50 Years of Social Issues in Singapore

The social context of Singapore is changing rapidly, and understanding how people think, feel and behave in various situations has become a key driver of effectiveness in addressing social issues. 50 Years of Social Issues in Singapore provides a comprehensive review and examination of various social issues at multiple levels of analysis including the individual, group and society. This invaluable book adopts a translational approach to social issues in Singapore by explicitly bridging intellectual and practical perspectives. Contributed by a distinguished team of authors, the chapters examine the critical ideas underlying public debates of social issues and their policy and practical implications. The book is organized into three parts. Part I examines issues of population and social fundamentals in Singapore such as ageing, marriage, urban planning, healthcare and racial and religious harmony. Part II analyses Singapore's social progress through issues of inclusivity such as social mobility, developing communities and marginal groups that deserve more attention. Part III focuses on core principles and social processes related to social justice, doing good, social media and approaches to understanding and addressing social issues in Singapore. Most importantly, the chapters in this book clearly identify many of the critical, unresolved and emerging questions on various social issues that will guide the next generation of public discussion and policy deliberations on what matter in Singapore.Contents: Foreword by Tharman Shanmugaratnam About the Editor About the Contributors Preface Population and Social Fundamentals: Ageing in Singapore: Social Issues and Policy Challenges (Yap Mui Teng [National University of Singapore] and Christopher Gee [National University of Singapore]) The Psychology of Ageing: Social Implications for Singapore (John Elliott [National University of Singapore]) Social Challenges in Singapore's Healthcare System (Jeremy Lim [Oliver Wyman] and Manav Saxena [Oliver Wyman]) Marriage and Parenthood in Singapore (Paulin Straughan [National University of Singapore]) Preserving Racial and Religious Harmony in Singapore (Mathew Mathews [National University of Singapore] and Mohammad Khamsya Bin Khidzer [National University of Singapore]) The Social Dimension of Urban Planning in Singapore (Liu Thai Ker [RSP Architects Planners & Engineers Pte Ltd] and Astrid S Tuminez [Microsoft Corporation]) Inclusivity and Social Progress: Social Mobility in Singapore (Tan Ern Ser [National University of Singapore]) The Soul of Nation Building in Singapore: Contributions from Social Work (Ang Bee Lian [Ministry of Social and Family Development, Singapore]) Social Impact of Policies for the Disabled in Singapore (Reuben Wong [National University of Singapore] and Wong Meng Ee [National Institute of Education]) Foreign Domestic Workers in Singapore: A Neglected Social Issue? (Shirlena Huang [National University of Singapore] and Brenda S A Yeoh [National University of Singapore]) Social Issues in Developing a Community in Singapore (Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman [Ministry of National Development & Ministry of Defence, Singapore]) Developing Civil Society in Singapore (Gillian Koh [National University of Singapore] and Debbie Soon [National University of Singapore]) Principles and Social Processes: Social Justice in Singapore: Some Personal Reflections (Tommy Koh [Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Singapore]) Doing Good in Singapore (Willie Cheng [Caritas Humanitarian Aid & Relief Initiatives Singapore] and Sharifah Mohamed [Republic Polytechnic]) Social Media and Social Issues in Singapore (Tan Tarn How [National University of Singapore]) Understanding and Addressing Social Issues in Singapore (David Chan [Singapore Management University]) Readership: General public, civil servants, NGOs, social scientists, students and academics interested in Singapore.