The Durian Chronicles - by Sally Tyler (Paperback)

About the Book

Fledgling democracy and human rights movements challenge autocrats throughout Asia. What role will the US play in the region in a post-Trump world?

Book Synopsis

The curious durian fruit, both delicious and stinky, is the embodiment of dissonance. Author Sally Tyler uses the fruit's dual nature as a metaphor for exploring the dissonance inherent in recent policy and political trends in the U.S. and Southeast Asia. Such dissonance is on display when hopeful social movements bring young and old into the streets by the tens of thousands at the same time a call to restore order paves the way for dictators like Duterte, the tacit ratification of yet another Thai coup, and the election of Trump. The book's essays, a series of snapshots spanning four years, tackle topics from criminal justice and drug addiction to fashion activism and artistic censorship. Tyler's work, some of which has appeared in New Mandala and Policy Forum, analyzes the U.S. retreat from multilateralism at a time when complex global problems -- climate change, economic inequality, the coronavirus pandemic -- require even greater collaboration. Through the lens of a dynamic, yet under-reported, region, Tyler brings fresh perspective to Trump policy reverberations in far corners of the world and argues for greater connectivity in what has become a fractured era.

Review Quotes

"Sally Tyler brings a unique perspective to the complex dynamics and culture of Southeast Asia and their interplay with the US. This enjoyable collection offers insights seen nowhere else and will appeal to the specialist and casual reader alike."

-Derek Mitchell, President of the National Democratic Institute (NDI) and former US ambassador to Burma

"Tyler earnestly commits herself as an observer, something that immediately comes across in The Durian Chronicles. Her on-the-ground approach and passion help her address sensitive cross-country political issues."

-Beatrice Siviero, The Southeast Asia Globe

"Tyler's writing is deeply insightful - expertly connecting the personal with the geopolitical. It's also incredible accessible, bringing issues to life on the page, with an engaging narrative style and sharp use of language."

-Martyn Pearce, Founding Editor of the Asia & Pacific Policy Society's Policy Forum