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From The Editor’s Desk

From the Editor's Desk 

BY NATALIE NAH &  POH YONG HAN

Dear Readers,

We’re excited to get the Singapore Policy Journal (SPJ) up and running again after our summer hiatus. We re-enter the conversation at an interesting time, particularly as Singapore gears towards the upcoming General Elections. As always, the Journal aims to be a non-partisan platform for constructive and thoughtful policy discussions relevant to Singapore’s present and future. 

Who are we and what do we do?

SPJ has come a long way since it was founded in 2014 as the first student-run, country-specific journal at the Harvard Kennedy School. We have evolved from primarily publishing academic papers and reports on Singapore policy to include opinion pieces that offer succinct and timely policy analyses.

Since 2015, we have also expanded our singularly national focus by partnering with the Singapore and South-east Asia Forum (SSEAF, formerly the Stakeholders and Changemakers Panel Series) to host distinguished commentators on both local and regional issues at Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Not forgetting our core constituents, we have also live-streamed these panel discussions so audiences back home can participate regardless of geographical boundaries. For Singaporeans residing in the Greater Boston area, we also organize smaller, more intimate dialogue sessions on issues as diverse as Singaporean identity, sexual education, fake news, and rising populism, to name a few. 

Plans for the Year

This year, we’re looking to continue expanding our output, outreach, and audience. Besides continuing to publish op-eds, long-form research papers, debates, explainers, and solution toolkits on Singapore policy people have written, we will be having a series of articles regarding the future of Singapore and the policy questions raised due to the changing landscape. We  are also looking for bilingual pieces in Chinese, Malay, or Tamil, to make our content more accessible (English translations will also be provided).

This year, our editorial priorities have shifted from reactive analysis to proactive investigation. Beginning in fall 2019, we will be hosting a series of small group discussions around the theme: Futures, an open-ended concept designed to invite discussion on the possibilities and paradoxes that surround the future of Singapore. What, for instance, might future faultlines look like? How might society respond – both pragmatically and creatively – to imagined future challenges? Can we even imagine a future of/for Singapore?  

As usual, we welcome writers with a viewpoint- if you want to comment on or critique a policy or policy issue, propose a policy recommendation, or compare Singapore and other countries, please submit your piece to our email so we can review and edit it!

How do I get involved?

If you’re interested in our content or events, check out the links below so you can get updates for upcoming events and publications: