UNDERSTANDING SINGAPORE POLITICS

by Bilveer Singh

Overview

Understanding Singapore Politics is written to address the dearth of a succinct overview on Singapore politics. This introductory text looks at the factors that shape the island-republic's domestic politics, the key institutions and issues in the city-state, electoral power as well as the political direction Singapore is likely to take in a post-Lee Kuan Yew era. The specific institutions covered for discussion include the mass media, trade unions, civil service and grassroots organisations. The role of civil and civic society, including pressures for democratisation, is also examined. In addition, various new political issues — the importance of race, income equality and migration — and their implications are discussed. Finally, the linkage between Singapore's domestic and foreign policy is analysed. This foundational guide to Singapore politics is recommended for anyone who has an interest or a stake in the island republic.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9789813209251
Publisher:	World Scientific Publishing Company, Incorporated
Publication date:	03/23/2017
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	232
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

Bilveer Singh is a Singapore citizen, an associate professor at the Department of Political Science, National University of Singapore. He is concurrently an Adjunct Senior Fellow at the Centre of Excellence for National Security, S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Nanyang Technological University and the President. Political Science Association, Singapore. He received his MA and PhD in International Relations from the Australian National University. He has been lecturing on issues relating to Singapore's politics and foreign policy for more than 35 years. He researches and publishes on Comparative Politics and International Relations and some of his works include: Quest for Political Power: Communist Subversion and Militancy in Singapore, Singapore: Marshall Cavendish, 2015; Politics and Governance in Singapore: An introduction, Second Edition, Singapore; McGraw-Hill Education Asia, 2012; Potties and Governance in Singapore: An Introduction, Singapore: McGraw-Hill Education, 2007.

Table of Contents

Key Personalities in Singapore's Politics xii

Chronology of Key Political Developments xv

List of Tables xxi

Abbreviations xxiii

Key Terms xxvii

Acknowledgements xxxiii

Preface xxxvii

Introduction xxxix

Chapter 1 The Key Determinants of Singapore Politics 1

Chapter 2 The Political History of Singapore and the Continued Relevance of the Past 11

Chapter 3 The Singapore Political System - A Hybrid Westminster Model? 21

Chapter 4 Political Poetics - The Resilience of the One-Parry Dominant State 31

Chapter 5 Para-Political Organisations in Singapore 41

Chapter 6 Nation Building and National Identity 59

Chapter 7 Political Leadership and the Challenge of Renewal 73

Chapter 8 Rise of Civil Society Politics and Democratisation 93

Chapter 9 Rise of New Issues in Singapore's Politics 113

Chapter 10 Elections in Singapore - Is the Hegemony Being Challenged? 127

Chapter 11 Singapore in the Post-Lee Kuan Yew Era 145

Chapter 12 Linkage between Singapore's Domestic and Foreign Policy 153

Conclusion: Whither Politics in Singapore? 159

Select Bibliography 167

Index 179