IRASEC

Asian hill stations: Defining and mapping a transcolonial phenomena

Bertrand — 2026-09-23T07:07:41Z

Emmanuelle Peyvel with Eric Jennings, Alexandra de Heering, Judicaelle Dietrich and Isabelle Sacareau just published an article entitled « Asian hill stations : Defining and mapping a transcolonial phenomena » in the last issue of Journal of Historical Geography.

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Journal of Historical Geography, vol. 93, September 2026, p. 180-192

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From the nineteenth century onwards in the British, French, and Dutch empires in Asia, colonial societies developed a new type of place in the mountains : the hill station. As simple as it may seem, this topic – in other words, what constitutes a hill station - proves slippery. Situated at the crossroads of colonial history, urban studies and tourism studies, our article aims to define it and thus fill a gap in the existing literature, which consists mainly of inventories and a profusion of monographs, that perpetuate the confusion. From a historical and geographical perspective, we critically examine the birth of hill stations during the colonial era in order to deconstruct criteria related to altitude and health. Delving beyond lexical and topographical approaches, we propose a definition based on three recurring functions (military, health, and agricultural) closely tied with several forms of tourism. Shifting away from diffusionist theories, we call into question the unicity of an European model, in order to shed light on the circulation and variations in the hill station model along transimperial scales.

Mapping urban Aedes aegypti breeding containers: landscape-driven analysis in Bangkok, Thailand

Bertrand — 2026-08-20T10:28:29Z

Éric DAUDÉ with Alexandre Cebeillac, Kanchana Nakhapakorn & Richard E. Paul, just published an article of the last issue of the International Journal of Health Geographics (Volume 25, article number 40, 2026) : Mapping urban Aedes aegypti breeding containers : landscape-driven analysis in Bangkok, Thailand.

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Urban dengue risk emerges from spatially heterogeneous interactions between mosquito vectors, the environment, and human activities. In Bangkok, Aedes aegypti breeding containers are predominantly artificial recipies whose distribution is shaped by the morphological structure of urban environments, including built-up density, compactness, interstitial open spaces, and vegetation configuration, as well as by everyday practices such as storage, waste accumulation, gardening, and maintenance. We tested whether a landscape-based typology of Bangkok defines functionally similar mosquito breedings containers by conducting standardized field surveys of outdoor potential breeding containers (PBC) across 36 urban zones (May 2023-December 2024). Among the 4,921 geolocated individual PBCs, small containers (< 1 L) dominated the container pool and accounted for most between-zone variability. PBC density showed a non-linear association with the built-up density and urban compactness gradient, with higher densities at both extremes of this Axis 1. We characterized container spatial aggregation using cluster metrics and classified zones into four aggregation profiles using PAM clustering. A multivariate model combining built intensity and PCA-based descriptors (|Axis 1| and Axis 3) explained a substantial fraction of the variability in PBC cluster coverage, enabling metropolitan-scale mapping of structurally favorable environments. Overall, urban morphology provides a meaningful baseline for identifying functional mosquito breeding containers, but local socio-environmental factors remain critical for explaining breeding-site aggregation.

Pouvoirs en Asie-Pacifique. Territoires et populations, contrôles et résistances

Bertrand — 2026-06-25T03:16:11Z

Christine CABASSET et Éric FRÉCON, chercheurs associés à l'IRASEC, ont chacun publié un article pour le dossier du dernier numéro de la Revue internationale et stratégique, consacré aux logiques de domination, aux dynamiques de contestation et aux trajectoires qui façonnent l'avenir de cet espace stratégique majeur.

Lire l'article de Christine CABASSET : Les populations frontalières d'Asie du Sud-Est, variables d'ajustement des États ?

Lire l'article d'Éric FRÉCON : Singapour : la Smart Nation, entre performance économique, contrôle social et vulnérabilités numériques

Lire l'article de Christine CABASSET : Les populations frontalières d'Asie du Sud-Est, variables d'ajustement des États ?

