NESA Center alumna Shanthie Mariet D'Souza recently authored a piece on what to expect in Afghanistan in 2024, which was published in The Diplomat magazine's 110th issue cover story, "2024: What to Expect in the Asia-Pacific," on 1 January 2024.

The January 2024 issue identifies major events and trends to watch for throughout the Asia-Pacific in 2024. It also examines the diverging fates of the Japan-Korea-U.S. and China-Japan-Korea trilaterals, previews Indonesia’s pivotal presidential election, and takes stock of the intertwined climate, water, and agricultural woes plaguing Central Asia. And, of course, it offers a range of reporting, analysis, and opinion from across the region.

Preview:

"2024 promises to be a tumultuous year, not the least because of a host of elections across the region, from presidential contests in Taiwan, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and the United States, to general elections in Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and the Solomon Islands, and legislative polls in South Korea. Japan and Singapore could join that list, if their ruling parties decide to roll the dice on snap elections. These votes will serve to recast the political class across Asia, with possibly significant consequences. 

Amid the churning in Asia’s political pools, there are worrying economic tides too. China’s economy is in dire need of a boost but foreign companies remain wary of Beijing; meanwhile, Southeast Asia’s 'scamdemic' is truly a global problem. Afghanistan remains mired in poverty and hunger as the international community debates how to handle the Taliban regime, and Pakistan’s economy is teetering between recovery and crisis.

And there are a number of festering conflicts across Asia, from Myanmar, where a coordinated resistance offensive took shape in the latter part of 2023, to the South China Sea, where the Philippines, most prominently, is facing off against China. At the same time, crises in the Middle East and Europe continue to sap American attention and alter wider geopolitical trends. If 2023 was a rollercoaster, 2024 promises to be a continuation of that wild ride, from Central Asia all the way to the Pacific."

Subscribe and read the full "2024: What to Expect" cover story

Subscribe and read the full Issue 110

About the Alum

Dr. Shanthie Mariet D’Souza is founder & president, Mantraya; visiting faculty at the Naval War College, Goa; and non-resident scholar, Middle East Institute, Washington D.C.

About the Publisher

The Diplomat is the premier international current-affairs magazine for the Asia-Pacific region. Since its launch in 2002, The Diplomat has been dedicated to quality analysis and commentary on events occurring in Asia and around the world.

The views presented in this article are those of the speaker or author and do not necessarily represent the views of DoD or its components.