonesia has enjoyed peace on the terrorism front since the days of Jemaah Islamiyah and its bloody campaign of the 1990s and 2000s. But that might be about to change.

Will the Siege of Marawi Be Repeated in the Philippines?

Bombing of Marawi City, cc Wikicommons Mark Jhomel, modified, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bombing_on_Marawi_City.jpg

The Philippine Army is closing in on the last remaining militants in Marawi. But this might not be the last time we see an ISIS-linked group seize territory in restive Mindanao.

Myanmar: Ground Zero for China-India Energy Competition

cc Claude TRUONG-NGOC, modified, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Aung_San_Suu_Kyi_par_Claude_Truong-Ngoc_octobre_2013.jpg

Although democratization has brought added scrutiny to joint ventures in Myanmar, the NLD government is very much in need of the infrastructure investment that China and India can offer.

Japan Stands Firm on Senkaku Islands in East China Sea

USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) Conducts Joint Exercise with USS Antietam and Japanese Navy

Though less prominent than the South China Sea dispute of late, the fight for the Senkaku Islands is far from over.

US-Vietnam Rapprochement Fast-tracked amid South China Sea Dispute

Vietnam US Flags cubist abstraction, Generated by Google Gemini AI on August 8, 2025. All flags, maps, and likenesses contained within this image are not necessarily accurate representations of reality.

President Obama’s upcoming visit to Vietnam reflects how the South China Sea dispute has made unlikely allies out of the two countries.

Niger Delta: A Region Cursed by Oil Politics

Nigeria Oil abstract, modified, Generated by Google Gemini on August 5, 2025.

A failure to tackle the root causes of underdevelopment could spark a new wave of violence in the Niger Delta.

Colombia on the Verge of Historic FARC Peace Deal

FARC

It appears one of the longest-running conflicts in the world is about to end.

Myanmar: Challenges Ahead as New Parliament Begins Work

cc Flickr thierry ehrmann, modified, https://www.flickr.com/photos/home_of_chaos/36683466244/in/photolist-XTAmtW-aFNhNP-dc4k72-aFNhqx-cepefy-8gSN9R-cmfsvy-48zeer-dc4fGn-6QqQmC-SZnSzL-cmfsRU-mDsk8j-9W6gVG-kfzLud-buLT91-8SXCBZ-2cb5qVc-dtNA3b-48DfLs-dcyDC9-dWsFBA-952MMj-Myrpra-tN2ptf-dtNuZq-ciAcbs-ciGSif-dzjPM4-crU21W-aFuKTg-gUMfnu-b759c-hgi4rR-dGZTC5-hhKPAB-9SFEvs-sAYpNM-ciAch3-hhL6Gd-oqRjtx-h93C5i-oH4KGx-dWsFzC-6CnN7m-2c6AGej-MkW16b-8gW3Eu-MoDtVK-baCYtk

After decades of house arrest and a historic election win in 2015, now comes the hard part for Myanmar’s Aung San Suu Kyi.

Backgrounder: Boko Haram

Generated by Google Gemini on August 4, 2025.

An analysis of the enduring threat posed by Boko Haram, one of Africa’s most brutal terrorist groups.

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