State of Asia | Asia Society Switzerland

Nalin Mehta is a political scientist and journalist in Delhi, India, and author of The New BJP, a work you can only call THE  book on the BJP, the largest political party in the world.Under the leadership of India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the BJP has solidified its position as the uncontested center of power in the world's most populous country.As India heads to the polls over a 6-week period beginning April 19, we talk with Nalin about how the BJP built and expanded its power base, and what Modi, who is all but certain to once again win the elections, could set as priorities upon starting his second decade as Prime Minister.STATE OF ASIA brings you engaging conversations with leading minds on the issues that shape Asia and affect us all.Stay up-to-date on all events and activities at Asia Society Switzerland: subscribe to the newsletter and support our work by becoming a member.-STATE OF ASIA is a podcast from Asia Society Switzerland.  Season 6, episode 2 - Published: April 16, 2024Host: Nico Luchsinger, Executive Director, Asia Society SwitzerlandEditor/Producer: Remko Tanis, Programs and Editorial Manager, Asia Society Switzerland

There is little to dispute about Asia's rise as a key feature of our time. Already the world's most populous region, Asian countries have steadily gained in economic and political influence on the world stage in recent decades. While in the past this development has been driven heavily by China, the next few years will see countries like India, Indonesia, and Vietnam expand their international clout.As the balance of power shifts east, will the world order inevitably change? Asia is far from a monolithic actor, and for all the talk about an "Asian Century", there is arguably no coherent vision from Asia on how the global community should operate. And many countries, especially China, have benefitted from the current system, and might seek to adjust rather than replace it.In this bonus episode of STATE OF ASIA, listen to four experts taking sides over the motion "Asia’s Rise Will Lead to a New World Order", as they did in an Oxford Debate in front of a live audience in Zurich on April 8, 2024.Presenting clear-cut, time-constrained, well-thought-out arguments are:John Delury, a historian and a professor at Yonsei University in Seoul.Abigaël Vasselier, director for Policy and European Affairs and head of the Foreign Relations team at MERICS in Berlin.Julia Ganter, Programme Director International Affairs at the German foundation Körber-Stiftung and head of the Körber Emerging Middle Powers Initiative, based in Berlin.John Lee, director of consultancy East West Futures and a researcher at the Leiden Asia Centre.Watch the entire debate on the Asia Society YouTube channel, and learn more about the speakers on our website.Our Oxford Debate series offers insights into complex issues, presented in short and clear arguments. Find all editions here.Stay up-to-date on all our activities: subscribe to the newsletter and support our work by becoming a member.-STATE OF ASIA is a podcast from Asia Society Switzerland.  Season 6, bonus episode 3 - Published: April 9,  2024Host and Producer: Remko Tanis, Programs and Editorial Manager, Asia Society Switzerland

Johan Nylander is an award-winning author and freelance China and Asia correspondent. His work is published by CNN, Forbes, Sweden’s leading business daily Dagens Industri, and many other international media outlets.His most recent book is The Wolf Economy Awakens – Mongolia’s Fight for Democracy, and a Green and Digital Future (Hong Kong University Press, 2023). It's full of original reporting and great conversations with Mongolians, from angry elderly people in the street and the lead singer of internationally successful Mongolian band The HU to the country's Prime Minister.In this episode, we talk about how Mongolia is gearing up to be Asia's next economic miracle. And it's not just because of mining: the country has a vibrant tech start-up scene and is making strides in the energy transition.All the while, this vibrant democracy of 3.3 million people, wedged between authoritarian giants China and Russia, manages to stay friendly with almost any country it interacts with.Check out the music from The HU here, and watch here how Mongolia's largest restaurant, at the Oyu Tolgoy mine in the  Gobi dessert, feeds over 6,000 miners every day. More on the upcoming Oxford Debate LIVE on the motion 'Asia's rise will lead to a new world order', taking place on April 8, 2024, in Zurich, is on our website.STATE OF ASIA brings you engaging conversations with leading minds on the issues that shape Asia and affect us all.Stay up-to-date on all events and activities at Asia Society Switzerland: subscribe to the newsletter and support our work by becoming a member.-STATE OF ASIA is a podcast from Asia Society Switzerland.  Season 6, episode 1 - Published: March 26, 2024Host/Producer: Remko Tanis, Programs and Editorial Manager, Asia Society Switzerland

