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Dr Kaewkamol Pitakdumrongkit

Senior Fellow
Head of Centre for Multilateralism Studies
Education
BA (California State University, Long Beach); MA; PhD (University of California)
: [email protected]
: +65 6790 5983
: CMS

View the NTU Academic Profile here
Enhancing ASEAN Connectivity Through Subregional Initiatives
RSIS Commentaries

Dr Kaewkamol Pitakdumrongkit

Senior Fellow
Head of Centre for Multilateralism Studies
Education
BA (California State University, Long Beach); MA; PhD (University of California)
: [email protected]
: +65 6790 5983
: CMS

View the NTU Academic Profile here

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Biography

Kaewkamol “Karen” Pitakdumrongkit is Senior Fellow and Head of Centre for Multilateralism Studies at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS) of Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. She is also a Non-Resident Fellow at the National Bureau of Asian Research (NBR), U.S.A.

Her research interests include international economic negotiation, Indo-Pacific economic governance and integration, regional-global economic governance dynamics, ASEAN Economic Community, and ASEAN’s external relations (ASEAN-Plus frameworks). She has published in various outlets such as The Singapore Economic Review, The International Relations of the Asia-Pacific, The Pacific Review, Australian Outlook, Review of International Political Economy, The Diplomat, and East Asia Forum. Her media interviews include Bangkok Post, Bloomberg, Business Times, Channel News Asia, CNBC Asia-Pacific, New Straits Times, The Strait Times, South China Morning Post, and Xinhua.

Besides publications and media engagement, Dr. Karen organized several capacity-building programmes such as the Annual RSIS-World Trade Organization (WTO) Parliamentarian Workshops in Singapore, and In-Country Workshops on Technical Trade Issues which are tailored to the specific needs of the trade officials in Asian countries. She was also part of the team involved in composing the elements of the ASEAN Economic Community Blueprint 2025. In addition, Dr. Karen teaches modules at the RSIS MSc International Political Economy programme, and occasionally provides briefings to international diplomats and military students at Singapore’s Goh Keng Swee Command and Staff College.

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Areas of Expertise

  • International Negotiations
  • International Economic Governance (e.g. WTO, IMF, AIIB, CPTPP, RCEP)
  • Regional-Global Economic Governance Dynamics
  • Free and Open Indo-Pacific
  • Economic Development
  • ASEAN+3 Financial Cooperation
  • ASEAN Economic Community and ASEAN’s External Economic Relations
  • Mekong subregion

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Professional Activities

Referee for the following journals:  Global Studies Quarterly, Journal of Southeast Asian Economies, Journal of Asian and African Studies, International Journal of East Asian Studies, International Relations of Asia-Pacific, International Theory, Pacific Affairs, Pacific Review, and Singapore Economic Review.

