Asia Rising

Japan has had a re-energised approach to the global stage under the leadership of Prime Minister Shinzō Abe, so how has this altered its relationship with its neighbours and the power balance in the region?

Professor Nick Bisley (Executive Director of La Trobe Asia) and Dr David Envall (Convenor, Department of International Relations, Australian National University) discuss Japan’s increasing active engagement with foreign powers and the challenges facing Shinzō Abe.

On the 22nd May 2014 the Royal Thai Armed forces led by General Prayuth Chan-ocha launched a coup against the democratically elected government government, dissolved the senate and stabled a Junta to govern the nation.

Since that time there's been a clampdown on freedom of speech and expression, there's a curfew in place, and while a return to democracy is promised there's uncertainty as to when this will happen.

Narendra Modi won a landslide victory with the BJP in the 2014 Indian election, but what kind of government will India have, and how will it play out on the global stage?

Professor Nick Bisley (Executive Director of La Trobe Asia) and Dr Ian Woolford (Head of Hindi and South Asian Studies, La Trobe University) present a wrap-up of the Indian election.

A recent report on human rights violations in North Korea outlined a well-known but persistent problem, but there is little indication as to how it can be used beyond a catalog of evidence.

Professor Nick Bisley (Executive Director of La Trobe Asia) and Dr Benjamin Habib (Politics and International Relations, La Trobe University) present an update on North Korea, looking at human rights issues and ecent weapon developments and missile testing.