STATE OF ASIA, the podcast from Asia Society Switzerland, is back with engaging conversations with leading minds on the issues that shape Asia and affect us all.The new season premieres Tuesday, March 26, with a conversation with Hong Kong-based journalist and author Johan Nylander, whose latest book is a deep dive on one of Asia's largest but, for now, most unknown nations: Mongolia. New episodes follow every other Tuesday.Plus: look out for special episodes bringing you insights from some of the many events organized by Asia Society Switzerland.Stay up-to-date on all our activities: subscribe to the newsletter and support our work by becoming a member.-----STATE OF ASIA is a podcast series from Asia Society Switzerland.  Season 6 trailer - Published: March 19, 2024Editor/Producer:Remko Tanis, Programs and Editorial Manager, Asia Society Switzerland

A Closer Look is our popular series taking quick but deep dives into countries and issues that matter, with webcasts, podcasts, and in-person events.This episode is part of A Closer Look: Indonesia After Jokowi, looking at what's next for the Southeast Asian giant now that the hugely popular President Joko Widodo is preparing to hand over to former general Prabowo Subianto, the winner of the February 14 elections.Talking about Jokowi's legacy from a ground-level perspective are Nimas Mega Purnamasari, who runs the Bali campus of the national United in Diversity organization; and Yoes Kenawas, a research fellow at Atma Jaya Catholic University who is an expert on political dynasties in Indonesia, and a strong believer in the role of comedy in building a mature democracy.More on A Closer Look: Indonesia After Jokowi, including the webcast is here. Check out the trailer for hit drama series Cigarette Girl, and the music of Nadif Basalamah. And more of Indonesian stand-up comedian Pandji Pragiwaksono is here. Stay up-to-date on all our activities: subscribe to the newsletter and support our work by becoming a member.-STATE OF ASIA is a podcast from Asia Society Switzerland.  Season 6,  Bonus episode 2 - Published: February 20, 2024Host and Producer: Remko Tanis, Programs and Editorial Manager, Asia Society Switzerland

For decades, Taiwan has existed in a fragile balance, neither truly independent nor unified with mainland China. While this status quo has proven surprisingly enduring, China's continued economic and military rise and its government’s increasing nationalistic rhetoric have raised fears of a conflict around the island – accidental or intentional.What's the best approach to prevent further or more intense aggressive actions from China against Taiwan? Build up strong military deterrence, or go the way of diplomatic engagement?In this bonus episode of STATE OF ASIA, listen to four experts debate this complicated issue.The debaters, who presented clear-cut, time-constrained arguments in an Oxford Debate we hosted on January 23, 2024, are:Simona Grano, TOY Senior Fellow on Taiwan at Asia Society’s Center for China Analysis, and Associate Professor and Director of the Taiwan Studies Project at the University of Zurich, SwitzerlandJames Lee, Professor at the Institute of European and American Studies at Academia Sinica, the national academy of  TaiwanAmanda Hsiao, Senior Analyst for China at the International Crisis GroupYu-Hua Chen, Assistant Professor in the Global Studies Program at Akita International University (AIU) in JapanWatch the entire debate here, and learn more about the speakers on our website.Our Oxford Debate series offers insights into complex issues, presented in short and clear arguments. Find all the debates here.Stay up-to-date on all our activities: subscribe to the newsletter and support our work by becoming a member.-STATE OF ASIA is a podcast from Asia Society Switzerland.  Season 6, bonus episode 1 - Published: January 25,  2024Host and Producer: Remko Tanis, Programs and Editorial Manager, Asia Society Switzerland

