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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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October 08, 2020

China’s Military Ambitions in Southeast Asia: Much Bigger than Cambodian Bases

By Prashanth Parameswaran
An excessive focus on rhetorical ‘base wars’ can distract attention from the broader military inroads Beijing is making in the region.
September 14, 2020

Thailand’s Protests: Between the Old and the New

By Prashanth Parameswaran
Beyond the headlines, what do the current protests tell us about the country’s present and future?

August 28, 2020

The Future of Myanmar’s Peace Process: Same Old Challenges or New Progress?

By Prashanth Parameswaran
A closer look at the deeper dynamics in one of Asia’s most protracted conflicts and what lies ahead.

August 14, 2020

The Future of Democracy in Southeast Asia: More Discontent or Hope?

By Prashanth Parameswaran
The trajectory of democracy and governance in the region deserves close attention due to its significant implications as well as the role of various actors in shaping its evolution.

July 15, 2020

Advancing US-Vietnam Relations: Past, Present, and Future

By Prashanth Parameswaran
The 25th anniversary of diplomatic ties is an occasion to reflect on the remarkable trajectory of relations to date, but also the work that lies ahead.
June 30, 2020

Confronting Southeast Asia’s Troubled Media Landscape

By Prashanth Parameswaran
A recent incident spotlights the wider troubles in Southeast Asia’s media landscape over the past few years and the challenges in addressing them.

June 15, 2020

Blunting China’s South China Sea ‘New Normal’ Quest Starts With the Southeast Asian Claimants

By Prashanth Parameswaran
Beijing’s continued inroads are unlikely to be reversed unless the most interested parties in the South China Sea work to get past familiar obstacles.
June 04, 2020

What the US-Philippines VFA Withdrawal Suspension Does and Doesn’t Say About the Alliance

By Prashanth Parameswaran
While this is an important temporary reprieve for the alliance, it leaves some broader strategic challenges unresolved.

May 20, 2020

What Does Malaysia’s Troubled Transition Mean for Democracy in Southeast Asia?

By Prashanth Parameswaran
The country’s political upheaval reinforces the continued importance of paying attention to structural dynamics and the more contingent and contested nature of outcomes in domestic politics.

May 12, 2020

The Challenge of Grading Asia on COVID-19

By Prashanth Parameswaran
Amid the flood of assessments, we should be mindful of the challenges and limitations inherent in evaluating national performance on the coronavirus.

May 06, 2020

How Will COVID-19 Reshape Asia’s Energy Future?

By Prashanth Parameswaran
A closer look at how the coronavirus could affect opportunities and challenges in the region’s energy sector in the coming years.
May 06, 2020

Myanmar’s 2020 Elections: What Does the Future Hold? 

By Prashanth Parameswaran
If the polls move forward despite the pandemic, it will be a landmark development for Myanmar.

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