The Corpus of Brunei English (CoBE) is a large-scale collection of English spoken and written by Bruneians obtained from both formal and informal domains. This article presents the ongoing process of building the first corpus for Brunei English with a two-fold goal in mind: to provide a readily available resource centre for researchers who wish to study Brunei English; and to contribute to the existing corpus on World Englishes, thereby placing Brunei English on the corpus map. To date, we have amassed more than 4 million words, and this article describes the process of collecting data and designing a corpus for both spoken and written components. The article also discusses current and future research that will utilise the CoBE database, and the challenges involved in compiling the corpora. Although still at an early stage, it is anticipated that researchers and learners will utilise CoBE to monitor linguistic changes, influence policy, and promote the recognition of Brunei English.

This article examines the transformation of migration from a domestic policy matter to a transnational concern with far-reaching global implications. Drawing on theoretical perspectives, such as realism, liberal institutionalism, constructivism and critical theories, the article explores how migration reshapes power dynamics, challenges traditional notions of sovereignty and influences international cooperation. The analysis highlights key debates in migration–international relations (IR) scholarship, focusing on the securitization of migration, the role of diasporas in diplomacy and the interplay between migration and global governance frameworks, such as the 1951 Refugee Convention and the Global Compact forMigration. By situating migration within historical and contemporary contexts, the article underscores its centrality to evolving international norms and state behaviour. This argues that migration is not merely a movement of people but a politically charged process integral to shaping global political order, requiring interdisciplinary approaches to address its complexities effectively.

This paper explores the paradoxical nature of foreign aid as both a catalyst for global development and a mechanism of dependency. The article offers critical insights by integrating and interrogating competing perspectives on aid effectiveness, sovereignty, and global power dynamics through carefully selected case studies. Drawing on development theories and case studies from Rwanda, Bangladesh, and Vietnam, it demonstrates how aid can empower states when aligned with national priorities, institutional capacity, and local ownership. Conversely, the paper also illustrates how aid is often entangled with geopolitical agendas, conditionalities, and authoritarian consolidation. This study, as such, highlights emerging alternatives such as unconditional cash transfers, participatory financing, and reparative justice as potential reforms. It calls for a reimagining of aid as a vehicle of equitable global partnerships rather than a tool of donor dominance.