Two terrific knowers of China talk about the prospects for the struggling Chinese economy and the question that's on the mind of foreign companies in the country: stay, or go? Listen to Keyu Jin, well-connected professor at the London School of Economics and author of 2023's The New China Playbook; and Jörg Wuttke, President Emeritus of the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China. They spoke on stage at the STATE OF ASIA conference, Asia Society Switzerland's flagship event, held on November 23, 2023, in Zurich.The conversation was moderated by Martina Fuchs. Watch the full video here. All videos and written key takeaways from the entire 2023 STATE OF ASIA conference are available on our site. Stay up-to-date on all our activities: subscribe to the newsletter and support our work by becoming a member.-STATE OF ASIA is a podcast from Asia Society Switzerland.  Season 5, bonus episode 3 - Published: January 4, 2024Host and Producer: Remko Tanis, Programs and Editorial Manager, Asia Society Switzerland

On November 21, 2023, Singaporean diplomatic legend Bilahari Kausikan delivered Asia Society Switzerland's second annual State of Asia Address in front of a full house in the prestigious Aula of the University of Zurich.He set himself up to answer the question: Will this – can this – be the ‘Asian century’, in a highly original speech filled with fundamental insights in the big issues facing Asia and the world.Bilahari is former Ambassador and Permanent Secretary of Singapore. He has spent his entire career in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.During his 37 years in the Ministry, he served in a variety of appointments at home and abroad, including as Ambassador to the Russian Federation and to the UN in New York. Among others, he is a Member of the Advisory Council of the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS). He studied at Raffles Institution, the University of Singapore and Columbia University in New York.The full text of his speech is available as a download on our website. A video of Bilahari delivering the State of Asia Address is here.STATE OF ASIA brings you engaging conversations with leading minds on the issues that shape Asia and affect us all.Stay up-to-date on all events and activities at Asia Society Switzerland: subscribe to the newsletter and support our work by becoming a member. We'll be back with a new season of the podcast in early 2024.-STATE OF ASIA is a podcast from Asia Society Switzerland.  Season 5, episode 6 - Published: November 23, 2023Host/Editor: Remko Tanis, Programs and Editorial Manager, Asia Society Switzerland

Fuchsia Dunlop is a master cook, celebrated food writer, and accredited chef of Chinese cuisines. She was the first Westerner to train as a chef at the Sichuan Institute of Higher Cuisine and has spent much of the last two decades exploring China and its food. She is the author of several award-winning books, and a contributor to the Financial Times, the New Yorker, and other publications Her latest book is Invitation to a Banquet – The Story of Chinese Food, a fascinating 400-page read on the history and culture of Chinese cuisie, of which The New York Times wrote: 'This book will not only entertain and instruct you — it might make you go mad with longing.’In this episode, Fuchsia talks about the joyfulness and adventurous approach many Chinese have towards food, about the 'most terrible misunderstanding' surrounding Chinese food in the West, and about how Chinese cuisine holds the secret to eating less meat, without feeling you're missing out.Last year, Fuchsia talked about the flavors of Sichuan at an Asia Society Switzerland event in Zurich. Watch the video here.STATE OF ASIA brings you engaging conversations with leading minds on the issues that shape Asia and affect us all.Join us for the State of Asia Address, delivered by Singaporean diplomatic veteran Bilahari Kausikan on Nov 21 in Zurich. More info here.Stay up-to-date on all events and activities at Asia Society Switzerland: subscribe to the newsletter and support our work by becoming a member.-STATE OF ASIA is a podcast from Asia Society Switzerland.  Season 5, episode 5 - Published: November 14, 2023Host: Nico Luchsinger, Executive Director, Asia Society SwitzerlandEditor/Producer: Remko Tanis, Programs and Editorial Manager, Asia Society Switzerland

