IPS Update Issue July 2022

The Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) is pleased to announce the appointment of Prof Wang Gungwu, University Professor at the National University of Singapore (Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences), as its 12th S R Nathan Fellow for the Study of Singapore, for the period from August 2022 to May 2023. 

As the S R Nathan Fellow, Prof Wang will pursue research related to public policy and governance in Singapore. He will deliver his series of lectures at NUS and a book will be published thereafter.

Prof Wang Gungwu is best known for his explorations of Chinese history in the long view, and for his writings on the Chinese diaspora.

Find out more in the press release here.

Asia Journalism Fellowship 2022

The Asia Journalism Fellowship (AJF) family will add 14 new members in August 2022. Keeping in mind that the COVID-19 pandemic is still in our midst, the programme will run online for four weeks before participants come to Singapore for two weeks. The six-week programme will last from August 15 to September 23.

We are inviting the 16 fellows from 2021 who only managed to join us online last year to join us physically for the last two weeks in September. 

Find out more about this year’s fellowship here.

Commentary — How can S’pore better prepare for the risks and opportunities of an increasingly uncertain world?
(TODAY)
By Eddie Choo
• 5-min read

From food insecurity to the climate crisis, how can we make use of scenario planning to deal with global uncertainties? IPS' Eddie Choo writes for TODAY, explaining how the community, businesses and the Government can work together to identify major trends in order to more effectively handle future crises. In particular, he highlights the importance of public involvement in scenario planning projects such as Reimagining Singapore 2030.

Commentary — Targeted approach needed to boost digital literacy
(The Straits Times)
By Carol Soon, Nandhini Bala Krishnan and Shawn Goh
• 4-min read

In the face of false information, governments, technology companies, academics and practitioners face the never-ending task of developing measures to effectively tackle falsehoods online. As Singapore continues to roll out more digital literacy campaigns, IPS’ Dr Carol Soon and Nandhini Bala Krishnan, as well as Shawn Goh (Masters Candidate at Oxford Internet Institute) remind us of the need for a more targeted approach — be it for our seniors or the young.

Commentary — 梁凯欣：重新构想新加坡与黑天鹅 (Translation: Reimagining Singapore and the Black Swan)
(Lianhe Zaobao)
By Liang Kaixin
• 5-min read

Many black swan events only become unpredictable when people choose to avoid thinking about them and are reluctant to plan. In addition to dealing with foreign conflicts such as the Russian-Ukraine war, scenario planning could be helpful in addressing domestic issues such as the widening generational divide and racism in Singapore. IPS' Liang Kaixin writes about the need for scenario planning projects like Reimagining Singapore 2030 to be prepared for such events in the future.

Commentary — How to frame Russia’s war against Ukraine
(The Straits Times)
By Tommy Koh
• 4-min read

In this piece for The Straits Times, IPS' Special Adviser Prof Tommy Koh writes about the framing of Russia's war against Ukraine. He writes that some well-intentioned people are urging Ukraine to compromise — to cede territory to Russia in return for peace. However, Prof Koh also urges readers to put themselves in the shoes of the Ukrainians. After so much destruction and suffering, should one be willing to accept, in return for peace, ceding Crimea and Donbas to Russia?

Report on the 36th Singapore Economic Roundtable

On 2 June 2022, the Institute of Policy Studies held its 36th Singapore Economic Roundtable. The biannual meeting comprised two segments. The first was a special session on the theme of “Sustainability”, in which Singapore’s goals regarding renewable energy, carbon emissions reduction, and green technology were discussed amongst participants from academia as well as the solar and architectural industries. The second segment involved a panel discussion with economists and business leaders from the public and private sectors on several topics such as the macro-economic outlook, the effects of the Russia-Ukraine conflict on inflation and energy prices, and China’s “zero-COVID” policy.

Report on the Ngee Ann Kongsi-IPS Citizens’ Panel on Youth Mental Health

On 19 March 2022, The Ngee Ann Kongsi-IPS Citizens’ Panel on Youth Mental Health was launched. It saw the participation of 55 students from Republic Polytechnic (RP). Over the course of seven sessions, the participants worked in groups to develop solutions to improve the mental health and resilience of Singapore youth.  During the last session which was held on 16 April 2022, the groups presented their ideas to the RP management and external stakeholders. This report showcases the proposed solutions of the eight Citizens’ Panel groups.

Book Chapter — A Refined Model of Contingent Consent: Explaining Popular Support for Singapore's People's Action Party

In this book chapter, Assoc Prof Terence Lee from NUS' Political Science department and IPS' Dr Teo Kay Key used empirical data for Singapore from the Asian Barometer Survey to demonstrate that when an authoritarian regime is effective in providing public goods, the more it is viewed as trustworthy, the more legitimacy that government is likely to attain, and the more it can elicit support from its citizens.