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KOH, Gillian

KOH, Gillian

KOH, Gillian
许林珠

Senior Research Fellow

Dr Gillian Koh is Senior Research Fellow in the Governance and Economy department. Her research interests are in the areas of party and electoral politics, the development of civil society, state-society relations, state governance and social entrepreneurship in Singapore. She contributes to the research programme called “Governance of a City-State” at the Institute.  

Since joining IPS in 1996, she has, among other things led the research teams that have generated surveys on political attitudes around Singapore’s parliamentary as well as presidential elections, and is a member of the Asian Barometer Survey’s Singapore team that has conducted three waves of the study. Dr Koh has contributed to other surveys on Singaporean’s sense of national identity and research on social capital and resilience. She has coordinated several of IPS’ scenario-planning projects too. She has published several articles, as well as co-authored and co-edited several books on these areas of research. Dr Koh regularly contributes opinion essays in Singapore’s mainstream media on political developments in the country. She was Deputy Director (Research) at the Institute from 2016 to 2023.

Dr Koh gained her doctorate in Sociological Studies from the University of Sheffield (UK) in 1995 where she also obtained her Master of Arts in Third World Studies in 1989 with both degrees focused on research on Singapore as a developmental state. She is also an alumnus of the National University of Singapore (1988). 

Research Interests

Politics and governance; state-society relations; public consultation; development of civil society in Singapore

Publications

  • Koh, G. (2025). Building Community Resilience in Singapore. In Seah, C. H. (ed.) Synthesis & Synergy. Architecture for Community. Singapore: DP Architects. 
  • Koh, G. (2025). Assets and Challenges: Singapore’s Third Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong Hands Over to Successor. In Chong, T. and Singh, D. (eds.) Southeast Asian Affairs 2025. Singapore: Yusof Ishak-ISEAS (289-308).
  • Gee, C., Yap, J. H., Choo, E. & Koh, G. (2023). Public Deliberation on Singapore’s Fiscal Policies and National Reserves. IPS Working Papers No. 51.
  • Teo, K. K., Tan E. S., and Koh, G. (2023). Singapore: An Outlier? In, Chu, Y. H., Chung, Y. T., Huang, M. H., and Huang, K. P. (eds.), How Asians View Democratic Legitimacy. Taipei: Taiwan National University Press (pp. 348-360).
  • Koh, G. & Yap, J. H. (2023). The Year in Review: Policy and Political Developments in 2022. The Year in Review.
  • Wu, A., Koh, G., Gee, C., Lee, S., Lin, G., & Lim, G.(2022). NUS Research on Ageing-Related Policies (2022). IPS Working Papers No. 49.
  • Chua, V., Koh, G., Tan, E. S., & Shih, D. (2020). Social Capital in Singapore: The Power of Network Diversity. Routledge.
  • Koh, G., Tan, E. S., & Chua, V. (2020). The Future of the Middle Class in Singapore: 2020 and Beyond. In Chong, T. (ed.), Navigating Differences. Integration in Singapore. Singapore: ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute (pp.207-230).
  • Koh, G., Tan, E. S., & Soon, D., (2018). Asian Barometer Country Report – Singapore. Asian Barometer Working Paper No.147.
  • Koh, G., & Soon, D. (2017). "Singapore". In Ogawa, A., (ed.) Routledge Handbook of Civil Society in Asia, Oxon: Routledge.
  • Koh, G., & Soon, D. (eds.) (2018). Singapore Perspectives 2017. What If? Singapore: World Scientific.
  • Koh, G., & Soon, D. (2017). Singapore chronicles: Civil society. Singapore: Institute of Policy Studies and Straits Times Press.
  • Soon, C., & Koh, G. (2017). Civil society and the state in Singapore. Singapore: Institute of Policy Studies and World Scientific Publishing Europe Ltd.
