Singapore Perspectives 2017

What If?

Singapore has experienced remarkable progression in the first 50 years of its independence. This volume comprises chapters written by thought leaders in Singapore where they re-examine Singapore's key governing institutions, systems, principles and values as they consider the country's next 50 years. Given the prospect of deep and possibly disruptive internal and external change, how might Singapore's governance fundamentals respond; which will we have to re-commit ourselves to and which might we have to adapt or even abandon? The book comprises some quietly provocative thoughts that the informed public, intellectuals and scholars interested in Singapore as well as political development in small countries in an uncertain, global age might find useful as they formulate their own positions about the future.

Contents:

• Preface (Janadas Devan)

• Acknowledgements

• Introduction (Gillian Koh and Debbie Soon)

• Looking Out:

  • What if the Nation-State is No Longer the Key Organisational Unit of the International Community? (Wang Gungwu)
  • What if Globalisation Fails? (Khong Cho-Oon)
  • What if Singapore Has to Choose Between China and the United States? (Joseph Liow)

• Looking In:

  • What if Non-Economic Indicators Become the Measure of a Country's Progress? (Jeremy Au)
  • What if Singapore Fails to Become a Creative and Innovation Nation? (Aaron Maniam)
  • What if Singapore Fails to Sustain Itself as a Vibrant, Cosmopolitan "Global City"? (Amanda Chong)

• Looking Across:

  • What if We Ignore Race and Religion? (Norman Vasu and Pravin Prakash)
  • What if We Cease to Accept Immigrants? (Mariam Jaafar)
  • What if the Family is No Longer the Fundamental Building Block of Society? (Thang Leng Leng)

• Looking Ahead:

  • What if Singapore Becomes a Two or Multi-Party System? (Ong Ye Kung)
  • The Real Question Behind "What if Singapore Becomes a Two- or Multi-Party System?" (Ho Kwon Ping)

• About the Contributors

Readership: Students, academics, policy makers, corporate sector officials and civil society activists, and general public interested in Singapore.