Vietnam's Communist Party holds its congress in January. That should mean a change in party leadership. Its general-secretary and the country's president are likely to step down. Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung may fill one of these slots, though his tenure has been marked by economic setbacks, including the bankruptcy of a state-run shipbuilding company.
A political transition is also under way in Burma (Myanmar), which held rare and much-criticized elections in November. Parliament is scheduled to convene by early February, paving the way for a handover to a civilian administration after decades of military rule.
Political activist Aung San Suu Kyi will continue to rebuild her political movement following her recent release from house arrest. She remains popular but is liable to be arrested again if she challenges the military, which is Burma's strongest force.
Elections are due to be held in Singapore and Thailand, with a possibility of a snap election in Malaysia.
Thailand's polls will revive the political tensions that have fanned violent street protests in recent years. Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, who took over in 2008 after the courts dissolved an elected government, has repeatedly delayed early elections. He faces a stiff challenge from allies of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted by a military coup in 2006.
Singapore is a different story: Its ruling People's Action Party hasn't lost a vote since independence in 1963. Nor is it likely to do so in 2011, as the government keeps a tight lid on debate and has marginalized the opposition.
The most intriguing showdown could be in Malaysia. Prime Minister Najib Razak has tried to overhaul the ruling National Front coalition and win back young voters and ethnic minorities. Recent by-election victories over the opposition led by former Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim suggest that Mr. Najib's strategy is working, fueling speculation of a snap election.
A parallel fight is under way in the courts, where Mr. Anwar is on trial for sodomy, a criminal offense in Malaysia. He denies the charge and claims that it's a conspiracy to destroy his comeback. A verdict in the trial is expected in 2011. Elections aren't due to be called in Malaysia for another two years, but the timing may be right for Najib to seek a new mandate.
– Simon Montlake, Southeast Asia correspondent
