Can Singapore Fall?

The following sections are included:

• THE S R NATHAN FELLOWSHIP FOR THE STUDY OF SINGAPORE
• CONTENTS
• FOREWORD
• ABOUT THE MODERATORS

This lecture series is based on the theme, “Can Singapore Fall?”, but you will realise in the course of my speech that the real question that I want to ask is, “Will Singapore Fall?” — except that, if I were to set it as such, it might sound a little pre-deterministic and a little too pessimistic for everyone. So, “Can Singapore Fall?” is a more neutral question, but obviously, when you ask a question like that, the answer must be, “Of course it can, if you make the conditions as bad as you can possibly imagine.” Let us get to it, and hopefully along the way, we can learn from one another, and gather ideas from one another on how we can act in a way to minimise the possibility or likelihood of Singapore falling…

This lecture ends with a Question-and-Answer Session, moderated by Professor Tan Tai Yong.

Thank you for coming to this lecture, my second in the series on the theme, “Can Singapore Fall?”

I am gratified by the many reactions to my first lecture. Contrary to what some took away from my reference to John Glubb's Age of Intellect, I am not against debate and discussion.

For Glubb, the Age of Intellect’s “most dangerous by-product is the birth and growth of the notion that human intellect can solve all the problems of the world, when in fact the survival of the nation really depends on its citizens.” Intellectualising is not a problem in itself, except when it stops us from taking concrete steps forward. For Singapore, the danger is if we develop a “complaint and blame” culture, where people do not bear responsibility and we end up with a deep pessimism about Singapore’s future…

This lecture ends with a Question-and-Answer Session, moderated by Kuik Shiao-yin

The following sections are included:

• Setting the Foundations for a First-World Society
• The Way of Hope
• The Gazelle and the Lion
• Thinking Graphically
• New Age of Pioneers
• Honouring Innovation, Excellence, and Outwardness
• Excellence
• Outwardness
• Trust, Diversity, and Opportunity
• The Power of Culture — Values Lived Out
• Lessons from Finland and the Grameen Bank
• Values and Soft Skills
• Reaching Out to Singapore’s Potential
• Confidence in Overcoming Our Limitations
• Winning as Both City and State
• The Honour Circle
• Singapore Need Not Fall
• Question-and-Answer Session (Moderated by Dr Gillian Koh)

The following sections are included:

• About the Cover Illustrator