Hard Choices: Challenging the Singapore Consensus

Title Page, Copyright Page

“This is an important book and should be read by all who are interested in understanding post-2011 Singapore. The authors, Donald Low and Sudhir Vadaketh, are two of our most original thinkers.” —Tommy Koh, Ambassador-at-Large, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Singapore “These wide-ranging, diverse, and richly stimulating essays deserve to be read by anyone seriously interested in Singapore’s future. The arguments against presumed vulnerability and chaotic populism as reasons for elitist illiberal rule will be contested. The book’s own title predicts as much. But if they are, so much the better; especially if their public airing serves to hasten salutary reforms.” —Donald K. Emmerson, Director, Southeast Asia Forum, Stanford University “This is a thoughtful collection of essays on recent political developments in Singapore that raises penetrating questions and offers plausible answers. The authors brilliantly pull together a variety of seemingly unrelated developments to highlight systemic patterns that deserve attention and response. It is a must-read for anyone interested in politics and public policy in Singapore.” —M Ramesh, Professor, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore Hard Choices: Challenging the Singapore Consensus HARD CHOICES Challenging the Singapore Consensus Donald Low and Sudhir Thomas Vadaketh with contributions from Linda Lim and Thum Ping Tjin © 2014 Donald Low and Sudhir Thomas Vadaketh Published by: NUS Press National University of Singapore AS3-01-02, 3 Arts Link Singapore 117569 Fax: (65) 6774-0652 E-mail: nusbooks@nus.edu.sg Website: http://www.nus.edu.sg/nuspress ISBN: 978-9971-69-816-4 (Paper) All rights reserved. This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or any information storage and retrieval system now known or to be invented, without written permission from the Publisher. National Library Board, Singapore Cataloguing-in-Publication Data Low, Donald. Hard choices : challenging the Singapore consensus / Donald Low and Sudhir Thomas Vadaketh, with contributions from Linda Lim and Thum Ping Tjin. – Singapore : NUS Press, 2014. pages cm ISBN : 978-9971-69-816-4 (paperback) 1. Political planning – Singapore. 2. Singapore – Politics and government. I. Vadaketh, Sudhir Thomas. II. Lim, Linda. III. Tham, Ping Tjin. IV. Title. JQ1063 320.95957 – dc23 OCN 871013072 Cover image: Chun Kai Feng, “It Seemed Like A Good Idea at the Time” (2012). Image courtesy of: FOST Gallery, Singapore. Cover design by: Nelani Jinadasa Typeset by: PressBooks.com Printed by: Markono Print Media Pte Ltd ...