Academic Publication (IAS)

In the Heart of Borneo, the Lun Bawang people are divided by the Malaysia–Indonesia boundary, resulting in distinct but interconnected migration patterns. This note discusses how internal migration within Malaysian Sarawak and cross-border movement from Indonesian North Kalimantan intersect to shape inequality and identity. Rural depopulation in Sarawak’s uplands has left aging communities and threatens traditional livelihoods and cultural preservation. Meanwhile, persistent underdevelopment in North Kalimantan drives many Lun Bawang to seek work in Malaysia, driving cross-border labour flows. These dynamics create an asymmetric interdependence: Indonesian workers fill labour shortages in Sarawak but remain vulnerable in informal roles, while Sarawak’s Lun Bawang depend on this labour yet are wary of a permanent Indonesian presence. Divergent demographic trajectories have emerged: Sarawak’s Lun Bawang villages shrink and age, whereas communities in North Kalimantan remain youthful, bolstered by in-migration, fuelling tensions over land ownership and resources. Ultimately, a colonial-era border has produced contrasting opportunities and national identities that override shared ethnicity, complicating notions of belonging. Overall, the interplay of internal and cross-border migration reinforces inequality while offering new livelihoods, highlighting the complex links between mobility, development, and identity in this borderland.

This paper provides a re-evaluation of the first general sole-authored text on the sociology of Southeast Asia and the wider field of Southeast Asian Studies (The Sociology of South-East Asia: Transformations in a Developing Region (King 2008a). Other region-wide volumes have been usually edited or co-edited projects and compilations of reprinted readings. The introductory book was published just under two decades ago and obviously much has changed in our thinking about Southeast Asia since then*. Although the volume was subsequently reprinted (2011) and digitised (2016) and the possibility of a revised edition contemplated, this has not happened. If it had been revised, what would the edition look like, based on subsequent research? After a contextual introduction, there is an examination of some of the most significant general work in the sociology of Southeast Asia during the past two decades with attention to ways in which we might think about the current state-of-play. One possible pathway is the movement towards the related and, in sociology, relatively neglected concepts of culture and identity and the sociology of everyday lives in the context of globalisation and transnationalism. It is also necessary to take up some of the ideas of Professor Aihwa Ong in regard to concepts, methods and the definition of region.

This paper investigates the role of TikTok content consumers in Brunei in shaping digital language through the emergence of Algospeak - a coded linguistic practice developed to evade algorithmic censorship. While prior research has focused predominantly on content creators and Western contexts, the following study addresses a critical gap by examining how Southeast Asian users, specifically Bruneians, adopt and innovate with Algospeak. Using a mixed-methods approach that combines online surveys and meta-analysis, the paper explores users’ motivations and the broader communicative implications of Algospeak both online and offline. Findings reveal that Brunei TikTok users employ Algospeak not only to bypass content moderation but also for emotional buffering, express political stances, and foster community through creative expression. The paper further identifies how Algospeak diverges from earlier digital languages like Netspeak and Leetspeak and challenges traditional language change theories by introducing a dynamic, user-algorithm interaction. It underscores the need for updated theoretical frameworks to account for the algorithmic forces now shaping linguistic evolution in digital spaces.

The global demand for halal products has surged in recent years, driven by increasing consumer awareness of food safety, hygiene, and quality standards. As part of its Wawasan 2035 strategy for economic diversification, Brunei has placed an emphasis on halal industry development. While it has introduced stringent halal certification standards and sought to expand the international reach of its halal labelled products, it has yet to gain widespread global recognition. Thailand, meanwhile, has set itself the target of becoming an ASEAN halal hub by 2028. While existing scholarship focuses predominantly on Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore, there is limited attention given to the trajectory of Brunei-Thailand halal industry cooperation. Drawing on interview data from key stakeholders in Bruneian and Thai government and business sectors, this paper investigates the opportunities and constraints shaping Brunei’s halal industry development and considers whether further bilateral cooperation with Thailand could enhance its competitive market positioning. The findings indicate that while Brunei’s halal certification standards serve as a credibility marker, strategic adjustments to brand development and certification frameworks could ensure greater scalable trade relations with Thailand and align more fully with the country’s Wawasan 2035 goals. The paper provides fresh insights for policymakers and industry stakeholders seeking to strengthen Brunei’s position in the global halal economy.

Using the concept of racial sensemaking, we analyse the reflexive experiences of multiculturalism and multiracialism among mainland Chinese international students in Singapore and Malaysia interviewed in 2023-2024. We treat racial sensemaking as a dynamic process that shifts across time and space, shaping migrant decision-making and behaviour. Our analysis highlights three spatio-temporalities: (a) racial sensemaking from afar, focusing on pre-migration subjectivities; (b) racial sensemaking in the contact zone of embodied encounters, centring on experiences at destination; and (c) racial sensemaking and future-making, exploring aspirations and projections of self onto a changing world stage. Using a critical race approach, we foreground microlevel experiences of multiculturalism and multiracialism that underpin and reshape education migration. This perspective enriches economistic explanations of study aspirations and experiences by situating them within racialised geopolitical dynamics. We urge international student mobility scholars to pursue contextually grounded inquiries attentive to how racial sensemaking informs migration trajectories and educational futures.