Singapore after Lee Kuan Yew

As the city-state of Singapore mourns its founding father, many around the world are slowly realizing the enormous impact he had on Asian geopolitics and international relations. Former US Secretary of State George P Shultz dubs him a “one-man world intelligence agency,” and in death he has been lauded by the likes of Henry Kissinger, Helmut Schmidt, Tony Blair, and Li Lanqing among many other statesmen. At the same time, it is this same Lee Kuan Yew that has been accused of exhibiting authoritarian tendencies, suing journalists for libel and detaining political opponents whilst implementing draconian laws regulating the personal behaviour of Singaporeans. This seminar will assess Lee Kuan Yew’s mark on Singapore and the world, and imagine a Singapore and an Asia without one of its giants on the world stage.

Speakers include:
Mr Edgar Liao (PhD Candidate, Department of History)
Ms Clarrie Ng (MAAPPS Candidate, Institute of Asian Research)
Dr Kai Ostwald (Co-Director, Centre for Southeast Asia Research)
Dr John Roosa (Associate Professor, Department of History)
Dr Yves Tiberghien (Director, Institute of Asian Research)
Mr Willy Wong (retired lecturer and administrator, Singapore Polytechnic)

The Centre would like to take this opportunity to convey our deepest sympathies to the people of Singapore, especially Singaporean students and faculty at UBC as well as Singaporean residents in Vancouver, on the passing of the founding father Mr Lee Kuan Yew.

Click here for poster.