India is having an eventful year. It led the G20, worked to welcome more members into the BRICS, and it landed on the moon. Despite persisting domestic issues, from economic inequality to shrinking civil liberties, India is thriving in its foreign relations – which may help Prime Minister Modi, as he gears up for elections due next spring. India has an ambitious goal: to become the world's third largest economy and to emerge as a geopolitical superpower. Will it be able to deliver on that growth and ambition?In this bonus episode of STATE OF ASIA, listen to four experts debate whether India will become a global superpower in the next decade, or see itself crippled by the many obstacles it still faces. The debaters, who presented clear-cut, time-constrained, well-thought-out arguments in an Oxford Debate we hosted on November 2, 2023, are:Frédéric Grare, senior policy fellow with the Asia Program at the European Council on Foreign Relations.Yamini Aiyar, President and Chief Executive at the independent Center for Policy Research in New Delhi.Garima Mohan, who heads the India Trilateral Forum at the German Marshall Fund.Rathin Roy, managing director of independent global think tank ODI.Watch the entire debate here, and learn more about the speakers, on our website.Our Oxford Debate series offers insights into complex issues, presented in short and clear arguments. Find all the debates here.Stay up-to-date on all our activities: subscribe to the newsletter and support our work by becoming a member.-STATE OF ASIA is a podcast from Asia Society Switzerland.  Season 5, bonus episode 2 - Published: November 7, 2023Host and Producer: Remko Tanis, Programs and Editorial Manager, Asia Society Switzerland

C. Raja Mohan is a Senior Fellow at the Asia Society Policy Institute in Delhi, India who has published widely on India’s foreign and security policies, Asian geopolitics, and the global governance of advanced technologies.Last November, he delivered our annual State of Asia Address, which he kicked off by saying he wouldn't have minded talking about Europe, as he was 'deeply fascinated and troubled' by what he saw happening there. So, for this episode, we dialed up Raja in Delhi to ask him about his views on the State of Europe. He explains why he's troubled by Europe's inability to take charge and measure up to the many challenges playing out within and at its borders. He implores Europe to stop ignoring what's happening in the rest of the world, to recognize the dangers of its decline, and to rethink its strategies. "The party is over. Come back to the real world."Raja's 2022 State of Asia Address is available in an earlier episode of this podcast here, and on YouTube.This year's State of Asia Address will be delivered by Singaporean diplomatic veteran Bilahari Kausikan in Zurich, Switzerland, on November 21, 2023. Information on how to get tickets is  on our website.STATE OF ASIA brings you engaging conversations with leading minds on the issues that shape Asia and affect us all.Stay up-to-date on all events and activities at Asia Society Switzerland: subscribe to the newsletter and support our work by becoming a member.-STATE OF ASIA is a podcast from Asia Society Switzerland.  Season 5, episode 4 - Published: October 31, 2023Host and Producer: Remko Tanis, Programs and Editorial Manager, Asia Society SwitzerlandAssociate Producer: Manuela Coldesina, Operations Manager, Asia Society Switzerland

Simona Grano is an associate professor at the University of Zurich and a Senior Fellow at Asia Society's Center for China Analysis, where she focuses on Taiwan and its upcoming presidential election.In this episode she gives us a lay of the land ahead of Taiwan's January 2024 presidential election. Instead of the usual 2, this time 4 candidates are on the ballot. How will this split the vote? And how will China react if, for the first time ever, the pro-independence DPP manages to  win the presidency for a third time in a row?Simona  will speak at the STATE OF ASIA conference in Zurich on November 22, 2023. Find information on how to get tickets on our website.STATE OF ASIA brings you engaging conversations with leading minds on the issues that shape Asia and affect us all.Stay up-to-date on all events and activities at Asia Society Switzerland: subscribe to the newsletter and support our work by becoming a member.-STATE OF ASIA is a podcast from Asia Society Switzerland.  Season 5, episode 3 - Published: October 17, 2023Host: Nico Luchsinger, Executive Director, Asia Society SwitzerlandEditor and Producer: Remko Tanis, Programs and Editorial Manager, Asia Society Switzerland

Things are heating up in Solomon Islands. The South Pacific island nation of 700,000 people is gearing up to host its greatest event ever: the 2023 Pacific Games. China has built and financed most of the venues for the games, while Australia paid for dormitories for the 5,000 athletes from 24 countries, and Japan is improving the roads. All this, as the U.S.  reopened its embassy after 30 years, to counter growing Chinese influence in the region.In this bonus episode, hear from two Solomon Islanders on what it's like to be wooed by multiple powers. Dorothy Wickham is a veteran journalist from the Solomons. Jay Bartlett is a leading local entrepreneur, who served as chairman of the country's Chamber of Commerce, and sits on the board of the central bank.In February 2023 they spoke with Simona Grano, associate professor at the University of Zurich and frequent contributor to programs at Asia Society Switzerland, as part of our online series A Closer Look. This is an outtake of that conversation.Watch the full conversation on our website.STATE OF ASIA brings you engaging conversations with leading minds on the issues that shape Asia and affect us all.Stay up-to-date on all events and activities at Asia Society Switzerland: subscribe to the newsletter and support our work by becoming a member.-STATE OF ASIA is a podcast from Asia Society Switzerland.  Season 5, bonus episode 1 - Published: October 10, 2023Host and Producer: Remko Tanis, Programs and Editorial Manager, Asia Society Switzerland

