Our Library

Analyses, Perspectives and Opinions

RLS Southeast Asia regularly publishes political analyses and working papers on current and relevant topics from the Mekong Region. Together with our partners, we shed light on different opinions and introduce perspectives on pressing social and ecological questions and challenges. The publications are categorized according to topics and countries and can be selected using the links below.

 Social Justice, Social-ecological transformation, Vietnam

Vietnam is known for its remarkable economic and human development in the last 30 years. From one of the poorest nations in the world, the country successfully transformed to a lower-to-middle income country in 2010. Besides economic growth, Vietnam has also witnessed impressive human development as the country’s Human Development Index (HDI) value increased by 45.9 percent between 1990 and 2018 (UNDP, 2019). However, despite the huge and stable growth in the economy and human development, the country records low utilization of health services, especially among poor demographics. This study examines the impacts of health inequalities, political, economic, and social determinants on health utilization.

 

 Social Justice, Vietnam

Talking about sexual violence, in general, is always a sensitive and hard-to-say topic. That is especially true in Vietnam. Data about sexual abuse is poor and primarily from qualitative research. The most recent national survey on violence against women reported 13 percent of married women experienced sexual violence from their husbands. A study of 2000 women and girls in Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh city in 2015 shows that 87 percent of women and girls suffer from sexual harassment in public places.  Starting with an assumption that sexual abuse emerged as a product of socio-cultural and historical progress, we sat down with Dr. Khuat Thu Hong - an expert with 40-year experience in this field, to explore its root causes. The interview also examines the responses of different actors to sexuality-related conflicts and reveals obstacles to the absent widespread of the #Metoo debate in Vietnam.
 

 

 Social Justice, Vietnam

As an effect of the Covid-19 pandemic, millions of Vietnamese workers are finding ways to deal with the difficulty of massive layoffs from manufacturers. The pandemic also reveals flaws in the argument in favour of the national economic strategy based on the advantage of a cheap labour force and outsourcing manufacturing.

 

 Political Analysis, Social Justice, Vietnam

As a part of CPTPP and EVFTA, Vietnam shall be bound by the labour protection regulations provided by the above-mentioned chapters. What will be the legal impact of this situation on labour relations in Vietnam?

 Social-ecological transformation, Vietnam

Climate change is causing negative impacts on all countries and their production activities.  Mekong River basin is ranked as one of the most vulnerable regions under climate change. To adapt with climate change, Mekong countries have built their national policy strategies and action plans. In addition, some climate change response initiatives have been introduced and implemented at sub-regional level. This short paper reviews climate change impacts and responding policies of the Mekong countries.

 Social Justice, Social-ecological transformation, Vietnam

Smallholder farmers in Huong Lam commune, Ha Tinh province, Viet Nam were surveyed to identify what ecosystems they depend on, what climate change impacts they face, and what Ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) measures that are appropriate for the area.

 Vietnam

True internationalism was first introduced and developed in Vietnam in the twentieth century through the revolutionary activities of Ho Chi Minh.

 Vietnam

Community solidary to prepare for school openings

 Vietnam

For three years, AFV/AAV and RLS SEA have had an excellent cooperative relationship based on transparency, equality, and mutual development.

 Germany, Vietnam

Disbelief, horror, astonishment—these days, when there are reports on the Vietnamese news about how Europe is handling the COVID-19 pandemic, many people are literally no longer able to understand the world.