IPS-Nathan Lectures | Lecture III: “Enlightened Modern” by Professor Wang Gungwu
SYNOPSIS
Living With Civilisations: Reflections on Southeast Asia’s Local and National Cultures by Professor Wang Gungwu | The Southeast Asian region is home to a set of diverse local cultures and distinct local identities. In this lecture series, Professor Wang Gungwu will look at how the cultures of our region interacted with civilisations, and how these civilisations shaped local identities and cultures in the process. Being at the centre of Southeast Asia, Singapore’s national identity has also been moulded by great ancient civilisations. From the rise of global maritime trade, to Singapore’s role as a port under the British empire, the country has come into contact with many civilisations that empowered its development. Understanding the history of Singapore from this perspective will give us insight to how the country’s modern identity is being shaped, and enable us to better understand our region’s place in the modern world order.
Enlightened Modern | The 19th century saw the mass expansion of Western European influence around the world. Through occupying territory and building extensive empires, these European powers, the Enlightened Modern, sought to bring progress to the uncivilised. In the third lecture of the series, Professor Wang outlines the effect of European domination on Asia and Southeast Asia, particularly on the Indic, Sinic and Islamic civilisations in our region. Why were European nations so influential in Southeast Asia? How did the ancient civilisations around us respond to the idea of modernisation? What eventually gave rise to nationalism in our region?
Prof Elaine Ho, Professor at the Department of Geography and Senior Research Fellow at the Asia Research Institute, National University of Singapore, will be moderating the Question-and-Answer session of this lecture.
To find out more about Professor Wang Gungwu, the 12th S R Nathan Fellow, click here.
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SPEAKER
Professor WANG Gungwu (12 S R Nathan Fellow for the Study of Singapore) has been University Professor at the National University of Singapore (NUS) since 2007, and Emeritus Professor at the Australian National University (ANU) since 1988. He is best known for his explorations of Chinese history in the long view, and for his writings on the Chinese diaspora.
Professor Wang began his teaching career at University of Malaya (UM), Singapore, in 1957 after completing his doctorate at University of London, School of Oriental and African Studies. He went on to become Dean of the Faculty of Arts at UM (1962-1963) and a Professor of History at the university (1963-1968). At ANU, Professor Wang headed the Department of Far Eastern History (1968-1975, 1980-1986) and was Director at the Research School of Pacific Studies (1975-1980). From 1986 to 1995, he was Vice-Chancellor of the University of Hong Kong. He later joined NUS in 1997 as a Professor (1997-2007) and Director of the East Asian Institute (1997-2007).
In Singapore, Professor Wang is currently serving as a Senior Fellow at the Diplomatic Academy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and an Adviser to the Ministry of Education’s (MOE) Social Science Research Council.
His previous notable appointments in Singapore include Chairman of the Panel of Advisers for the National Collection on China and the Chinese Diaspora from 1997 to 2000, Chairman of the National Library Board’s Advisory Panel for Chinese Library Services from 2000 to 2003, and Chairman of the Expert Panel of MOE’s Academic Research Fund from 2006 to 2012.
Professor Wang also holds several positions in various universities and organisations around the world, including Foreign Honorary Member of the American Academy of Arts and Science, Honorary Member of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and Fellow at the Australian Academy of the Humanities. He is also a Commander of the British Empire (CBE) and an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO).
Professor Wang was conferred various international awards, such as the International Academic Prize, Fukuoka Asian Cultural Prizes in 1994 and the Tang Prize in Sinology in 2020. He was also awarded the Distinguished Service Order in 2020 by the Government of Singapore.
CHAIRPERSON
Professor Elaine HO is Professor at the Department of Geography and Senior Research Fellow at the Asia Research Institute, National University of Singapore. Her research focuses on two domains: first, transnational ageing and care in the Asia-Pacific; and second, diaspora engagement and diplomacy. Both topics address her overarching interest in citizenship geographies. She is author of the award-winning book, Citizens in Motion: Emigration, Immigration and Re-migration Across China's Borders, published by Stanford University Press.
For enquiries, please contact Jasmine Ng at +65 6601 6097 or ips.srnf@nus.edu.sg .