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OPINION OCTOBER 17, 2025 | The Indian Eye 10

The Reasons Behind

Rising Anti-Government Protests in

Southeast Asia

DR TEMJENMEREN AO have become powerful tools for mo-
bilising protests globally, and they are
outheast Asia has witnessed a significant challenge for govern-
rising anti-government protests ments. During the difficult economic
Sand demonstrations in recent situation and anger against the gov-
years. Since the 2020 COVID-19 ernment, Indonesian protesters have
pandemic, Southeast Asian coun- used online hashtags such as #SE-
tries, most of which fall under the Ablings. Social media enabled soli-
middle-income economies, have darity and reciprocating support to
struggled economically. They depend be built in Malaysia, the Philippines,
mainly on tourism and exports and Singapore, Brunei Darussalam and
have yet to fully recover from the pan- Thailand, which saw parallels with
demic downturn. Amidst slow eco- their own struggle against systemic
nomic recovery, the decline in global injustices.
growth and rising protectionism has The protests in Indonesia for bet-
further impacted income inequalities, ter government accountability found
which are eroding public trust in the solidarity in the Philippines, which is
government’s ability to deliver. As grappling with inequality and corrup-
per the 2025 State of Southeast Asia tion. In the Philippines, on 21 Septem-
Survey by the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak In- ber, widespread protests were held
stitute, the widening socio-economic against corruption in the flood-con-
gaps and rising income inequalities Southeast Asia GDP Forecast. Source: Asian Development Bank trol projects. Hundreds of thousands
were among the region’s top three of people took to the streets to con-
challenges, after climate change. sions, thereby accelerating protests structure across many cities. demn corruption in government, even
The Asian Development Bank and unrest in the region. Rising re- The 28 August 2025 protests in provinces such as Baguio City, Iloi-
(ADB) indicates that Southeast gional instability could further disrupt were intended to voice discontent lo City and Cebu City, where protests
Asia’s GDP will decline from 4.8 economic growth that is yet to reach about a proposed new housing al- are not common.
per cent in 2024 to 4.2 per cent in the pre-pandemic level. lowance for Indonesian lawmakers Due to political uncertainty, the
2025 and improve marginally to 4.3 The ‘People Power movement’ in totalling 50 million rupiah per month ongoing mass protests directed to-
per cent in 2026. According to the the Philippines in 1986, which ended (US$ 3,057). The amount is equiva- wards improving governance and the
ADB’s Asian Development Outlook, Marcos’s 20-year rule, was hailed as lent to nearly 10 times the minimum state of the economy in Southeast
the economic forecasts for Southeast an example of peaceful revolution, wage. Further, the legislators also re- Asia have the potential to become a
Asia have been downgraded for 2025 which led to the restoration of de- ceive 12 million rupiah for food and 7 significant disruptor for foreign trade
and 2026 due to the continuing global mocracy. This was followed by broad- million rupiah for transport, on top of and investment. While the role of
growth slowdown and increased trade er democratic trends across Southeast a base salary of 6.5 million rupiah. By ASEAN in managing the internal af-
uncertainty. The weak external condi- Asia, which included the 1991 Paris contrast, Indonesia’s average month- fairs of the member states is limited
tions have hurt business and consum- Comprehensive Peace Settlement, ly income is just 3.1 million rupiah. due to its norm of non-interference, it
er sentiments and threaten to disrupt which ended Cambodia’s civil war, According to the 2025 State of could play a key role in addressing the
investment in the region. the landmark 1997 Constitution in Southeast Asia survey, Indonesia’s economic challenges at the centre of
The internal discord prevailing Thailand and the adoption of refor- unemployment and economic reces- the ongoing internal discord.
within Southeast Asia, along with ex- masi (democratic reform process) by sion, at 66.3 per cent, followed by
ternal factors, impacts the existing Indonesia from 1998. widening socio-economic gaps and Dr Temjenmeren Ao is an Associate
socio-economic inequalities and the Current protests and demonstra- rising income inequality, at 61.1 per Fellow at the South East Asia and Oce-
larger political environment. The eco- tions in Southeast Asia hinge on eco- cent, were the top two concerns. The ania Centre of MP-IDSA. He specialises
nomic slowdown across Southeast Asia nomic and poor governance issues. deteriorating economic environment in international relations and security
in the aftermath of the global financial Given the ousting of governments in since 2024, characterised by slowing issues in South East Asia.
crisis of 2008 affected the region’s so- Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and, more re- economic activity, rising factory lay- Views expressed are of the author and
cio-economic security. Further, the cently, Nepal, the growing discontent offs, and widened income inequali- do not necessarily reflect the views of
economic fallout due to the COVID-19 in Southeast Asia in similar matters ties, led to discontentment, especially the Manohar Parrikar IDSA or of the
pandemic has fuelled the socio-eco- impacts domestic political stability. In among youth. Government of India.
nomic divide within the region. Indonesia alone, more than 200 large Further, since the start of Pra-
China’s growing assertiveness in demonstrations have taken place bowo’s presidency in October 2024, The full version of this article first
the South China Sea has led to ris- throughout 2025. The demonstration the rupiah has depreciated by 7.5 per appeared in the Comments section of
ing geopolitical tensions. The weak in Indonesia, which began in early cent against the US dollar, giving rise the website (www.idsa.in) of Manohar
economic outlook for Southeast 2025, escalated to violent mass pro- to uncertainty about Indonesia’s fu- Parrikar Institute for Defense Studies
Asia could become more challenging tests by August with attacks against ture growth trajectory. Social media and Analyses, New Delhi, on October
amidst the ongoing geopolitical ten- official buildings and public infra- and sophisticated digital technology 8, 2025

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