How dare he be interested in Singapore. The nerve of some people, I am sure you are suitably outraged.
Embracing electronic media but suppressing civil society: authoritarian consolidation in Singapore
Professor Garry Rodan
Asia Research Centre, Murdoch University, South Street, Murdoch, Australia
In contrast with some other parts of Southeast Asia, challenges to media controls in Singapore have been limited and ineffectual. Lately the government has been refining legislation to try and keep it that way. But this strategy is not principally based on the unrealistic objective of direct information control. Rather, preventing the emergence of organized social and political forces that could lead to a genuine civil society lies at the heart of the strategy. One of the factors that serves to reinforce the government's agenda here is the high degree of direct and indirect dependence on the state by Singaporeans for social and economic resources. This translates into vulnerability to political persecution and caution by social and political actors. Meanwhile, the promotion of Singapore as an 'infocommunication hub' has met with a positive response from global media organizations. New electronic media businesses appear just as capable of being reconciled with the authoritarian regime as more established media have proven to be.
http://journalsonline.tandf.co.uk/openurl.asp?genre=article&issn=0951-2748&volume=16&issue=4&spage=503
9 comments:
More than 10 years ago, another American Ang Mo also said about Singapore:
"They're good at this stuff. Really good. But now they propose to become something else as well; a coherent city of information, its architecture planned from the ground up. And they expect that whole highways of data will flow into and through their city. Yet they also seem to expect that this won't affect them. And that baffles us, and perhaps it baffles the Singaporeans that it does.
Myself, I'm inclined to think that if they prove to be right, what will really be proven will be something very sad; and not about Singapore, but about our species. They will have proven it possible to flourish through the active repression of free expression. They will have proven that information does not necessarily want to be free."
you know what they say in political theory.... if you study something like "local government" you must be somewhat... boring.... =)
Some comments refer to me not actually being a Singaporean and they ask what right I have to hold an opinion on Singaporean matters.
Foreign journalists and foreign media are regularly told to keep their nose out of Singapore's domestic issues. Some Singaporeans agree.
Hannah Arendt argued that in order to maintain domination or hegemony of a country, you need to be able to ensure that every member of that nation has the same world view. With the internet this is becoming a very difficult task for the state apparatus of Singapore.
the Professor feels otherwise and argues "New electronic media businesses appear just as capable of being reconciled with the authoritarian regime as more established media have proven to be." But international media like blogger have yet to be reconciled with the "authoritarian regime".
So the state is fully in control of local media which is the major source for news for the majority of Singaporeans. Around 2 million of 4 million Singaporeans have access to the internet. But only a small fraction of those would read blogger or blog for that matter.
Why don't you spend your time persuading your fellow brits not to re-elect your lap dog of a PM, Tony Blair instead !!!!!!
I'm referring to the specific rude singaporean (blog at 1.41am) that you can still convey any messages or unhappiness with the owner of the blog in a good manner of speech. Pls be sensitive enough to at least recognise his kindness in maintaining this website for all of you to blog and view your opionions about the current affairs around you. If you're still very unhappy and dissatisfied with him, I'd strongly urge that you stop visiting this website for the benefit of all parties.
Princess
I'm referring to the specific rude singaporean (blog at 1.41am) that you can still convey any messages or unhappiness with the owner of the blog in a good manner of speech. Pls be sensitive enough to at least recognise his kindness in maintaining this website for all of you to blog and view your opionions about the current affairs around you. If you're still very unhappy and dissatisfied with him, I'd strongly urge that you stop visiting this website for the benefit of all parties.
Princess
To princess:
I'm a different anon. The aim of Steve's website is to promote peaceful disagreement, so I think it's in the spirit of this blog to point out what one may feel are other issues pertinent to the issues raised here. I disagree that the failings of the systems in other countries have absolutely no relevance to Singapore's failings. We need to see what problems other countries encounter in trying to implement a thoroughly fair system, to better assess our progress. And internet penetration is, I think decently high. 50% is surely not a small amount? After counting out the babies and senior citizens, what is the proportion?
Hi blogger 1.28pm
Thanks for agreeing with me that you "should have added that because it would have changed the tone of the comment." Exactly, good message can still be conveyed in good manner like this!!
Quote from Dhammapada, "Mind is the forerunner of everything." From the mind, the speech and action comes. One of the chinese idiom says "whor chong col chu pin chong col lu". Sharp and hurting words once said can't be taken back tho you might regret it later. So, pls maintain your calmness and integrity and be open-minded (i reiterate). Perhaps, you might have the same virtuous motivation like steve, however, the way the message is conveyed could have distorted everything. Pls be reminded that it truly reflects on oneself and not the other party! Can we always try to see the positive side and the kindness of others? It is indeed a good way to helps us to calm down when we are angry and unhappy with others.
Thanks for your blogging and airing your valuable comments, which i believe it also helps us to see things in various perspectives, if put it in a nice way.
Best regards
princess
well, i think you're not getting my meanings right too. i agree with steve tho not all the issues. but even if i don't agree i'll still give a thought and see it in another perspective and not insisting that my view is right all the time.
pls don't be so petty and argue for the sake of arguing, that's all i can say. it's purely a waste of your precious time and
princess
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