Le conflit ouvert entre le Cambodge et la Thaïlande en juillet 2025 a remis au premier plan les enjeux liés aux frontières héritées des colonisations européennes en Asie du Sud-Est, dont plusieurs demeurent contestées. Plus largement, les frontières et autres espaces périphériques constituent souvent un lieu privilégié d'expression des pressions exercées par l'État sur les minorités ethniques. Ces lieux cristallisent ainsi des politiques de souveraineté et de contrôle des marges territoriales, qui affectent en premier lieu les populations à la fois géographiquement éloignées et culturellement distinctes du groupe ethnique majoritaire. Dès lors, les populations locales se trouvent fréquemment transformées en instruments, voire en victimes, des politiques frontalières. Les États peuvent en effet les mobiliser au service de la consolidation, ou même de l'extension du territoire, par le déplacement, la militarisation ou l'intégration forcée. Trois dynamiques seront ici distinguées : l'héritage des contentieux frontaliers, les politiques de contrôle des minorités et l'intégration économique des marges au profit des centres. Frontières contestées, marges surveillées Des frontières coloniales en héritage L'héritage colonial constitue le premier facteur pesant sur les populations et, le cas échéant, sur les conflits frontaliers, dans la mesure où les indépendances se sont inscrites dans les limites spatiales définies par les anciennes puissances coloniales.

Lire l'article d'Éric FRÉCON : Singapour : la Smart Nation, entre performance économique, contrôle social et vulnérabilités numériques

Prenez le métro à Singapour. À la sortie de son tunnel, sous les gratteciel des banques puis les condominiums des expatriés, apparaît un autre visage de la cité-État : celui des cités-dortoirs, où les longues barres cèdent progressivement la place aux hautes tours, puis celui d'une banlieue industrieuse, faite d'entrepôts, d'ateliers et de dortoirs pour travailleurs sud-asiatiques. Loin de l'image habituelle de l'« air-conditioned nation », le visiteur retrouve ici le visage laborieux du pionnier singapourien. L'industrie manufacturière demeure en effet un pilier de l'économie nationale : en 2023, elle représentait environ 19 % du produit intérieur brut (PIB) singapourien. Le virage numérique s'inscrit dans cette continuité productive. Les data centers trouvent désormais leur place dans un paysage longtemps structuré par les containers et les infrastructures logistiques. Portée par l'« Industry 4.0 », la part de la manufacture pourrait atteindre 28,4 % du PIB en 2028.
D'abord « cité-entrepôt » à l'époque de Temasek (aux abords du XIVe siècle), puis sous domination britannique à partir de 1819, Singapour s'affirme dès 1972 comme une « global city », selon la formule employée par le ministre des Affaires étrangères S. Rajaratnam. Lee Kuan Yew, Premier ministre de 1959 à 1994, œuvre continuellement en ce sens, notamment en promouvant très tôt l'usage d'un anglais fonctionnel et internationalisé.

Learning from animals? shared plant use between Lua herders and water buffalo in Northern Thailand

Bertrand — 2026-05-08T03:41:59Z

Nicolas LAINÉ, associate research fellow at IRASEC, co-authored an article with Kim Fooyontphanich, Suthee Janyasuthiwong and Phattaravee Prommanut, published in “Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine” on April 29, 2026.

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In this study, the interplay between animal feeding behaviors and the evolution of local human and veterinary pharmacopeias is examined through the lens of the Lua people and their water buffalos in Northern Thailand. By interviewing 18 Lua herders in Ban Huay Phan, researchers explored buffalo grazing habits, health issues, and specific plant consumption during various physiological or pathological states, alongside local ethnoveterinary practices. The investigation focused on the shared use of natural resources, documenting plant parts consumed by buffalos, their preparation and administration methods if used by humans, and collecting species samples for identification at the Bangkok Herbarium (BBH). This approach highlights the interconnectedness of human ethnomedicine and animal self-medication, shedding light on the development of local medicinal knowledge and practices.