Alexander Gabuev is the Director of the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, based in Berlin.In this episode, he talks about having to leave Moscow and how he now gauges what's happening in Russia from abroad. He explains how Russia is out of options and increasingly seems to become a vassal state of China, and he talks about how alienation between China and Russia on one side, and the West on the other, is here to stay – and what that means.Alexander  will speak at the STATE OF ASIA conference in Zurich on November 22, 2023. Find information on how to get tickets on our website.STATE OF ASIA brings you engaging conversations with leading minds on the issues that shape Asia and affect us all.Stay up-to-date on all events and activities at Asia Society Switzerland: subscribe to the newsletter and support our work by becoming a member.-STATE OF ASIA is a podcast from Asia Society Switzerland.  Season 5, episode 2 - Published: October 3, 2023Host: Serena Jung,Program and Communications Director, Asia Society SwitzerlandEditor and Producer: Remko Tanis, Programs and Editorial Manager, Asia Society Switzerland

Bilahari Kausikan is an iconic veteran of diplomacy, with a career of 37 years under his belt at Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He served as Ambassador to Russia, to the UN in New York, and as the Ministry's Permanent Secretary.In this episode, he explains why he's not unhopeful about the state of the world, the fundamental dilemma facing China, and how, as a small country, you can still have agency on the global stage.Bilahari will deliver the annual STATE OF ASIA Address in Zurich, Switzerland, on November 21, 2023. He'll also speak at the STATE OF ASIA conference the following day. Find information on how to get tickets on our website.STATE OF ASIA brings you engaging conversations with leading minds on the issues that shape Asia and affect us all.Stay up-to-date on all events and activities at Asia Society Switzerland: subscribe to the newsletter and support our work by becoming a member.-STATE OF ASIA is a podcast from Asia Society Switzerland.  Season 5, episode 1 - Published: September 19, 2023Host and Producer: Remko Tanis, Programs and Editorial Manager, Asia Society Switzerland

State of Asia, the podcast from Asia Society Switzerland, is back with a new season of engaging conversations with leading minds on the issues that shape Asia and affect us all.The season premieres Tuesday, Sep 19, with a conversation with Bilahari Kausikan, former Ambassador and Permanent Secretary at Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. New episodes follow every other Tuesday.Bilahari, as well as other guests featured this season, will be in Zurich, Switzerland, to speak at our flagship STATE OF ASIA conference on November 21 and 22, 2023. More info here.Over the coming months, special episodes of State of Asia will also bring you insights from some of the many events organised by Asia Society Switzerland.Stay up-to-date on all our activities: subscribe to the newsletter and support our work by becoming a member.State of Asia is a podcast series from Asia Society Switzerland.  Season 5 trailer - Published: September 12, 2023Hosts:Nico Luchsinger, Executive Director, Asia Society SwitzerlandSerena Jung, Program and Communications Director, Asia Society SwitzerlandRemko Tanis, Programs and Editorial Manager, Asia Society SwitzerlandEditor/Producer:Remko Tanis, Programs and Editorial Manager, Asia Society Switzerland

