Ear to Asia

<p>Across Southeast Asia, vast compounds have emerged as the nerve centers of large-scale online fraud, run by transnational crime syndicates with links to ethnic Chinese networks. Their targets are ordinary people across Asia and beyond, ensnared in scams that drain savings and devastate families. But inside the compound walls are trafficked workers — lured under false promises of legitimate employment, then held captive in conditions of digital servitude. So what is the true extent of this shadow economy? How have these scam compounds become embedded in local communities and cross-border networks? And as regional governments attempt crackdowns, what happens to the exploited workers once the compounds fall? Researchers into the intersection of organized crime and technology Dr Ivan Franceschini from Asia Institute and Ling Li from Ca' Foscari University of Venice join host Sami Shah to examine the reach and ramifications of Southeast Asia's scam compounds. An <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://arts.unimelb.edu.au/asia-institute/podcasts">Asia Institute podcast</a>. Produced and edited by <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://profactual.com">profactual.com</a>. Music by <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://audionautix.com">audionautix.com</a>.</p><p>A recent book on the subject by Ivan Franceschini, Ling Li and Mark Bo: <em>Scam: Inside Southeast Asia's Cybercrime Compounds</em>, Verso, 2025.</p>

<p>Rice is more than a staple in the Philippines — it’s a measure of well-being and security. But decades of government policies built around industrial-scale production have struggled to deliver self-sufficiency in a country where rice farming is overwhelmingly smallholder-based. As farmers contend with debt, land insecurity, and environmental vulnerability, are current strategies fit for purpose? Or does the future of food security lie in approaches that start with the realities of small-scale farming? Dr Eric Gutierrez and Prof Wolfram Dressler, both social geography researchers from the University Melbourne, join host Sami Shah to examine the complex realities of rice farming in the Philippines.</p><p>Prof Wolfram Dressler's recent book on the topic is <em>For the Sake of Forests and Gods: Governing Life and Livelihood in the Philippine Uplands</em>, Cornell University Press, 2025.</p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.cornellpress.cornell.edu/book/9781501779268/for-the-sake-of-forests-and-gods/#bookTabs=1">https://www.cornellpress.cornell.edu/book/9781501779268/for-the-sake-of-forests-and-gods/#bookTabs=1</a></p><p>An <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://arts.unimelb.edu.au/asia-institute/podcasts">Asia Institute podcast</a>. Produced and edited by <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://profactual.com">profactual.com</a>. Music by <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://audionautix.com">audionautix.com</a>.</p>

<p>While shared anxieties over China have brought India and the United States closer, President Donald Trump’s second-term tariffs and tougher immigration rules have injected fresh strain into the relationship. The pressure on New Delhi to curb Russian oil imports comes as Moscow itself deepens ties with Beijing, complicating India’s long-standing defence and energy partnerships. So where does this leave India’s quest for strategic autonomy? Can it still balance cooperation with the U.S., reliance on Russia, and cautious engagement with China? Or is that space rapidly closing? Political scientist Dr Pradeep Taneja from the University of Melbourne puts the India–US relationship under the microscope. Presented by Sami Shah. An <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://arts.unimelb.edu.au/asia-institute/podcasts">Asia Institute podcast</a>. Produced and edited by <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://profactual.com">profactual.com</a>. Music by <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://audionautix.com">audionautix.com</a>.</p>

<p>A year into his presidency, Prabowo Subianto stands at a pivotal moment in Indonesia’s political journey. Elected on promises of both continuity and change, his government has faced unrest in the streets, the dismissal of a long-serving finance minister, and questions over the strength of Indonesia’s democratic institutions. At the same time, Jakarta’s growing engagement with BRICS and its delicate balancing act between China and the United States are reshaping its global outlook. So, what does Prabowo’s first year reveal about Indonesia’s political direction? How resilient is its democracy under his leadership? And what kind of regional and global power is Indonesia seeking to become? Prof Tim Lindsey from Melbourne Law School and Dr Ian Wilson from Murdoch University join host Sami Shah to assess Prabowo’s first year in office, and its implications for Indonesia’s domestic politics and foreign policy. An <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://arts.unimelb.edu.au/asia-institute/podcasts">Asia Institute podcast</a>. Produced and edited by <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://profactual.com">profactual.com</a>. Music by <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://audionautix.com">audionautix.com</a>.</p>

<p>For many East Asians living in Western societies, the first challenge they face is their own name — mispronounced in classrooms, simplified in workplaces, or changed altogether to fit in. Behind these small acts lie deeper questions of identity, belonging, and cultural respect. How do naming traditions shaped by centuries of history meet the bureaucracies and biases of today’s West? And what does genuine respect look like in a globalised world — merely saying a name right, or something more? Professor Ikuko Nakane and Dr Lewis Mayo, both from the Asia Institute, join host Sami Shah to examine the question of what it means to negotiate anglophone societies with an East Asian name. An <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://arts.unimelb.edu.au/asia-institute/podcasts">Asia Institute podcast</a>. Produced and edited by <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://profactual.com">profactual.com</a>. Music by <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://audionautix.com">audionautix.com</a>.</p>