Chapters in this book

1. Frontmatter i
2. Contents v
3. Introduction ix
4. Entree
5. 1. The intellectual's role in society 3
6. Democracy under scrutiny
7. 2. Give me liberty or give me wealth 9
8. 3. Nominated MPs: some check is better than no check 15
9. 4. Foolish to hamper democracy's growth 19
10. 5. A minimum working hypothesis of democracy for Singapore 22
11. 6. For a communitarian democracy in Singapore 27
12. Debating ethnicity, welfarism and population trends
13. 7. Ethnic peace: a unique contribution 35
14. 8. An ethnically diverse nation's task 40
15. 9. The paradox of ethnic-based self-help groups 46
16. 10. Welfarism and an affluent Singapore 51
17. 11. A declining birthrate 55
18. Aspects of Singaporeanness
19. 12. Comparing the Singaporean undergraduate with the American 65
20. 13. Kiasuism and the withering away of Singaporean creativity 71
21. 14. Frugality jockeys with conspicuous consumption 76
22. 15. Is Singlish becoming a language of prestige? 79
23. 16. Where gilded youth are lacking in heart 83
24. Critiquing the arts and popular culture
25. 17. What sort of culture should Singapore have? 89
26. 18. The West, popular culture, and Singapore 95
27. 19. The arts and the market 99
28. 20. New reach for Singapore's English-language theatre 105
29. 21. Being obsessed with things sexual in the arts 110
30. 22. Self-congratulation: hallmark of the Singapore arts scene 116
31. Urbanism and the search for space
32. 23. Understanding a society's needs for space 123
33. 24. Key urban challenges amidst rapid change 127
34. 25. Eye on the Concept Plan 133
35. 26. A new urbanism communicated by shopping centres 141
36. The economy: new directions, old problems
37. 27. Corporate networking: where to next? 147
38. 28. Creating a new urban elite for Singapore 152
39. 29. Privatization may not be the best answer 157
40. 30. Domestic enterprises: levelling the playing field 161
41. 31. When will Singapore become a developed country? 166
42. Contributors 171