Civil Society and the State in Singapore

Set within the context of growing political pluralism and the increasing use of new communication technologies for social mobilisation, the Institute of Policy Studies organised a national conference on civil society in November 2013. This collection of the essays that were presented at or inspired by the conference provides nuanced analyses of the development of the sector in Singapore since the Institute's first such conference held in 1998. The first section of the book discusses the different philosophies and approaches that underpin how civic activists engage with the State; the second section examines some key forces of change that are re-shaping the sector; and, the third section sets out some emerging issues facing it. Combining insights from experts and civic activists themselves, this book proposes an agenda for the future development of the civil society in Singapore.

Contents:

• Preface: Civil Society: The Idea and Its Ideals (Janadas Devan)

• Introduction (Carol Soon and Gillian Koh)

• Philosophies and Approaches:

  • Civil Society in Singapore: Ideals and Idealism (Kwok Kian-Woon)
  • Three Lessons for Engagement in Environmental Activism in Singapore (Faizah Jamal)
  • Quiet Riot for New Possibilities (Alvin Tan)

• Change Agents:

  • Impact of Political Trends on Civil Society (Walter Woon)
  • Civil Society and Technology: Whither the Change? (Carol Soon)
  • Role of Civil Society Organisations in Facilitating Migrant Integration (Mathew Mathews and Zhang Jiayi)

• The Future of Civil Society:

  • Singapore's "Many Helping Hands" (Ang Bee Lian)
  • Building a Vibrant and Diverse Civil Society — Limitations and Possibilities (Corinna Lim, Michelle Ng and Chang Cheng Mun)
  • The Future of Ethnic-Based Civil Society in Singapore (Sharon Siddique)
  • Civic Education and Deliberative Democracy in Singapore (Kenneth Paul Tan)
  • The Future of Youth Activism in Singapore (Tong Yee and Tay Ek Kiat)
  • Growing Civil Society in Singapore: The Future Legislative Landscape (Kevin YL Tan)

• About the Contributors

• Index

Readership: Policymakers, academics and researchers, practitioners who are involved in and/or interested to learn about Singapore's civil society as in the past, how it has changed in the past 15 years, the forces (internal and external to Singapore) which shaped and are shaping civil society, and the implications for the society and politics.
Key Features:

• Contributed by eminent public thought leaders, practitioners and academics who analyse changes and developments in Singapore's civil society landscape, anticipate future trends, or even create them
• Draws important implications for theory development in some cases, practice and policymaking