IRASEC

AI as critical infrastructure in Singapore : Revisiting the urban infrastructure debates

Bertrand — 2026-08-31T11:05:23Z

On August 25 and 26 2026, Elisabeth Peyroux, CNRS Research Director, Associate Researcher at IRASEC and Visiting Senior Research Fellow à l'Asia Research Institute (ARI) de la National University of Singapore (NUS) participated in the workshop “Singapore and the Infrastructural Imagination : Locating the City-State In and Of the World,” organized by the Urban Institute at the Singapore Management University (SMU). She presented a paper entitled “AI as Critical Infrastructure in Singapore : Revisiting the Urban Infrastructure Debates.”

This workshop brought together researchers working on infrastructure in Singapore to examine the evolution of its conceptual framework, its experimental practices, and its modes of governance. The goal was to create a space for dialogue on both the future of Singapore's infrastructure and the concepts that enable to think about contemporary infrastructure.

Download the programme.

Inaugural symposium of the IRN RUPTuRS

Bertrand — 2026-07-17T03:37:29Z

On 9 and 10 July, the inaugural symposium of the International Research Network (IRN), funded by the CNRS, “Rethinking Urban Planning and Transitions under Resource Scarcity : Indo-Pacific Cities within Planetary Limits” (RUPTuRS, 2026–2030), was held in Bangkok. The event brought together around a dozen participants working on Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, South Korea, India, and Japan. It was co-organized by the Faculty of Architecture and Planning at Thammasat University in Bangkok and the programme coordinators, Gabriel Facal (IRASEC), Elisabeth Peyroux (CNRS and the National University of Singapore, NUS), and Raphaël Languillon-Aussel (French Institute for Research on Japan at the Maison franco-japonaise, IFRJ).

On the first day, nine network members presented their research in three thematic panels. The following morning, a field visit took place in the Pracha Ruamjai 1 neighborhood, whose residents had benefited from an urban upgrading programme and the transformation of informal housing into self-built homes as part of the restoration of the Prem Prachakon canal, aimed at reducing flood risk. The visit included exchanges with the local community, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, and the Community Organization Development Institute. The afternoon was devoted to discussions on the cross-cutting themes that will guide the network's work in the coming years.

French-Thai Week of Law and Justice: Seminar on Combating Child Sexual Abuse

Bertrand — 2026-06-25T04:12:25Z

On June 11 and 12, 2026, the French Embassy in Thailand organized a Franco-Thai seminar on combating child sexual abuse, as part of the third annual Franco-Thai Law and Justice Week and the 170th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. While tragic incidents in France have recently reignited public outrage and underscored the urgent need for action to protect children, this meeting—organized by the Liaison Magistrate's Office and the Internal Security Service—brought together magistrates, police officers, academics, institutional experts, and civil society representatives around a shared assessment : child sexual abuse is undeniably a transnational threat that calls for a coordinated, swift, and resolute response.

The first day focused on institutional and judicial issues. Representatives from French and Thai authorities, international child protection organizations, and civil society actors compared their legal frameworks, investigative practices, and the practical aspects of their cooperation. The discussions highlighted a strong convergence of concerns between the two countries, whether regarding strengthening investigative capabilities, identifying victims more effectively, or streamlining the flow of information among the relevant agencies. The speakers emphasized that the fight against the sexual exploitation of minors does not stop at national borders. In fact, it requires reliable channels for mutual legal assistance, designated points of contact, and procedures that are flexible enough to keep pace with the perpetrators, who relentlessly exploit the loopholes in international law.

The second day focused on the handling of reports and on the role of technical stakeholders in preventing illegal content online. Specialized investigative agencies in France and Thailand detailed the support pathways, from the initial report through to the referral of victims to support services. Presentations by Thai civil society organizations and representatives of the digital ecosystem highlighted the critical role of online platforms : their ability to detect, remove, and report child sexual abuse material directly determines how quickly law enforcement can respond. The speakers emphasized that every hour counts in these sensitive cases. Thus, every additional day of delay increases the risk to the children involved, complicates the identification of the perpetrators, and weakens the chain of evidence.