Timor-Leste and its partners need to step up as Chinese interest in Timorese waters increases

Bertrand — 2026-04-22T08:59:59Z

Christine Cabasset and Éric Frécon wrote an article about the relations between Timor-Leste, Australia and China for The Strategist, the commentary and analysis site of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, an independent, non-partisan think tank based in Canberra.

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Seroprevalence and preventive practices of dengue and chikungunya among school children in Bangkok: Gaps in prevention and vaccination strategies

Bertrand — 2026-03-24T05:11:12Z

The article on the seroprevalence of dengue and chikungunya infections among children aged 10–15 years in Bangkok, in which Éric Daudé collaborated with Chulalongkorn University and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), has been published in Plos Negelected Tropical Disease.

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Dengue and chikungunya, both transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, continue to pose significant public health concerns in Thailand, particularly during the rainy season. Despite ongoing vector control efforts, the incidence of infection remains high, with an increasing trend observed in chikungunya. This underscores the need for additional control measures, including vaccination, to reduce disease burden and morbidity. This study aims to assess the seroprevalence of dengue and chikungunya infections among children aged 10–15 years in Bangkok and to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) related to mosquito-borne disease prevention.

Methodology
A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted across 12 schools in Bangkok. Children aged 10–15 years were included. Seroprevalence was determined using rapid diagnostic tests (Abbott DENGUE IgG/IgM and Citest Chikungunya IgG/IgM) based on the immunochromatography technique, using fingertip blood samples. Parents completed KAP questionnaires, including factors influencing vaccination decisions.

Principal findings
From June to August 2024, 937 participants were enrolled, with a mean (SD) age of 11 (1.6) years ; 67% were aged 10–12 years, and 33% were aged 13–15 years. The seroprevalence of dengue was 28.1% (95% CI 25.2-31.0), while that of chikungunya was 6.3% (95% CI 4.7-7.9). KAP assessments revealed a high level of awareness regarding symptoms and transmission ; however, notable deficiencies in preventive behaviors were identified. Only 14.8% of respondents reported consistent use of mosquito repellent, and 17.5% routinely inspected and removed mosquito larvae from their homes.

Conclusion
The substantial seroprevalence of dengue and the emerging trend of chikungunya among children in Bangkok highlights the urgent need to enhance community education and strengthen vector control interventions. Expanding dengue vaccination coverage and raising awareness about chikungunya prevention, including consideration for future vaccine implementation, are essential to mitigating future outbreaks and reducing the disease burden.

Tourisme and Covid-19 dans le village javanais de Bejiharjo (Java, Indonésie)

Bertrand — 2026-01-13T04:58:39Z

Juliette SENDRA
IRASEC, Bangkok
december 2025, 29 p.
Text in French

This article is a reflection on tourism in Asia in light of the consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic, based on a case study of the Javanese village of Bejiharjo. The village is located in the Gunung Kidul region (“southern mountains”), which was classified as a geopark by UNESCO in 2012. The Indonesian government took advantage of this ranking to boost tourism in an effort to combat the economic stagnation and rural exodus that had been ongoing since the 1970s. However, in this region, which had long remained peripheral, the speed and brutality with which tourism developed over the last ten years disrupted the villagers' way of life.

In 2020, during the Covid-19 pandemic, the sudden halt to this activity—which had become dominant in Bejiharjo—reversed the momentum that had been built up : the social category of young people that seemed to be emerging in favor of tourism found itself at an impasse. Government investment in mass tourism (both domestic and international) appears to be under scrutiny at both the institutional and village levels. Furthermore, with the halt in tourist flows, the dual social and environmental deterioration caused by overtourism has become more apparent.

Agricultural activity and circular rural economies have once again become indispensable. Former political and economic leaders embodying traditional authority have been reinstated, and discourse denouncing the loss of vernacular knowledge and practices has gained visibility in the village social sphere.

This geopark illustrates the new challenges posed by Indonesian tourism recovery systems in terms of environmental, social, and economic sustainability.

