Mark S. Cogan

Mark S. Cogan is an Associate Professor of Peace and Conflict Studies at Kansai Gaidai University in Osaka, Japan. He is a former communications specialist with the United Nations in Southeast Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and the Middle East.

How Far Will Free Expression Fall Under Thailand’s New Emergency Decree?

After whirlwind protests that saw thousands of people take to the streets of Bangkok on Tuesday, Oct. 14, the next morning saw the Royal...

On the Thai economy, Prayut Wants a Convenient Scapegoat

Thailand’s embattled Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha blamed anti-government protesters for some of the country’s economic malaise on Monday, noting that in order for the...

Thailand’s Generals, As Usual, Fail to Understand Democracy

When new Royal Thai Army chief General Narongpan Jittkaewtae took his post on Oct. 1, he and military commander-in-chief General Chalermpol Srisawat made a...

Another Coup d’Etat? Prayut Heard It Through the Grapevine

Angry student protesters marching in the streets of Bangkok and whispers of discontent among Thailand’s ruling elite, have rattled Prayuth Chan-o-cha, Thai Prime Minister...

Assessing Japan-Thailand Relations Under Abe

Japan and Thailand have a storied history that dates back to the 16th Century, although most recall Japan’s invasion of Thailand in 1941 and...

Thai Student Protests Bring Hope—and Fear

Last Friday’s Constitutional Court verdict saw the dissolution of the second largest opposition party in Thailand, the Future Forward Party. The Thai Court dissolved...

Dissolution of Thai opposition party a troubling, yet predictable development

A few days ago, Thailand’s Constitutional Court dissolved the opposition Future Forward Party on grounds it took an illegal loan from its leader, the...

What to Expect After Cambodia’s EBA Suspension

After more than a year of discussion, the European Union decided to suspend Cambodia’s trade privileges under the “Everything But Arms” (EBA) scheme. The...

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BRICS and De-Dollarization: Is the Global Financial Order Really Changing?

BRICS may not end dollar dominance, but it is accelerating a shift toward a more multipolar financial order where currencies, influence, and economic power are becoming increasingly contested.

Between Two Fronts: Why Japan-South Korea Security Cooperation Is No Longer Optional

Japan and South Korea can no longer afford fragmented security policies. In a Taiwan-Korea dual contingency, coordination is no longer strategic preference, but the foundation of deterrence and regional stability.

Islamabad as Intermediary: Pakistan’s Calculated Turn to Crisis Diplomacy

As Gulf tensions rise, Pakistan has quietly become the channel neither Washington nor Tehran can afford to lose. Islamabad’s diplomacy is no longer reactive; it is positioning itself at the center of crisis management.

Epstein Case and the Crisis of Transparency in the West

The Epstein case is no longer just about one predator. It’s about whether Western institutions can investigate power honestly — or whether wealth, influence, and secrecy will always outrun accountability.

The New Phase of U.S.-China Economic Competition

The U.S.-China rivalry is no longer defined by tariffs alone. AI chips, export controls, rare earths, and strategic supply chains have become the real battlegrounds of global power in the emerging economic order.