As Syed Hussein Alatas and other Southeast Asian thinkers recognised, only a working community of public intellectuals can save societies from shallow, populistic, and paranoid reactions to contemporary challenges such as inequality and identity politics, argues YAACOB IBRAHIM (National University of Singapore). This is the text of his closing remarks at the launch of a new book inspired by the late Hussein Alatas.

The need for intellectuals in any society has been a constant theme among the writings of the late Syed Hussein Alatas. His defining book Intellectuals in Developing Societies, published in 1977, well over 45 years ago, remains relevant. While the book addresses the need for such a group in developing societies, every society, whether developed or otherwise needs intellectuals.

While developed societies may face different problems compared to those of developing societies, the need remains as relevant as ever. Problems need to be solved and having a functioning group of intellectuals independent from the state serves to provide a fair and unbiased analysis of the challenges.

Take for example the growing problem of inequality that we see in developed societies such as Singapore. The official narrative has been that this is an inevitable consequence of progress, and that the way forward is to help uplift those at the bottom of the income ladder without restraining those at the top of the income ladder. While we cannot argue that those at the lower rungs of the income ladder need to be assisted, does this narrative accurately capture the problem of growing inequality? How in the first place did this inequality emerge? Are there other factors other than asking those at the bottom to work harder that can improve their condition? Are there structural factors impeding the rise of those at the bottom?

These are the questions that need to be answered. And a group of intellectuals providing a sound analysis to these questions will help to lay the foundation for a more robust and resilient solution to this problem.

Such groups emerge due to a variety of reasons. During the colonial period here in Southeast Asia, several intellectuals emerged such as Jose Rizal and of course Syed Hussein Alatas, analysing the problems of their societies. They saw the ill effects of colonialism on the local population and decided to put on paper their thoughts of how these problems could be overcome.

In more recent times, we have seen the emergence of new groups of intellectuals in places like Indonesia and Thailand. Indonesia for example has been a vibrant place where the contestation of ideas has taken place over issues such as the place of Islam and the role of women. After the fall of Suharto in 1998, Muslim intellectuals played a critical role in navigating the country towards democracy. In Thailand for example, following the anti-monarchy protests in 2020, public intellectuals played a role on both sides of the protests: opposing or supporting.

Prof Syed Hussein Alatas in his book Intellectuals in Developing Societies spoke at length at how “intellectuals came to prominence in times of crisis, in a revolution, or in a mass movement”. The question then becomes what happens in a period without a major crisis. He continued, “It seems to me the only way is for the intellectuals in periods of routine life to prove their necessity by writing, publishing, lecturing, organising small group meetings, and tackling hitherto neglected problems in a manner which is not in conflict with the specialists or the technocrats. Those whose social system and circumstances permit should go into politics and prove their qualities in thought and deed. Those who are teaching should consciously aim to awaken the intellectual spirit in their pupils”.

So, the role of public intellectuals is important during peace times or otherwise.

While major disruptions such as public protests and unpopular government moves can be the impetus to galvanise the emergence of public intellectuals, perhaps a more important question is whether such a group can be nurtured and cultivated. Based on the above quote from Prof Syed Hussein Alatas, having a culture of reading, writing and discussing important issues facing the community would certainly help to cultivate in some individuals the desire to pursue the intellectual path.

Such intellectual activities should be encouraged including, for me, a focus on the younger members of our community. In order for anyone to play this role, preparation is needed. The ability to organise your thoughts cogently and coherently comes from years of reading, writing, discussing and debating. It is indeed a hard and lonely vocation. But it is needed if any society wishes to progress.

For me personally, it is about extending the legacy of the late Syed Hussein Alatas. The book we just launched today is along the same line: examining his thoughts and ideas and their relevance to the problems of the modern age. It is a useful contribution adding further to the body of knowledge contributed by Prof Alatas and other Muslim thinkers. These are important resources which one can tap into to test your own ideas and views on some of the challenges mentioned by the authors.

Hence, I welcome more of such writings as it helps in some ways to demystify some of the complexities we face today. Take for example the problem of traditionalism in Islamic thinking found in certain parts of Southeast Asia. In typical Alatassian style he explains that traditionalism is about power and the need for those in power to remain so by maintaining a world view where being subservient to the religious elites equates to stability and a pathway to heaven.

Hence, a deep understanding of the problem would allow us to better appreciate the real reasons behind the so-called complexities of the problem. And of course, this requires effort and understanding the views being pedalled. When the book by Salman Rushdie The Satanic Verses came out, Prof Alatas first response was: Have you read the book to understand its strengths and weaknesses? Know your arguments well, know even better the arguments of those you are trying to understand or debate.

We face many challenges such as inequality, issues of identity, problems with the narrative of history, the role of Muslims and Islam in a multiracial society, the rise of Islamophobia, the privileges of dominance, and a host of other challenges – some of which seem absent from popular media and public discussion. These issues need to be discussed, debated and exposed to a wider audience. Only a functioning group of intellectuals can do this. If not, we will forever be inundated by shallow, populistic and phobic interpretations of these issues.

– Yaacob Ibrahim is Adjunct Lecturer and Professor of Practice at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore. He also serves as an Advisor with the Centre for Interfaith Understanding and Co-Chairman for the Palestinian Scholarship Initiative.