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Abstract
For a country that is economically advanced, modern and positioned as
a global city, Singapore resonates with a climate of fear. Democracy is
often misrepresented, misunderstood or treated as a dirty word. When it
comes to politics, it is pure paranoia. Few question why by-elections
are not called or why the presidential process ends in no contest. Instead,
what is common is the practice of self-censorship. Frequently, it ends
in the censorship of others.
It is interesting to see that self-censorship operates without direct
intervention of the ruling party. What makes most citizens, residents
and foreigners living and working in Singapore behave in this way? Why
does the majority avoid alternative political expression? How do they
censor themselves and others? In such an environment, what are the chances
of legitimising alternative political expression and action? Finally,
what repercussions do this uniquely Singaporean self-censorship hold for
the Republic's future? This book addresses these questions and evaluates
its implications.
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