CANCELLED - No Change, Regime Change or Plus Ca Change? Current Politics in Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines

Speakers: Raymond Bonner and Jane Perlez, Southeast Asia Correspondents, The New York Times

Is democracy working in Southeast Asia? Or are the recent and future elections in Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines mere ritual diversions from real problems that remain unaddressed? Or are there other and better ways of interpreting the current electoral politics of the region?

Raymond Bonner and Jane Perlez have reported for The New York Times since 1981. Bonner's books include Waltzing with a Dictator: The Marcoses and the Making of American Policy (2000) and his articles have appeared in The New Yorker among other publications. He has reported from more than 80 countries. Before becoming a journalist, he was an assistant district attorney in San Francisco and worked for Ralph Nader on consumer issues. He graduated from Stanford Law School. Perlez has been The Times' Bureau Chief for Southeast Asia since 2002 and writes a monthly "Asia Letter" for the International Herald Tribune. Prior to a stint in Washington as The Times' Chief Diplomatic Correspondent (1999-2001), she reported for the paper from the Balkans, Central Europe, and East Africa, among other places. Bonner and Perlez are based in Jakarta, Indonesia.

This is the 12th Southeast Asia Forum seminar of the 2003-2004 academic year.

Please see Mary Castillo at mcastill@stanford.edu for more information. This seminar is free and open to the public. Reservations are not required.