The links take you the chapters’ Notes. > Selected essays are available in full online.
- Accidental citizens: It’s time we cultivated deeper appreciation for our diversity
- Justice and equality: There’s more to handling race and religion than avoiding riots
- The power of symbols: The 2017 presidential turnover was a missed opportunity > Download this chapter for free here
- 391 Orchard Road: Xenophobia turned a commercial space into a national icon
- Morality police: Conservative values needn’t restrict adults’ cultural choices
- Infamous Amos: His provocation was wrong, but that doesn’t make the law right
- Demophobic society: Singapore’s allergy to the D-word weakens us
- From 2011 to 2015: The PAP corrected its policies, but not its policymaking style
- Winter is here: Since the 2011 general election, a chill has descended on political debate
- Freak elections: Elites underestimate the sophistication of the electorate
- Open government: An ombudsman can relieve pressure for government accountability
- 6.9 million: The Population White Paper revealed a lack of internal debate
- The fog of fear: If the rules are going to stay, they should at least be clarified
- Elite cohesion: The Lee family feud tested Singapore’s unique establishment unity
- Disturbing the peace: Singaporeans have peculiarly low tolerance for troublemakers
- Political sweet spot: The lack of protest results from an exceptional balancing act
- Calibrated coercion: The state has grown in power by moderating its use of force
- Freedom of speech: Singapore can strike a better balance between tyranny and anarchy
- Dreaded defamation: It’s time to rethink Singapore’s most chilling speech law
- Holding the press: The media are free to earn profits, but not popular support > Download this chapter for free here
- The digital gap: Our vibrant internet space still lacks independent journalism
- Academic interests: Our universities have arrived globally, but left the local behind > Published in Times Higher Education
- Reputational risk: NTU gave me a personal tutorial in how the system works
- Active citizens: We shouldn’t silence civil society’ voices of conscience
- The LKY legacy: Lee Kuan Yew isn’t to blame if Singapore can’t let go of him > Published in New Mandala
- A PAP wish list: I can imagine becoming a PAP fan if its leaders can imagine reforms
- Reforming the PAP: Future leaders must make changes their predecessors resisted
- Accidental losers: Our future completeness requires reconciliation with our past