Throughout the discussions, participants highlighted the growing scale of digital threats : grooming, sextortion, livestreaming of abuse, and the misuse of generative artificial intelligence to produce images of child sexual abuse. These cross-border phenomena expose victims to long-term harm and challenge traditional frameworks for cooperation. The seminar confirmed that an integrated response—bringing together government agencies, law enforcement, digital platforms, and specialized organizations—is now essential to identifying victims in a timely manner and effectively prosecuting perpetrators. Reducing response times, streamlining channels for mutual legal assistance in criminal matters, and harmonizing technical reporting standards are shared priorities for France and Thailand that will shape future cooperation efforts in pursuit of a common goal : protecting children everywhere and without delay.

A Vietnamese Le Canard Enchaîné ? The Vịt Đực newspaper and the pursuit of Vietnamese satire in the final interwar years (1938-1939)

Bertrand — 2026-06-22T05:00:59Z

26 June 2026, 5:30pm–7pm (Vietnam Time, UTC +7)
Hosted by EFEO at Ho Chi Minh City
113 Hai Bà Trưng, Bến Nghé, D. 1

This presentation introduces Vịt Đực — a Vietnamese language satirical newspaper published from July 1938 to July 1939.

26 June 2026, 5:30pm–7pm (Vietnam Time, UTC +7)
Hosted by EFEO at Ho Chi Minh City
113 Hai Bà Trưng, Bến Nghé, D. 1

This presentation introduces Vịt Đực — a Vietnamese language satirical newspaper published from July 1938 to July 1939. The presentation will discuss four aspects of the newspaper. First, it will introduce the formation of the newspaper and the biographies of its founders within the intellectual world of colonial Hanoi in the 1930s. Second, it will discuss the influence of Le Canard Enchaîné on Vịt Đực. Third, it will describe how the newspaper successfully localized the verbal and visual humor that its French counterpart espoused. Fourth, it will analyze selected columns that best demonstrate the newspaper's contrarian politics, particularly its critique of polarizing partisanship in colonial Vietnam's domestic politics following the victory of the Popular Front in 1936. As the newspaper was created against the backdrop of failed colonial reform and imperial meltdowns in anticipation of another World War, its commitments to vernacular satire and non-partisanship suggested an alternative vision of a Vietnam beyond the split of monarchism, republicanism, and communism.

A symposium dedicated to legal influences between France and Thailand

Bertrand — 2026-06-19T11:42:42Z

8-9 June 2026, Law Faculty, Thammasat University, Bangkok

Marking the 170th anniversary of diplomatic relations between France and Thailand, Thammasat University, in collaboration with the liaison magistrate service at the French Embassy, hosted a Legal Symposium on "Legal Perspectives and Influences" in Bangkok on June 9–10, 2026, bringing together academics, judges, institutions, and experts from both countries.

8-9 June 2026, Law Faculty, Thammasat University, Bangkok

Over two days, Thai and French speakers—including some members of the Foundation for Continental Law—addressed the main stages of the modernization of Thai law, the evolution of legal institutions, Franco-Thai academic exchanges, as well as the major contemporary challenges facing both legal systems.

Within this framework, Magalie Bourdier, Legal Cooperation Officer at IRASEC, participated in the roundtable discussion on diplomacy, politics, and the Westernization of Thai law. Her presentation traced the process of modernization of Thai law initiated in the late 19th century during the reign of King Chulalongkorn, marked by the gradual introduction of the major principles of continental European law, particularly the influence of French law in the codification of Thai legal texts.

Her presentation also highlighted contemporary legal cooperation between France and Thailand. This cooperation is manifested through sustained institutional dialogue, exchanges of expertise, training programs for judges, academics, and legal professionals, as well as the regular organization of seminars on topics of mutual interest such as notary reform, criminal justice, family law, environmental protection, and combating child sexual abuse.

Negotiating Mobilities and Borders in Digitalising and Globalising Asia

Bertrand — 2026-06-16T08:57:28Z

15-16 June 2026, 10 am – 5:30 pm
Departement of Sociology, National Taiwan University

This workshop was organized under the FORSEA/ORCHID Project, Global Mobilities in the Digital Age (NSTC/Campus France), in collaboration with CNRS/CEFC, IRASEC, and the Department of Geography at National Taiwan University, under the leadership of Prof. Hong Po-Yi and Dr. Beatrice Zani.

15-16 June 2026, 10 am – 5:30 pm
Departement of Sociology, National Taiwan University

On the first day of the workshop, five presenters shared their papers, including Prof. Hong Po-Yi, who also offered a behind-the-scenes look at his second manuscript, which will be published in July.

The discussions enriched scholarly debates on oceanic globalization, the role of the state in disseminating ideas of kinship, how migrants leverage digital technologies, and the collaboration between local and migrant workers in Taiwan's agricultural sector. Every presentation was insightful and thought-provoking.

