Training FOR Asia
The dramatic moments that started in Southport and spread to Manchester, Plymouth, London, Belfast, and other places, which are harsh reminders not to get comparative social peace and stability for granted, are still a long way from Singapore in terms of range and political and social characteristics.
There are three important causes for this.
For example, Singapore is similar to the British in terms of being a melting pot of cultures, races and religions, and a state that has always welcomed expats and workers. To create a tranquil and functioning society, managing the passions, fears, and follies of these various parties has and always will be a challenging balancing act for the specialists.
Singapore’s population is largely embracing the most modern technologies in both the electric and cultural realms, making it an open and wired state. This enables Singapore to stay on top of the rest of the world in terms of innovation and development, but it also means it is susceptible to risks of misinformation and disinformation, as well as foreign interference functions, which are becoming more prevalent website and in the social internet realm.
Furthermore, regardless of what this means for national and social cohesion, more and more social actors are using nationalist and nationalist speech to join and energize their supporter base in an era of growing political contestation around the world.
This is made worse by the growing threat of hostile information campaigns being carried out by state and non-state actors who constantly seek to undermine this very unity in order to diminish their allies and rivals.
A situation similar to what the UK experienced in recent months could have devastating consequences for a small nation like Singapore thanks to these variables. The chance to social and economic security, and more important to cooperation between people, is not worth taking.
The Singapore Institute of International Affairs is an independent think tank led by Nicholas Fang, director for safety and world affairs. He founded Black Dot Research, a business and social studies firm with an independent fact-checking system, and is a former elected member of parliament.
For more analysis on the UK riots and their relevance to Singapore, watch CNA’s three-part special on Asia First from Aug 28 to 30.