Singapore changes guard : social, political and economic directions in the 1990s /

This is an outstanding critical, analytical study of Singapore politics and economy by a group of specialists on Southeast Asia, the majority of whom are from Australia and Singapore. Their work will be appreciated by those who have a good working knowledge of the Singapore political economy. The essays are original, thoughtful, and well reasoned. Readers will find the discussion of ideology both original and thought provoking. They both look back at Singapore's early development following independence and ahead to the 1990s and the new problems the nation will face. If there is one shortcoming, it is that the essays are in many cases too short and the arguments too compressed. This reviewer was especially taken with the essay of John Clammer on the question of a national ideology. A careful reading will reveal that the majority of contributors have moved away from a straight line historical approach to be found in the works of an earlier generation of scholars such as Iain Buchanan, Singapore in Southeast Asia (1972) and The Singapore Economy, ed. by You Poh Seng and Lim Chong Yah (1971). This volume should be read and studied by all those who seek a deeper and wider knowledge of Singapore. Advanced undergraduate through faculty. J. Silverstein; emeritus, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick