IPS Update Issue February 2021

Singapore Perspectives, the Institute of Policy Studies’ annual flagship conference, concluded at the end of January 2021. This year’s conference, titled Reset, was part of the first phase of Reimagining Singapore 2030, a year-long scenario-planning exercise that seeks answers to the questions: how will Singaporeans live, and make a living in 2030?

The conference featured local and international thought leaders, academics, activists and community leaders considering the challenges presented by the disruptions caused by COVID-19, as well as pre-existing trends and issues in different domains: political, social, economic, technological, ethical, and environmental.

While the first three days of the conference, consisting of nine forums, took place virtually, the fourth and final day of the conference was held in-person at Marina Bay Sands. It brought together some 250 people to hear and engage with two more panels in addition to a closing dialogue between Mr Lawrence Wong, Minister for Education and Second Minister for Finance, and Mr Warren Fernandez, Editor-in-Chief of The Straits Times. Others who could not attend in-person were able to tune in online. Videos of all of this year’s forums can be found here, and you can read our event summary here.

Commentary — Singapore needs a new Smart Nation vision that doesn't leave any citizen behind
(CNA)
By Carol Soon and Shawn Goh
• 6-min read

A Smart Nation requires going beyond providing hardware access — there are “software” challenges to overcome too. IPS' Dr Carol Soon and Shawn Goh discuss ways to ensure citizens are not left behind.

Commentary — Looking to 2021: Seven wishes for the year from Prof Tommy Koh
(IPS Commons)
By Tommy Koh
• 3-min read

IPS Special Advisor Professor Tommy Koh wrote about his seven wishes for 2021, which include a stronger World Health Organization (WHO)  and reduction in inequality.

Commentary — The Biden administration: The road ahead for Asia 
(The Straits Times)
By Tommy Koh
• 5-min read

Following the inauguration of the 46th President of the United States of America, Joe Biden, IPS Special Advisor Professor Tommy Koh wrote on what the Biden administration will mean for Singapore, ASEAN and Asia.

Commentary — 2020 was a good year – for science
(IPS Commons)
By Asad Latif
• 3-min read

The global pandemic has left a lingering impression that last year was a curse on mankind. Indeed, it was so in terms of lives lost, livelihoods destroyed, hopes dashed, and expectations delayed. In this commentary, Asad Latif expounded on why the year 2020 was a blessing for those who believe in science.

Commentary — Trust Singapore
(IPS Commons)
By Asad Latif
• 3-min read

There is one corrosive element which literally makes trust rust. That is income inequality. Asad Latif warns that a failure to resolve income inequality in Singapore today may result in diluting its future down the road.

Commentary — The keys to building resilience against lone wolf attacks
(The Straits Times)
By Mathew Mathews and Melvin Tay
• 6-min read

The revelation of the nefarious plot by a 16-year-old Christian Singaporean detained under the Internal Security Act is bound to have shaken many Singaporeans. It would also have caused some serious soul-searching. In this commentary, IPS’ Dr Mathew Mathews and Melvin Tay explain how families, educators and religious communities all have a part to play in fighting extremism and religious intolerance.

Commentary — Saving Dover Forest and the plight of the Singapore urban planner
(CNA)
By Woo Jun Jie
• 7-min read

Can policymakers and conservationists find a practical approach in striking a middle ground that allows Singapore to retain its biodiversity even as it plans for the needs of its future generations? IPS’ Senior Research Fellow Dr Woo Jun Jie suggests the need of the involvement of stakeholders at the implementation stage of Singapore’s urban planning, in this commentary for CNA.

Commentary — A man in a woman’s world
(IPS Commons)
By Asad Latif
• 3-min read

Feminists would hope that the White Paper, to be delivered this year to update Singapore’s efforts to fight against gender inequality, would accelerate the radical impetus of change that began with the arrival of the Women’s Charter of 1961.  Asad Latif suggests in this commentary that for gender equality to happen, a critical core of men, who hold the balance of material and ideological power to this day, would have to become feminists. 

Our Singaporean Values is the first of a three-part series presenting the salient findings from the latest 2020 instalment of the World Values Survey, the largest non-commercial, cross-national, and time-series survey of public attitudes and values globally. This survey analyses the responses of 2,012 Singapore participants. It provides insights into seven key areas: A) Individual Priorities, B) Personal Ethics, C) Religion and Religiosity, D) Family and Gender, E) Economy and Employment, F) State and Society, and G) Politics and Governance.