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RSIS Publications

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External Publications

Authored Books

Journal Articles

Chapters in Edited Books

Policy Reports

Working Papers

Op-Eds

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Talks

  • Panelist, “Session 3: From Free Trade to Geoeconomics: How to Deal with the Slow Death of the Multilateral, Rules – Based Trade System?”, RSIS-SWP German Singaporean Think Tank Dialogue 2024 on “Manoeuvring the New Global Techno-Economic Governance Landscape”, 3-5 September 2024.
  • Speaker, “Advancing the Taiwan-Southeast Asia Economic Partnership amidst the Straits Dynamics”, The IIR Roundtable “Regional Views on Tensions across the Taiwan Strait”, Institute of International Relations, National Chengchi University, 19 August 2024.
  • Panelist, Session on “Superpowers and Superpower Competition as ASEAN Sees It”, The 19th Jeju Security Forum, 29-31 May 2024.
  • Speaker, The Web3 Fusion: “Embracing AI and Beyond”, by World Learning and US State Department, 14-16 April 2024.
  • Speaker, Panel on “Economic Security and international Cooperation”. The 4th Economic Security and Foreign Affairs Forum on “Economic Security Cooperation and Future Challenges”, Center for Economic Security and Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Korea, 18 December 2023.
  • Speaker, “Session 3: Trade, Supply Chains, Markets and Locations”. The RSIS-Siemens Executive Programme 2023 “Shifting Tectonics in Geopolitics”, 14 December 2023.
  • Speaker, “Panel 2: Economic security and the war in Ukraine”, RSIS-SWP Dialogue on “The War in Ukraine and its Implications for Regional Stability”, 29-31 August 2023.
  • Panelist, “The Evolving IPEF: Update and Perspectives from Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand”. By Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS), 4 July 2023.
  • Speaker, the podcast on “IPEF: Turning a New Corner – Thai and Regional Perspective,” by Institute of South Asia Studies, National University of Singapore, 27 June 2023.
  • Panelist, “Can the AEC Succeed in a Two-Tier ASEAN?” By Centre on Asia and Globalisation (CAG), Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (LKYPP), 22 May 2023.
  • Presenter, “Singapore’s Perspective on IPEF” Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF): Analysis and Policy Discussion on Major Agendas by Participating Countries. By KDI School of Public Policy and Management, NALOD Da Nang, Danang, Vietnam, 17-19 April 2023.
  • Speaker, RSIS Roundtable on the Indo-Pacific security matters with the Department of Defence, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Office of National Intelligence of the Australian government, 14 March 2023.
  • Panelist, Panel 3: Economics, Trade and Cooperation, Workshop on “Southeast Asian Perspectives of the U.S. Presence and Strategy in the Region”. By the Centre on Asia and Globalisation (CAG), Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (LKYPP), 2-3 March 2023.
  • Panelist, “Session 2: Perspectives from Thailand, Malaysia and the Philippines.” The ISAS-KAS Writers’ Workshop on the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF): Negotiating Prospects, Challenges, Outcomes, and Engagement with Europe. Orchard Hotel, Singapore, 6-7 February 2023.
  • Panelist, “Germany and the EU in the Indo-Pacific after Ukraine. What is the added value?”, KAS YESA Programme on Security Issues in the Indo-Pacific and European Engagement, 25 November 2022.
  • Panelist, Webinar on “Defending multilateralism in 2022: Views from Indonesia, Thailand and Cambodia”. By Perth USAsia Centre, University of Western Australia, 1 November 2022.
  • Lecturer, “Economic Dynamics in Maritime Southeast Asia”, Foreign Service Institute, USA, 27 October 2022.
  • Speaker, “Advancing Economic Statecraft via Multilateral Agreements: The Roles of ASEAN Member States in Shaping Regional Economic Frameworks”. The RSIS-AVI Workshop on “Great Power Competition: The Changing International Order and Multilateralism”, 13 October 2022.
  • Expert panelist, the inquiry into the UK’s prospective membership of the CPTPP, convened by the International Trade Committee at the UK’s House of Commons on 7 September 2022.
  • Lecturer, “Economic Dynamics in Maritime Southeast Asia”, Foreign Service Institute, USA, 1 September 2022.
  • Panelist, “Session 4: Economic Development and Maritime Connectivity”. The RSIS- NMF Bilateral Meeting and Workshop, 17-18 August 2022.
  • Panelist, RSIS Roundtable with Mr. Marcin Przydacz (Undersecretary of State for security policy, the Americas, Asia and Eastern Policy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Poland) on 12 July 2022, RSIS.