Asia Inside Out, a podcast from our friends at the Asia Society Policy Institute (ASPI), just relaunched. The first episode, which we're sharing here, features Rahm Emanuel, U.S. Ambassador to Japan, in conversation with Rorry Daniels, Managing Director at ASPI.Subscribe to Asia Inside Out in your favourite podcast app, or listen here.Get in the right starting position to fill the second half of the year with great Asia content and events. Register now to attend our annual flagship STATE OF ASIA conference, taking place November 22, 2023, in Zurich, Switzerland. More information here.Before that, dive into what needs to be done both in Asia and Europe to speed up the energy transition. Join the inaugural Asia Sustainability Dialogue, on August 31, 2023, in Zurich and online. Registration is free and open to anyone, here.Much more is coming up. Stay up-to-date on all our activities: subscribe to the newsletter and support our work by becoming a member.STATE OF ASIA brings you engaging conversations with leading minds on the issues that shape Asia and affect us all. Regular episodes returning this fall.-STATE OF ASIA is a podcast from Asia Society Switzerland.  Season 4, episode 6.5 (bonus episode) - Published: July 18, 2023Host and Producer: Remko Tanis, Programs and Editorial Manager, Asia Society Switzerland

Evan Feigenbaum, Vice President at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, has a career spanning the highest levels of government, academia, think tanks, and the private sector, covering Central, South, and East Asia. It makes him uniquely qualified to discuss the State of Asia writ large on this final episode of the season.He talks about how China and the US act as 'security narcissists', creating a danger for the whole region, and how other Asian countries are nervously trying to navigate this predicament.Plus: hear why Even calls India a 'dissatisfied power' and why it's a problem that Europe is not being serious about Asia beyond China.STATE OF ASIA brings you engaging conversations with leading minds on the issues that shape Asia and affect us all. We'll be back this fall with a new season. Until then, look out for bonus episodes in this feed, featuring content from other Asia Society podcasts and some of the many events we organise at Asia Society Switzerland.Stay up-to-date on all our activities: subscribe to the newsletter and support our work by becoming a member.-STATE OF ASIA is a podcast from Asia Society Switzerland.  Season 4, episode 6 - Published: July 4, 2023Host: Nico Luchsinger, Executive Director, Asia Society SwitzerlandEditor/Producer: Remko Tanis, Programs and Editorial Manager, Asia Society Switzerland

In this bonus episode of STATE OF ASIA, listen to four experts debate whether Europe should side with the U.S. on China, or carve out its own path in the relationship with Beijing.They participated in an Oxford Debate in front of a live audience in Zurich on June 26, 2023, organised by Asia Society Switzerland. Presenting clear-cut, time-constrained, well-thought-out arguments are:Noah Barkin, Senior Advisor in Rhodium Group's China practice, based in Berlin, Germany.Philippe Le Corre, Senior Fellow at the Asia Society Policy Institute's Center for China Analysis, based in Paris, France.Simona Grano, Senior Lecturer in Chinese Studies and Director of the Taiwan Studies Project at the University of Zurich, Switzerland.Marina Rudyak, Assistant Professor at the Institute of Chinese Studies at the University of Heidelberg, Germany.Watch the entire debate here, and learn more about the speakers, on our website.Our Oxford Debate series offers insights into complex issues, presented in short and clear arguments. Find all the debates here.Stay up-to-date on all our activities: subscribe to the newsletter and support our work by becoming a member.STATE OF ASIA brings you engaging conversations with leading minds on the issues that shape Asia and affect us all.-STATE OF ASIA is a podcast from Asia Society Switzerland.  Season 4, episode 5.5 (bonus episode) - Published: June 27, 2023Host and Producer: Remko Tanis, Programs and Editorial Manager, Asia Society Switzerland

Amrita Narlikar is President of the German Institute for Global and Area Studies and Professor of International Relations at the University of Hamburg. She is currently also serving as a co-chair of the T20's Task Force 3, which forms a part of the G20 process under India's Presidency.In this episode, she talks about why the West should engage and cooperate with India a lot more than it's doing now, about the new character of globalised trade, and the unique perspective India brings to its current G20 presidency.STATE OF ASIA brings you engaging conversations with leading minds on the issues that shape Asia and affect us all. New episodes are released every other Tuesday.Stay up-to-date on all our activities: subscribe to the newsletter and support our work by becoming a member.-STATE OF ASIA is a podcast from Asia Society Switzerland.  Season 4, episode 5 - Published: June 20, 2023Host: Serena Jung, Program and Communications Director, Asia Society SwitzerlandEditor/Producer: Remko Tanis, Programs and Editorial Manager, Asia Society Switzerland