This volume is conceptualised around the notion by Raymond Williams, a cultural theorist, that any cultural system comprises fragments of the past and the emergent alongside the dominant. The book ...focuses on 'governance' or how a society governs itself across the state, business and civic sectors in Singapore and how it might evolve over the next decade. Its first section looks at how Singapore's political history has shaped today's political institutions and culture and why these might change. Three scenarios of Singapore's political future are proffered. The authors argue how there are and must be nevertheless some fundamental values that underpin Singapore's governance system that are unchanging.In the second section, the authors discuss how the relationship among the key elements of the governance equation have changed to adapt to current conditions, and must continue to change to respond to internal demands and external conditions. The first paper describes how the relationship between government and business, or state and market have adapted to achieve strategic national imperatives but also to ensure that citizens benefit from the most efficient and effective ways of providing important public goods. The second paper argues for institutionalised dissent and policy experimentation as disciplines needed in the public sector to make it innovative and resilient.The third section offers views on emerging trends in political culture and the relationship between the government and civil society, business and other political parties. These are based on findings of an IPS survey, and opinions of civic leaders and a leader of the political opposition in Singapore.The final section comprises an edited transcript of a dialogue session with the Prime Minister of Singapore, Mr Lee Hsien Loong on the same theme of 'governance'.The authors are thought-leaders and political leaders in Singapore. This book serves as a pathfinder to emerging political trends in the country.
This volume is conceptualised around the notion by Raymond Williams, a cultural theorist, that any cultural system comprises fragments of the past and the emergent alongside the dominant. The book ...focuses on 'governance' or how a society governs itself across the state, business and civic sectors in Singapore and how it might evolve over the next decade. Its first section looks at how Singapore's political history has shaped today's political institutions and culture and why these might change. Three scenarios of Singapore's political future are proffered. The authors argue how there are and must be nevertheless some fundamental values that underpin Singapore's governance system that are unchanging.In the second section, the authors discuss how the relationship among the key elements of the governance equation have changed to adapt to current conditions, and must continue to change to respond to internal demands and external conditions. The first paper describes how the relationship between government and business, or state and market have adapted to achieve strategic national imperatives but also to ensure that citizens benefit from the most efficient and effective ways of providing important public goods. The second paper argues for institutionalised dissent and policy experimentation as disciplines needed in the public sector to make it innovative and resilient.The third section offers views on emerging trends in political culture and the relationship between the government and civil society, business and other political parties. These are based on findings of an IPS survey, and opinions of civic leaders and a leader of the political opposition in Singapore.The final section comprises an edited transcript of a dialogue session with the Prime Minister of Singapore, Mr Lee Hsien Loong on the same theme of 'governance'.The authors are thought-leaders and political leaders in Singapore. This book serves as a pathfinder to emerging political trends in the country.Contents:Preface (Janadas Devan)AcknowledgementsIntroduction (Gillian Koh)The Residual:Governance in Singapore: History and Legacy (Chan Heng Chee)Three Scenarios for Singapore's Political Future (Kishore Mahbubani)The Dominant:Governing in the Future - Together (Lawrence Wong)Sustaining Good Governance in an Era of Rapid and Disruptive Change (Donald Low)The Emergent:The Emergent in Governance in Singapore (Gillian Koh)Civil Society in Singapore: Revisiting the Banyan Tree (Nizam Ismail)The Role of Political Competition in Promoting Well-being (Sylvia Lim)Emergent Issues and Questions (Lee Tzu Yang)Dialogue Session with the Prime MinisterReadership: Students, academics, policy makers and civil society activists, and general public interested in Singapore.
Ethnic and religious differences, a widening socio-economic divide, tension between foreigners and locals. These are some of the contemporary challenges to integration in Singapore. How we navigate ...them will determine the type of society we become. This book gathers the best social scientists in Singapore to examine issues of ethnicity, religion, class, and culture in order to understand the many different fault lines that run across the multicultural city-state. These essays are written in an engaging manner and are designed to present the authors' expertise to a wider audience.
The Singapore Perspectives series is a yearly publication that provides critical analysis of emerging trends and issues Singapore faces in terms of social, economic and political development. It is a ...quick and essential reference for understanding the broad policy discussions that animate thought leaders, policy-makers and the public in the country during the immediate period or that are likely to do so in the short and medium term.
Examines development of the Public Service under the ruling People's Action Party (PAP) government, since the 1960s; focusing on the Administrative Service as the elite section of the bureaucracy. ...Highlights the Public Service for the 21st Century (PS21) initiative.
Various political, economic, & social problems confronting Singapore throughout 2001 are studied. An overview of the extent of religious & racial tension between the nation's Singaporean & ...Malay-Muslim communities in contemporary Singapore highlights the state's position on racially inequitable policies & factors that prompted the Malay-Muslim community to mobilize. It is contended that the international community's negative attitude toward Southeast Asian economic prospects & decreased demand for electronic products slowed the Singaporean economy. In addition, developments concerning the reform of national elections, the passage of legislation that reduce external interests from interfering in domestic politics, the nation's response to the 11 Sept 2001 terrorist attacks against the US, effects of negative public sentiment on the People's Action Party's (PAP) electoral prospects, the opposition parties' respective political platforms, & the emergence of several movements in civil society are addressed. Although the PAP maintained much of its political power, it is concluded that the Singaporean state must tackle issues regarding the push for multiracialism & the struggle against meritocracy. J. W. Parker