  • Speaker, “Responding to Trade Coercion: A Growing Threat to the Global Trading System.” By the Asia Society and Perth USAsia Centre, 7 December 2021.
  • Moderator, “Corporate subsidies by China, the EU, and the US – Time for reforms?” organised by Hinrich Foundation, 25 November 2021.
  • Chair, RSIS Webinar Series on Economic Multilateralism for Post-COVID-19 Recovery on “Economic Resilience and Security in Southeast Asia and ASEAN”, organized by the Centre for Multilateralism Studies, RSIS, 23 November 2021.
  • Speaker, CEO Interview on “ASEAN’s role in driving post-COVID regional economic integration” by the Perth USAsia Centre at The University of Western Australia, 23 August 2021.
  • Speaker, Webinar on “The Future of ASEAN Economy Post COVID-19” by the International Studies Center, Devawongse Varopakarn Institute of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Thailand, 11 August 2021.
  • Presenter, The 62nd International Studies Association (ISA) Annual Convention by ISA, 6-9 April 2021.
  • Speaker, Japan Symposium on “Value Chains and Regional Economic Integration” by Perth USAsia Centre, Australia, 24 March 2021.
  • Speaker, Brookings Webinar Series on “Navigating COVID-19 in Southeast Asia” by Brookings Institution, U.S.A., 10 December 2020.
  • Speaker, Webinar on “ASEAN Insights 2020” by the American Chamber of Commerce, 12 August 2020.
  • Speaker, International Workshop on “Transdisciplinary Approaches to Good Governance” by Center for Southeast Asian Studies (CSEAS), Kyoto University, Japan, 7-8 February 2020.
  • Panellist, RSIS-Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (SWP) Dialogue on “Maintaining Strategic Autonomy in Times of Tectonic Shifts in Global Affairs” by Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, 30 August 2019.
  • Panellist, RSIS-Pangoal Workshop on “Sino-US Relations in the New Era” by Pangoal Institution, China, 20 August 2019.
  • Panellist, ASEAN Roundtable Series on “Future of ASEAN Trade in the New World Trade Order” by Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, 2 April 2019.
  • Presenter, The 60th International Studies Association (ISA) Annual Convention by ISA, 27-30 March 2019.
  • Speaker, The International and Regional Security Developments 2018 on Implications for Myanmar by Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS), 27 November 2018.
  • Speaker, The 7th ERIA Editors’ Roundtable on “ASEAN and Indo-Pacific: Challenges Ahea” by Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA), Singapore, 6-7 October 2018.
  • Speaker, The ASEAN Summit on “The Future for ASEAN Economy – Greening for Sustainable Growth” by RHT Academy, Singapore, 24 October 2018.
  • Speaker, The Asia Pacific Foreign Policy and Defense Seminar by The East-West Center, U.S.A., 17 May 2018.
  • Speaker, The 2nd CAG-KGRI Workshop on “The Asian Century and China-Japan Cooperation” by S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Singapore, 5-6 March 2018.
  • Speaker, The 5th RSIS-CNA Workshop on “East Asia Maritime Issues” by S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Singapore, 7-8 March 2018.
  • Presenter, The Conference on “ASEAN@50 – Southeast Asia at Risk: What Should be Done?” by the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies (APCSS), U.S.A., 25-27 October 2017.
  • Presenter, The ISA Asia-Pacific Conference by Hong Kong University, Hong Kong, 15-18 June 2017.
  • Presenter, The Conference on “The United States and the Indo-Asia-Pacific” by Brookings Institution, U.S.A., 22-23 March 2017.
  • Presenter, The Seminar on “Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and East Asian Economic Integration” by Chiba University, Japan, 17 March 2017.
  • Presenter, The “U.S.-ASEAN Relations: Charting the Next 40 Years” Conference by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), U.S.A., 1 March 2017.
  • Presenter, The RSIS-China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations (RSIS-CICIR) Roundtable by S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Singapore, 9 May 2016.
  • Presenter, International Conference on East Asian Economic Governance by The Korea Economic Institute of America, U.S.A., 6 April 2016.
  • Presenter, The Asia Pacific Conference on Security & International Relations by International Academic Forum (IAFOR), 15-17 October 2015.
  • Speaker, The ADB-ADBI-RSIS-MFA Joint Training Programmed on “Economic Corridor Development for Competitive and Inclusive Asia” by S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Singapore, 26-28 August 2015.
  • Presenter, The 12th International Conference on Thai Studies by University of Sydney, Australia, 22-24 April 2014.
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Teaching Modules