The Diplomat | Author

Jacob Sims
Jacob Sims is a columnist for The Diplomat, a Visiting Fellow at Harvard University’s Asia Center, and a leading expert voice on transnational crime and human rights in Southeast Asia.
Jacob Sims is a leading expert on transnational crime and human rights in Southeast Asia. He is a Fellow at Harvard University’s Asia Center and serves as a formal advisor to multiple government agencies, think tanks and NGOs working on related issues. Sims previously served as a Visiting Expert at the US Institute of Peace and in leadership roles at the country (Cambodia), regional, and global level at International Justice Mission where he helped spearhead the world’s initial response to the now global crisis arising from Southeast Asia’s scam economy. His analysis and commentary feature regularly in major media outlets, and global thought leadership forums.

July 17, 2025
Reform Theater: Don’t Be Taken In By Cambodia’s Cybercrime Crackdown Promises
By Jacob Sims

July 15, 2025
Moving a Mafia State: Why Thailand’s Punch Lands Harder Than America’s
By Jacob Sims

May 30, 2025
Autocratic Leaders Are Using Sovereignty as a Shield
By Jacob Sims

May 02, 2025
Inflection Point: What to Do When the State is the Syndicate?
By Jacob Sims and Mark B. Taylor

February 28, 2025
Big Moves and Illusions of Reform in Southeast Asia’s Scam Industry
By Jacob Sims

January 15, 2025
Coercion and Criminality: Cambodia’s Dual Threat to Regional and Global Stability
By Jacob Sims

November 29, 2024
Debating Victimhood: The Complexities of Forced Criminality in Southeast Asia’s Scam Compounds
By Jacob Sims

October 24, 2024
The Release of Mech Dara: Speaking Truth to Power
By Jacob Sims

October 22, 2024
Evictions and Evasions: State Involvement in Southeast Asia’s ‘Golden Era of Organized Crime’
By Jacob Sims

October 01, 2024
The Arrest of Mech Dara (Part I): Repression and Retaliation
By Jacob Sims

September 13, 2024
The Sanctioning of Ly Yong Phat: Milestone or Mirage?
By Jacob Sims
