Events

This year, 2015, Singapore celebrates its 50^th Anniversary of Independence. In the past fifty years, the most palpable achievement of Singapore is the sustained economic growth which has transformed every aspect of life of Singaporeans. This success has drawn praises and brickbats. In the success corner is the frequent mention of ‘Singapore as Model’ for other developing countries in Asia and beyond; for example, Botswana, Barbados and Crimea all think that Singapore’s development path could serve as a model for them. The efficiency of its urban infrastructure, the ubiquity of affordable public housing, the green environment and, more recently, the near self-sufficiency of water have enabled Singaporean urban planners, in both the public and private sectors, to market their technical know-how in urban planning to the rest of the developing world. In the brickbat corner is, of course, the long-governing People’s Action Party’s explicit disavowal of liberalism as the ideological underpinning of the electoral democracy, which is often conflated with the authoritarianism. Whether with praises or brickbats, Singapore and Singaporeans are definitely being observed from the outside. This conference aims to bring together serious academic reflection of Singapore by non-Singaporeans who have abiding interests in, and observes from afar, Singapore’s development.

REGISTRATION

Admission is free, and seats are available on a first come, first served basis. We would greatly appreciate if you register your interest in attending to Ms Sharon Ong via email: arios@nus.edu.sg.

CONTACT DETAILS

Conference Convenor

Prof CHUA Beng Huat
Asia Research Institute, and Department of Sociology, National University of Singapore
E | aricbh@nus.edu.sg

Secretariat

Miss Sharon ONG
Asia Research Institute, National University of Singapore
E | arios@nus.edu.sg