  • Institute of Policy Studies. (2017). Year 2026: Doing Singapore differently. Singapore: Institute of Policy Studies.
  • Abdul Aziz, J., Koh, G., Mathew, M & Tan, M.-W. (2016). SG50 and beyond: Protecting the public space in the new era of Singaporean pluralism. IPS Working Papers No.25.
  • Yap, M. T., Koh, G., & Soon, D. (Eds.). (2014). Migration and integration in Singapore: Policies and practice (Vol. 8). Singapore: Routledge.
  • Koh, V., Koh, G., Low, D., & Tan, M.-W. (2014). The politics of sustaining inclusive growth and social inclusion. IPS Working Papers No.23.
  • Koh, G. (2014). The emergent in governance in Singapore. In G. Koh (Ed.),  Singapore Perspectives 2013 (pp. 41–52). Singapore: World Scientific Press.
  • Koh, G., & Soon, D. (2014). Developing civil society in Singapore. In D. Chan (Ed.),  50 years of social issues in Singapore (pp. 205–228). Singapore: World Scientific Press.
  • Koh, G. (Ed.). (2013). Singapore Perspectives 2013: Governance. Singapore: World Scientific for IPS.
  • Koh, G., & Soon, D. (2012). The future of Singapore’s civil society. In  Lien Centre for Social Innovation,  social space 2012 (pp. 92–98). Singapore: Lien Centre for Social Innovation and Singapore Management University.
  • Koh, G., & Soon, D. (2011). Civil society in Singapore. In T. Chong & S. Elies (Eds.), An ASEAN community for all: Exploring the scope for civil society engagement (pp. 111–126). Singapore: Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Office of Regional Cooperation in Asia.
  • Koh, G., & Ghani, A. (2011). The politics of (non-) interference from the Singapore state. In T. Chong (Ed.), The AWARE saga (pp. 36–50). Singapore: NUS Press.
  • Koh, G. (2011). Perception of policies in Singapore survey: Presidential election survey 2011. Singapore: Institute of Policy Studies.
  • Koh, G. (2010, June). Managing diversity in a crowded country. Global: The International Briefing (3), 31.
  • Koh, G. (2011, March). A critical discussion of Budget 2011. IPS Update.
  • Koh, G., & Leong, C. H. (2010). Perception of policies in Singapore survey: Resilience in the economic crisis. Singapore: Institute of Policy Studies.
  • Koh, G., & Tan, E. S. (2010). Citizens and the nation: National orientations of Singaporeans survey. Singapore: Institute of Policy Studies.
  • Koh, G., & Leong, C. H. (2009). Perception of policies in Singapore survey: Resilience in the economic crisis. Singapore: Institute of Policy Studies.
  • Koh, G. (2009). The politics of (non-)interference from the Singapore state. In B. Welsh, J. Chin, A. Mahizhnan & T. H. Tan (Eds.), Impressions: The Goh Chok Tong years in Singapore (pp. 93–106). Singapore: NUS Press & Institute of Policy Studies.
  • Koh, G. (2008). Cultivating a Singapore creative class. Singapore: Institute of Policy Studies.
  • Koh, G. (2007). Social resilience and its bases in multicultural Singapore. In N. Vasu & Y. Chin (Eds.), Learning from London: Exploring social resilience in Singapore. Singapore: Select Books.
  • Koh, G. (2005). Report: IPS forum on the casino proposal. Singapore: Institute of Policy Studies.
  • Koh, G. & Ooi, G. L. (2005). Relationship between state and civil society in Singapore: Clarifying the concepts, assessing the ground. In H. G. Lee (Ed.), Civil society in Southeast Asia (pp. 167–197). Singapore: Institute of Policy Studies.
  • Koh, G., & Ooi, G. L. (2002). Singapore: A home, a nation? Southeast Asian affairs 2002, 255–281.
  • Koh, G., & Ooi, G. L. (Eds.). (2000). State-society relations in Singapore. Singapore: Institute of Policy Studies and Oxford University Press.
  • Koh, G., Tan, E. S., & Ooi, G. L. (1999). Survey of political participation in Singapore. Asia Pacific Journal of Political Science, 7(2).
  • Koh, G. (Ed.). (1999). Conference on the Singapore 21 Vision: Moving forward. Singapore: Institute of Policy Studies.

