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.

Who Will Monitor Thailand’s Upcoming Election?

As Thailand’s 2019 election approaches, some in the country have begun to call for foreign observation of the country’s polls, scheduled for February 24....

POW Diplomacy Won’t Ease Tensions Between Cambodia and Washington

Cambodia’s Foreign Ministry has announced that it had offered to resume cooperation in an effort to search for remains of Americans killed during the...

Three Likely Developments in Democracy-free Cambodia

In late July, Cambodia participated (sort of) in the General Election, without having the option to choose the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP),...

Statelessness: Thailand’s Silent Crisis

Earlier in July, the news media extensively covered the rescue of 12 Thai boys and their soccer coach from the flooded Tham Luang in...

Japanese Diplomacy in Cambodia Looks Well Beyond the 2018 Election

The international community has all but abandoned support for Cambodia’s national elections, scheduled for July 29. A string of events have outraged Western governments...

Small Signs of Resistance to Chinese Dominance in Southeast Asia

When the American strategic ‘pivot’ to Asia collapsed, China took the mantle of hegemonic leadership in Southeast Asia. The question of how to respond...

The Death of Press Freedom in Cambodia Is Shocking, Yet Unsurprising

Media freedom in Cambodia is at an all-time low. Reporters Without Borders reported in April that press freedom in Cambodia had plummeted more than...

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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.