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Prashanth Parameswaran

Prashanth Parameswaran

Dr. Prashanth Parameswaran is a Senior Columnist at The Diplomat, a Fellow at the Wilson Center’s Asia Program, and the Founder of the weekly ASEAN Wonk newsletter.

Dr. Prashanth Parameswaran is a Senior Columnist at The Diplomat, a Fellow at the Wilson Center’s Asia Program, and the Founder of the weekly ASEAN Wonk newsletter, a research hub focused on advancing a global and comprehensive approach to analyzing Southeast Asia and Indo-Pacific foreign and security policy.

A political scientist by training, Dr. Parameswaran’s research and analysis focuses on Southeast Asian political and security issues, Asian defense affairs, U.S. foreign policy in the Asia-Pacific and global geopolitical and geoeconomic developments. He has held roles linked to think tanks, media, business, and government in the United States and in the Asia-Pacific.

Dr. Parameswaran has conducted grant-based field research across the region, consulted for companies and governments, taught courses affiliated with the U.S. Department of Defense and the U.S. Department of State, and authored policy reports, journal articles, and book chapters on Asian affairs. His research and commentary have been published widely in the United States and across the region in leading publications and journals including CNN, The Washington Post, The South China Morning Post, The Straits Times, Asia Policy, and Contemporary Southeast Asia. His first book, Elusive Balances: Shaping U.S.-Southeast Asia Strategy, which was published in 2022, developed an original framework for understanding major power commitments to regions and applied it to the evolution of U.S. commitment to Southeast Asia.

Dr. Parameswaran holds a Ph.D. and an MA focused on international relations, international business, and U.S. foreign policy from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, and a BA in foreign affairs and peace and conflict studies from the University of Virginia.

Follow him on Twitter and LinkedIn, and get in touch via email.

Posts by Prashanth Parameswaran
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June 30, 2021

ASEAN Cyber Challenge in the Spotlight With New Center

By Prashanth Parameswaran
A new center of excellence highlights cyber's increasing prominence among the bloc's defense priorities.
June 28, 2021

What Does Brunei’s New Defense White Paper Reveal About Its Future Security Outlook?

By Prashanth Parameswaran
The document offers a sense of the country’s ongoing thinking in the defense space and how it fits in with broader domestic and foreign policy priorities.

April 16, 2021

Indonesia-South Korea Defense Ties in the Headlines with Fighter Jet Rollout

By Prashanth Parameswaran
The engagement spotlighted the burgeoning security aspect of relations between Jakarta and Seoul.

April 15, 2021

What’s in the New Russian Military Facility Chatter in Laos?  

By Prashanth Parameswaran
A closer look at a latest manifestation of Moscow’s growing defense presence in the Southeast Asian nation.

March 16, 2021

Thailand’s Military Personnel Challenge in the Spotlight with Slimming Plan

By Prashanth Parameswaran
The effort marks just the latest in a series of unsuccessful efforts to reduce the country's bloated and top-heavy officer corps.
February 24, 2021

What’s in Cambodia’s New Internet Gateway Decree?

By Prashanth Parameswaran
The move exacerbates ongoing concerns about Internet freedom and its effects on the country's political dynamics ahead of elections in 2022 and 2023.

February 10, 2021

Advancing Indonesia-Malaysia Relations Amid COVID-19

By Prashanth Parameswaran
Much of the quick visit of the Malaysian prime minister to Indonesia signaled continuity in relations rather than any major boost.
February 09, 2021

What Myanmar’s Coup Reveals About the Country’s Contested Civil-Military Dynamics

By Prashanth Parameswaran
The coup exposed the fragility of the civil-military dynamics that have characterized the reforms of the past decade.

January 22, 2021

Artificial Intelligence Collaboration in Asia’s Security Landscape

By Prashanth Parameswaran
AI represents an emerging area of regional security collaboration in spite of its inherent challenges.

January 07, 2021

What the FPI Ban Does and Doesn’t Tell Us About Political Islam in Indonesia

By Prashanth Parameswaran
A focus on episodic developments detracts from the wider trends at play in the world’s most populous Muslim-majority country.

December 16, 2020

What’s in the New Indonesia-SpaceX Chatter?

By Prashanth Parameswaran
A call between Musk and President Joko Widodo followed earlier talks about the potential production of lithium batteries in Indonesia.
October 29, 2020

Southeast Asia and Japan’s Indo-Pacific Vision: What’s Next After Suga’s ASEAN Tour?

By Prashanth Parameswaran
The trip raised questions about continuity and change in Japan’s approach to Southeast Asia after Abe.

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