Historian THUM PING TJIN argues that The Albatross File Exhibition and its accompanying book turn Lee Kuan Yew from a historically consequential actor into a passive victim of circumstance, thus diminishing him. By trying to protect him from moral scrutiny, Singaporeans are given a comforting story instead of an educational one where power, fear, race, ambition, and moral compromise destroyed Malaysia.
Sociologist Teo You Yenn’s previous book was an academic publishing phenomenon; her latest appears to be following suit. CHERIAN GEORGE (Hong Kong Baptist University) explains the structural conditions that make her an exception in Singapore academia.
Drawing from his new book, The Economic History of Singapore, CHOY KEEN MENG identifies continuities over the long span of Singapore’s 700-year history and argues that its economic success can be attributed to both luck and astute decision making.
As Hussein Alatas and other Muslim 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 Syed Hussein Alatas.
The formal position of the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament was created in a legal vacuum. Constitutional law scholar KEVIN Y.L. TAN explains why it should be given a proper footing in law.
Parliament has begun its marathon session reviewing the Government’s plans for the year. Tackling social inequality has been a stated priority of the Government for a while. This year, policy discussions can refer to a new research paper on the topic from the Ministry of Finance. NG KOK HOE (National University of Singapore) examines how it can guide the debate and suggests questions that remain.
What are challenges to Singapore’s economy in the contemporary world? What are the challenges people face — from work to care, housing to retirement? How should public policy address the needs of the people, both in the near and the long term? – A reading list.
Ten years ago, Singapore declared War on Diabetes. MOHAMMAD KHAMSYA BIN KHIDZER (King’s College London) examines the logics behind the campaign and finds that one under-appreciated rationale is economic.
The “Singapore model” of a market economy under heavy government direction has led to strong headline numbers that obscure signs of significant stress. High land and housing costs, extreme inequality, and a very low fertility rate suggest that everyday life feels precarious for many in one of the world’s richest cities. Singapore needs a new playbook, argues LINDA LIM in this article originally published by the Atlantic Council.
Historian of Philosophy LILITH LEE reflects on the value of reconstructing Straits Chinese philosophy for the history of world philosophies and for Singaporean self-understanding.
