News

Disavowing Liberalism: Evolution of the Political Economy of the PAP Regime by Prof Chua Beng Huat

September 11, 2017

As a follow-up to the August launch of Professor Chua Beng Huat (Dept of Sociology)’s new book, Liberalism Disavowed: Communitarianism and State Capitalism in Singapore, there will be a talk by Prof. Chua jointly organised by Asia Research Institute (ARI), and Singapore Research Nexus at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, National University of Singapore. This will […]

Singapore – a land where dreams come true?

September 8, 2017

Singapore – a land where dreams come true? That seems to be the intent of Singapore’s latest tourism slogan – ‘Passion Made Possible’, and the subject of an article by Associate Professor Sin Harng Luh from the NUS Department of Geography. She points out how conceptualizing Singapore as a place that caters to one’s dreams […]

Level Up! Refreshing Parental Mediation Theory for Our Digital Media Landscape

September 5, 2017

How can parents effectively guide their children’s video game play? The September school holidays are a mixed blessing for students and parents. Providing a reprieve from the school routine, these holidays are considered ‘crunch-time’ for revision because they immediately precede year-end examinations. Hence, students try to balance the three ‘R’s – rest, recreation, and revision […]

Photos from our Panel Discussion: Singapore-Relevant Research or International Impact: A False Dilemma?

September 4, 2017

Photos from our recent panel discussion titled “Singapore-Relevant Research or International Impact: A False Dilemma?” – featuring Associate Professor Ho Kong Chong (Dept of Sociology), Associate Professor Irene Ng (Dept of Social Work) and Professors Philip Holden and Lionel Wee (Dept of English Language and Literature). We were glad that Prof Wang Gungwu was able […]

Why Equality and Which Inequalities?: A Modern Confucian Approach to Democracy

August 29, 2017

How can we reconcile Confucianism with democracy?Confucius, a teacher, editor, political advisor, and philosopher of China’s Spring and Autumn period, was born in 551 BC on the 27th day of the eighth month of the Chinese calendar. While Singapore does not officially celebrate Confucius’ birthday, the country marks Teachers’ Day on the first Friday of […]

Art and Soul: Powerful and Powerless Art in Singapore

August 22, 2017

Are public sculptures more than meets the eye? The Renaissance City Report was a plan unveiled on 9 March 2000 by the then-Ministry of Information and the Arts, under which the National Arts Council (NAC) was established in August 1991. The report aimed to promote the arts and culture scene in Singapore by envisioning it […]

Sports is Politics: Swimming (and) Pools in Postcolonial Singapore

August 15, 2017

Swimming is a popular sport in Singapore. Many of us know that Singapore won its first Olympic gold medal in the swimming pool in August 2016. Moreover, Singapore is also home to many modern swimming facilities. One of them is the OCBC Aquatic Centre located within the Singapore Sports Hub. The OCBC Aquatic Centre is […]

Music and cultural politics: ideology and resistance in Singapore

August 10, 2017

Do you remember the lyrics to “Count on me Singapore”? What about the National Day favourite – “Home”? Every year, a new National Day song is launched to commemorate 9 August, the day of the nation’s independence. Leading up to this date, radio and television stations broadcast the new National Day song while students learn […]

Consuming the Nation: National Day Parades in Singapore

August 1, 2017

Every 9th August, thousands across this island nation witness one of the most spectacular displays of national identity in the world. The National Day Parade (NDP) occurs on a date that pertains to Singapore’s own history, unlike most of the other public holidays celebrated by its citizens which originate from diverse cultural and religious identities. […]

Tasting Memories, Cooking Heritage: A Sensuous Invitation to Remember

July 25, 2017

How does Singapore’s unique food heritage intertwine with our memories of times past? The Singapore Food Festival, held annually from June to July for more than 20 years, features activities such as heritage trails, culinary workshops, and competitions to celebrate Singapore’s international reputation as a food nation. A/P Kelvin Low (Dept of Sociology) in his […]