Op-eds/Commentaries

Conference Participation and Presentations/Speeches

  • Koh G., Teo K. K,, Tan, E. S., and Cheow J. J., “POPS(12). IPS Post-Election Survey 2025” at the IPS Closed-Door Discussion on Post-GE2025 Surveys, NUSS Kent Ridge Guild House, 1 September 2025.
  • Koh, G, “Singapore’s Parliamentary Democracy”, Lecture, LKYSPP Executive Education Programme for Nazarbayev University Graduate School of Public Policy, Faculty of Law, National University of Singapore, 16 July 2025. 
  • Koh, G. (2024). Reading the Signals from a Changing Global Order. Speech at Mediacorp’s Think Big Leadership Summit, held at the Parkroyal Collection Marina Bay, 30 October 2024.
  • Koh G., Teo K. K,, Tan, E. S., and Cheow J. J., "Singapore: Measures of Democratic Resilience" at 2024 East Asia Democracy Forum—Strengthening Democratic Resilience, hosted by Taiwan Foundation for Democracy organised by Asian Barometer Survey, Hu Fu Centre for East Asia Democratic Studies, College of Social Sciences, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 17 October 2024.
  • Koh G., Teo K. K,, Tan, E. S., and Cheow J. J., “Singaporeans’ Political Attitudes. Asian Barometer Survey (Wave 6, 2023) at the IPS Forum on Singaporeans’ Political Attitudes, Manasseh Meyer Seminar Room 3-1, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore, 24 September 2024.
  • Lecture titled "Challenges for Singapore in the Post-LKY Era, 20 November 2019, Fujitsu Asia Pte Ltd.
  • Lecture titled “Public Well-Being: Enhancing Social Mobility and Cohesion in Singapore”, LKYSPP Festival of Ideas, on 22 November 2020, Oei Tiong Ham Building.
  • Lecture titled "Challenges for Singapore in the Post-LKY Era, 20 November 2019, Fujitsu Asia Pte Ltd.
  • Lecture titled "Singapore's Socio-Economic Trends and Implications" to the ICA Command and Staff Course (ICSC), 4 October 2019, ICA Building.
  • Lecture titled “International Organisations and Global City Singapore” jointly with Dhevarajan, D., at the 2019 Global City Roundtable organised by the Academy of Hong Kong Studies, Education University of Hong Kong, 30 August 2019.
  • Speaker at the Networking Session with Senior Specialists at the MOE organised by the MOE Senior Specialists Professional Learning and Growth Committee, on “Strengthening Networking by Fellow Experts beyond MOE”, 16 May 2019, MOE Headquarters.
  • Presentation titled “Financing Healthcare in Ageing Singapore: What’s Fair?” jointly with Gee, C. at the SGX Corporate Healthcare Day organised by Maybank, 14 May 2019, at SGX.
  • Lecture titled “Is the 4th Generation Ready to Govern?” at the Maybank ICBCI Invest Asia Conference 2019 on, 9 May 2019, Fullerton Hotel.
  • Lecture titled “Trends in Social Mobility and Inclusion in Singapore”, to the SBF Inequality Initiative Main Committee, 16 April 2019, SBF Centre.
  • Presentation, “Dealing with Human Trafficking: Connecting Civil Society in Singapore with Asia” by Gillian Koh and Dhevarajan Devadas, at the Civil Society in Asia: 2nd International Conference, Melbourne, "Transnational Civil Society in Asia: The Potential of Grassroots Regionalization", 6 to 7 December 2018, Sydney Myer Asia Centre, University of Melbourne.
  • Lecture, “Singapore’s Socio-Economic Trends and Implications”, to the ICA Senior Staff, 3 July 2018.
  • Lecture, “POPS(8) IPS Post-Election Survey 2015”, for the NUS Methods Course, 26 June 2018.
  • Lecture, “Civil Society in Singapore: An Overview” to the Catholic Junior College Ignite Programme, 31 May 2018.
  • Presentation of the IPS Social Capital Project to the National Steering Committee and Working Committee on Racial and Religious Harmony, 9 and 20 April 2018.
  • Presentation of the IPS Social Capital Project to the Academy of Principals, 11 April 2018.
  • Lecture, “Singapore Civil Society: The Changing Dynamics of NPOs in Singapore” to the Home Team Academy, 21 March 2018
  • Lecture, “Singapore: Post-Lee Kuan Yew” for the National Museum of Singapore Docent Training Programme, 6 March 2018.
  • Presentation of the IPS Social Capital Project at the National IRCC Convention, 27 January 2018.
  • Lecture, “Populism and Ethno-Religious Nationalism in Singapore” for the RSIS Social Resilience Programme, 7 Nov 2017.
  • Lecture, “Singapore’s Political Governance System: Fit for Purpose?” for the LKYSPP School Course on Singapore, 13 Sept 2017. 
  • Co-presenter, “Prospects for multisectoral partnerships in Singapore — A case study”, at the Conference of Asian Foundations and Organisations on Multisectoral Partnerships in Manila (forthcoming).
  • Presenter, “Governance in 2022: Views from the IPS Prism immersive arts experience”, at Findings from the IPS Prism Survey, Singapore, 28 January 2013.
  • Closing Remarks, “Living and breathing Singapore”, at the Institute of Policy Studies Perspectives Conference, Singapore, January 17 2011.
  • Lecturer, “Public consultation”, at the Institute of Public Administration, 12 June 2002.
  • Lecturer, “Public consultation”, at the Singapore Prisons Department Strategy Planning Retreat, 4 December 2001.
  • Invited Speaker, “The fundamentals of a strong Singaporean society”, at the 17th GP Seminar, organised by the Ministry of Education, River Valley High School, Singapore, 25 March 2009.
  • Invited Lecturer, “Social enterprise in Singapore”, for Frontiers of Social Innovation course, at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, 18 February 2009.
  • Panel Discussion, “The heart and the politics of active citizenship in Singapore”, at the Moot Parliament Programme organised by the Gifted Education Branch, Ministry of Education, Anglo-Chinese School (Independent), Singapore, 13 February 2009.
  • Lecturer, “Public consultation”, at the Riau State Officials Study Tour, Institute of Public Administration, Civil Service College, 25 October 2001.
  • Lecturer, “Civil society in Singapore”, at The World Bank, Strategic Planning Meeting with Country Coordinators from the Asian Region, 20 June 2001.           
  • Lecturer, “Civil society in Singapore”, at the International Y’s Men Club of Singapore, 25 April 2001.
  • Joint project with Dr Tan Tay Keong, “Mandarin, masses and mnemonic devices: An inquiry into the state of social capital between the government and civil society in Singapore”, Masters in Public Policy Programme, National University of Singapore, January 2000–mid-2001.
  • Chairman, “The role of the intellectual and civil society”, at the PAC Fair Seminar organised by The Working Committee, 18 Sep 1999.