ALSA 2025 meeting

"Capital Drug Laws in Asia" was published by Cambridge University Press in July 2025. The book offers a critical examination of the laws and policies governing the control of illicit drugs in various Asian jurisdictions. It focuses particularly on the strategies employed to address drug-related offences, with a special emphasis on the use of the death penalty. A range of jurisdictions—especially in Southeast Asia—have been deliberately selected to highlight the diversity of approaches within the “war on drugs” debate.

Key areas examined include the use of criminal law to combat drug offences, the motivations behind drug offenders, public support for punitive sanctions, the structure and interpretation of relevant laws, procedural rights of the accused, the use of mandatory versus discretionary sentences, and the imposition of the death penalty.

Six contributing authors will present the main themes of their respective chapters as well as offer their reflections, updates, and insights drawn from their ongoing research related to the book’s central themes.

I will be presenting the main theme of my chapter in the book as well as offer my reflections, updates, and insights drawn from my ongoing research related to the book's central themes.