Two new books on the principles of public policy in Singapore and Asia have been launched by the National University of Singapore’s Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (LKYSPP), at a special conference held today to mark the School’s 10th anniversary.
The books, both essay compilations, respectively showcase the trail-blazing ideas of Singapore’s former prime minister Lee Kuan Yew and the research being undertaken by LKYSPP scholars on governance in Asia. They were launched by the conference’s guest-of-honour Mr Lawrence Wong, Minister of Culture, Community and Youth and Second Minister for Communications and Information.
The first book, The Big Ideas of Mr Lee Kuan Yew, is a collection of papers presented at an eponymous conference held last year to mark LKYSPP’s 9th anniversary. It includes contributions from former Singapore president S R Nathan, former deputy prime minister S Jayakumar, former chief justice Chan Sek Keong, Education Minister Heng Swee Keat, Government Chief of Communications Janadas Devan, LKYSPP Dean Kishore Mahbubani, and Ambassadors-at-Large Chan Heng Chee, Bilahari Kausikan and Tommy Koh.
“The Big Ideas of Mr Lee Kuan Yew is a ground-breaking work because this is the first time that policymakers and scholars who have worked together with Mr Lee have come together to reflect on his contributions. Fresh new insights on the thinking and legacy of Mr Lee can be found in this work. Current and future generations of Singaporeans will benefit a great deal from studying this book,” said Professor Mahbubani.
The second book, Governing Asia: Reflections on the Research Journey of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, analyses governance in Asia and the actions that the region’s governments and people are taking for the public good. It comprises 38 essays by LKYSPP’s diverse pool of global scholars, who delve into their research interests to explore the past, present, and future of governance in Asia.
LKYSPP’s 10th anniversary conference, titled Singapore and a Rising Asia, was the culmination of “Festival of Ideas” — a year of research and outreach events to celebrating the School’s journey over the past decade. It was graced by a host of distinguished speakers, including former Singapore foreign affairs minister George Yeo, renowned New York Times columnist Roger Cohen, and author and China Economic Quarterly co-founder Joe Studwell.