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PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship among energy consumption (EC), carbon dioxide emission, economic growth, foreign direct investment, population, poverty, and income of four Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries, namely, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, and the Philippines.Design/methodology/approachAn econometric analysis was used to achieve the goal of this study taking the period of 1995-2014.FindingsThe results of the study motivated the researcher to recommend that four ASEAN countries, namely, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, and the Philippines should increase their energy efficiency, increase the share of green energy from their total energy use, and increase energy conservation in order to reduce the unnecessary wastage of energy.Originality/valueThe findings validate that economic growth, population, and income have positive and statistically significant impacts on EC, while carbon dioxide emission, foreign direct investment and poverty have negative impacts on EC for Malaysia. Economic growth, income and poverty have positive and statistically significant impacts on EC, while carbon dioxide emission, foreign direct investment and population have negative impacts on EC for Singapore. Carbon dioxide emission and foreign direct investment have positive and statistically significant impacts on EC, while economic growth, population, poverty and income have negative impacts on EC for the Philippines. Finally, economic growth, carbon dioxide emission and income have positive and statistically significant impacts on EC, while foreign direct investment, population and poverty have negative impacts on EC for Malaysia.

The main objective of this study is to investigate the growth strategy of Aceh's ports in order to develop a better position of those ports in the dynamic and competitive environment along the Malacca straits. Using the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) approach, this study examines priority perspectives on strategy formulation from 25 individuals representing relevant parties in the Aceh port industry such as government officials, port authorities and managements, experts, academicians and consultants, and port user associations. Six potential strategies related to resources, competencies, market share, opportunity share, cooperation, and competitiveness were examined. The findings show that the resource-based strategy and the competence-based strategy are ranked as first and second important strategy respectively while the opportunity share strategy ranked as the least important strategy. This study provides new insights into the implications of using various strategy formulations for port growth in developing countries and provides a significant practical contribution to the port authorities.

Indonesia is a country that is inhabited by hundreds of ethnic groups with different geographical condition, natural resources and social culture. Regional decentralization and autonomy that is carried out in Indonesia is an acknowledgment of ethnic diversity (pluralism) to create unity and harmony (BhinekaTunggal Ika), to form social harmony and equal development with the framework of protecting national stability. This article argues on the urgency of political decentralization and regional autonomy in Indonesia through local perspectives by using political decentralization/local democracy model approach with the centrifugal style of authority and government decentralization and structural efficiency model approach with centripetal style.

The concepts of 'guanxi' (relationships and networking) and 'xinyong' (interpersonal trust) in Chinese traditional ethics are often studied as the key factors that contribute to the pattern and succession of the ethnic Chinese in business practices which are based on the cultural approach. In the context of Southeast Asia such as in Indonesia, Malaysia, The Philippines, the ethnic Chinese are one of the minority groups whose profession is dominantly that of a businessman or an entrepreneur. As stated in the literature, even though the ethnic Chinese are classified as a minority group in those countries, some of the Chinese capitalist groups had controlled 70-80% of the private business sector. However, these two traditional concepts are not the only main factors of the Chinese business success, but the 'irregular' business pattern such as the patronage relationship with political elites also becomes the most important criteria. Hence, this study needed to re-examine and clarify whether the implementation of the guanxi and xinyong concepts in Chinese business activities are still relevant in their business practice due to the political connection in the Chinese business succession also being a dominant variable. This study was based on a fieldwork conducted in Indonesia especially in Medan City of Indonesia and used the descriptive qualitative method through interviews and library research. This aim of this study were three fold: the first was to discuss the relevance of the guanxi and xinyong concept in Chinese business practices, the second was to discuss whether the Chinese business practices were more influenced by a formal community organization or rather influenced by an informal network among Chinese businessmen through guanxi and xinyong bases, third, this study also discussed the challenges faced by the Chinese in attempting their business interests.

In 2010, a wave of political uprisings blew across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), the result of which persists in some countries like Syria, Libya, Yemen and Egypt. That of Syria is unique given the number of people killed as well as the number of refugees that fled the country. Also, since 2003, people have been fleeing Iraq to other parts of the world. In an attempt to provide answers for such demographic mobility, this research examines those factors that impelled the Syrians and Iraqis to embark on such perilous journey to Europe in 2015, in particular. One of the factors, according to the findings of the study, is the total loss of hope for peace and change in Syria and Iraq. Thus, the article suspects that if the present political debacle in Syria and Iraq continues, the refugee will maintain their influx to Europe in 2016 and beyond.