Since the end of the Cold War, much international attention has been devoted to building democracies to replace authoritarian regimes. East Timor, Afghanistan, Iraq and last year’s Arab Spring are examples of this movement. But women seem to be the consistent losers in the new democracies: why is this so and what can we do...

Five months after an outbreak of Christian-Muslim violence in Ambon, the city is outwardly calm and bustling, but many issues remain unresolved. This briefing from the International Crisis Group looks at how the city is faring after the unrest that led to eight deaths and the displacement of thousands last September. Months after an outbreak...

The violent border clashes between Thailand and Cambodia earlier this year have challenged the Association of South East Asian Nations to turn its rhetoric into action, but more robust diplomacy is required to end a still unresolved conflict. Border clashes between Thailand and Cambodia that caused dozens of casualties and displaced thousands have challenged the...

More than ten years after the formation of Timor-Leste's army and the demobilisation of the guerrilla force that fought for independence, the struggle continues about how to pay tribute to the veterans. The increasingly wealthy state has bought off the threat once posed by most dissidents with an expensive cash benefits scheme and succeeded in...

This paper argues that while succession is looking more assured in Pyongyang – with Kim Jong-eun set to accede to the leadership – this period represents a time of potential instability in North Korea. Additionally, the North’s unveiling of a uranium enrichment facility, and their 2010 military provocations are cause for concern. In the midst...