In this episode of Pacific Pundit, we bring strategic sense to Southeast Asia and the rhetoric of Filipino strongman, Rodrigo Duterte. Our history segment considers how Cosimo de Medici used political communication to consolidate power in Florentine Italy during the 15th century. In a conversation with Joshua Kurlantzick (Council on Foreign Relations), we discuss how much power President Duterte really has, how unique he is compared to the rest of Southeast Asia, and how important political changes there are for the United States. We also talk about Kurlantzick’s new book, A Great Place to Have a War. In the final segment we examine research by Evelyn Goh for clues about how to understand Duterte’s strategic hedging between China and the United States.

Van Jackson is a senior editor at War on the Rocks. He is an associate professor at the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies (APCSS) and an adjunct senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS). The views expressed are his own. Please check out his podcast, Pacific Pundit.

Music: Nangdo – Skaffa Flute.

Production: Tre Hester.

Image: Philippine government.