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Juliette SENDRA holds a PhD in social anthropology and is a research associate at the Institute for Asian Studies (IrAsia) at the University of Aix-Marseille. Her research focuses on sociopolitical dynamics in rural areas of Java (Indonesia), examining the transmission of local knowledge, ritual initiation, and relationships with the environment in the context of recent processes of heritage preservation and tourism development.

Understanding Timor-Leste

Bertrand — 2025-12-16T06:58:00Z

On December 16, issue 110 of the journal Archipel published Christine Cabasset's article “Neuvième Timor-Leste Studies Association (TLSA) Conference “Understanding Timor-Leste,ˮ Université Nationale Timor Lorosa'e, Dili, 16-18 juillet 2025” [Ninth Timor-Leste Studies Association (TLSA) Conference ‘Understanding Timor-Leste,' National University of Timor Lorosa'e, Dili, July 16–18, 2025].

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Le conflit Cambodge – Thaïlande : quelles portées et conséquences pour l'ASEAN ?

Bertrand — 2025-09-26T08:13:39Z

Dans le cadre d'un entretien, Christine Cabasset, chercheuse associée à l'IRASEC, a répondu aux questions de l'Institut des relations internationales et stratégiques – IRIS, lequel est paru le 1^er septembre, sous le titre : « Le conflit Cambodge – Thaïlande : quelles portée et conséquences pour l'ASEAN ? ».

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Alors que les relations entre la Thaïlande et le Cambodge semblent s'apaiser, il semble intéressant de revenir sur la portée de ces événements pour l'Association des nations de l'Asie du Sud-Est (ASEAN). Le 24 juillet 2025, des affrontements armés ont éclaté entre les deux pays, expression d'une tension qui couvait depuis le début d'année et qui s'était envenimée fin mai. Puisant sa source entre autres dans un vieux contentieux autour du tracé de la frontière commune, le conflit a provoqué la mort d'une quarantaine de personnes et le déplacement d'environ 300 000 personnes en quelques jours. Si la précédente confrontation entre les deux pays en 2011 avait déjà provoqué la mort d'une quarantaine de personnes, cette nouvelle escalade avait pourtant surpris par sa violence qui rompait avec l'ASEAN Way depuis si longtemps promu et avec la « paix » défendue. Quels sont les impacts à prévoir sur l'organisation régionale, à court et à long terme ? Que révèle cette crise de l'ASEAN ? Le point avec Christine Cabasset, docteure en géographie, associée et ex-directrice adjointe de l'Institut de recherche sur l'Asie du Sud-Est contemporaine à Bangkok et associée au programme Asie-Pacifique de l'IRIS.

Dengue dynamics beyond biological factors

Bertrand — 2025-06-18T07:26:34Z

We are pleased to share an article directed by Olivier Telle, entitled “Dengue dynamics beyond biological factors : Revealing the nexus between urbanisation planning, and mobilities in Vientiane, Lao PDR” published by PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases.

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Dengue fever, a mosquito-borne disease, remains a major health concern in Southeast Asian cities. This study examines how urbanisation, mobility, and migration patterns influence dengue risk in Vientiane, Laos, between 2012 and 2018. Using high-resolution datasets, we assess how land-use change and population movements shape transmission dynamics.

Our findings reveal that dengue risk is highest in recently urbanised areas with high daytime population influx. These areas, often lacking adequate infrastructure, provide favourable conditions for Aedes mosquito breeding while also concentrating human activity at day, facilitating virus transmission. Migration patterns also play a role : villages with more foreign residents and Lao individuals born outside Vientiane—who may have lower immunity—reported higher dengue incidence. In contrast, villages with higher access to piped water exhibited lower dengue incidence, highlighting the role of infrastructure in disease prevention.

Importantly, while urban expansion consistently shaped dengue transmission, its influence varied across different epidemic phases, particularly with the emergence of Dengue 4. This suggests that urban factors interact with serotype dynamics, reinforcing the need for adaptive public health strategies. As Vientiane undergoes rapid transformation, integrating health risk assessment into urban planning will be crucial to prevent the unintended consequences of development on vector-borne disease transmission.