By tracing the migration of Taiwanese tea, Prof. Po-Yi's forthcoming book explores how tea has transformed the everyday practices of Taiwanese communities in Thailand. It also sheds light on debates surrounding food nationalism and perceptions of quality between locally produced and imported tea.

Taken together, the first day of the workshop provided stimulating discussions that encouraged us to rethink conventional narratives of mobility and borders.

On the second day of the workshop, three presenters shared their research on the role of networks in shaping migrants' mobility and aspirations.

One presenter discussed the challenges and aspirations of international students in Taiwan. Another examined ethical issues in the recruitment of migrant workers. Meanwhile, the final presenter shared her research on Vietnamese women working in massage parlors in a Sino-Vietnamese border city.

Following the presentations, audience members took the opportunity to discuss the difficulties faced by international students and the role that states can play in ensuring more ethical recruitment practices and reducing migration-related fees for migrant workers.

Returning from the Field in the Kanekes Indigenous Society: A Multidisciplinary and Multi-Sectoral Team Effort

Bertrand — 2026-06-08T03:23:00Z

On May 30, Gabriel FACAL delivered a presentation in Indonesian titled “Returning to the Field with the Kanekes Indigenous Society : A Multidisciplinary and Multi-Sectoral Team Effort,” as part of a seminar at the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences at Serang Raya University – UNSERA (Indonesia). This presentation was part of a two-week stay involving meetings and field visits conducted at two sites with the ANR AltLife team (Alternative Life Projects in Rural South & Southeast Asia), in collaboration with five faculty members and a dozen students from UNSERA.

Autonomous Social Sciences and Alternative Development in Times of Multiple Crises

Bertrand — 2026-06-07T03:36:00Z

On May 21, 22, and 23, IRASEC co-organized an international conference titled “Autonomous Social Sciences and Alternative Development in Times of Multiple Crises,” in partnership with the Center for Agricultural and Rural Development Studies (PSP3) at IPB University (Bogor) and the Alternative Development Program (AltDev) at the Center for Integrative and Development Studies at the University of the Philippines (UP). The Sajogyo Institute served as the coordinator, with the conference opening coinciding with the centenary of the birth of Mr. Sajogyo, a pioneer of Indonesian rural sociology. The event, which brought together over two hundred fifty presenters and nearly six hundred attendees, benefited from the involvement of two programs for which Gabriel FACAL is co-responsible on behalf of IRASEC : the ANR AltLife, which funded the participation of a presenter, and the IRN RUPTuRS, which funded the discussant of a panel.

De l'« Extrême-Orient » à l'« Indopaciﬁque »

Bertrand — 2026-05-20T03:41:30Z

Colloquium organized with the support of the CRISES laboratory, in partnership with the journal Relations internationales ; the Institute for Research on Contemporary Southeast Asia (IRASEC) ; and the Institute for Strategic Research at École Militaire (IRSEM).

On June 1^st, Jérémy JAMMES will participate in the panel discussion “The Indochinese Peninsula : From War to Peace” with a presentation titled “Actors, Diplomacy, and Religious Soft Power in Vietnam Since 1945.” On June 2^nd, he will co-moderate, alongside Nicolas BADALASSI, Professor of Contemporary History at Sciences Po Aix, the panel discussion “From ASEAN to the Indo-Pacific : Shifting Geopolitical Challenges.”

June 1–2, 2026, Paul Valéry University (Montpellier, France)
💻 Hybrid event (login links in the program).

Colloquium organized with the support of the CRISES laboratory, in partnership with the journal Relations internationales ; the Institute for Research on Contemporary Southeast Asia (IRASEC) ; and the Institute for Strategic Research at École Militaire (IRSEM).

Download the program.

Vietnamese mountain resorts: performance spaces for the urban Kinh middle class

Bertrand — 2026-05-07T09:46:55Z

On April 6, 2026, Emmanuelle PEYVEL, an associate research fellow at IRASEC, was invited to the Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM), at the Centre for Research on Territorial Development (CRDT), as part of the Mesopolis chair focusing on small and medium-sized cities in transformation, led by Pham Thi Thanh Hien. On this occasion, she presented part of her research on Vietnamese high-altitude resorts, more specifically in relation to tourist practices linked to matrimonial events.

More informations on the presentation page of ANR URBALTOUR.