In collaboration with the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, brings together the region’s leading experts on strategic affairs.
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Together, we will bring four interviews on the structural forces at play, and what they mean for Singapore’s long-term future.
Who is in the series
Our featured guests are people with deep institutional experience. Many were in the room when the decisions that shaped this region were taken. They advise governments and boards in private, and they are worth listening to in public.
They are here to help you understand Singapore’s history better, so that you have a clearer sense of where it is going.
The conversations
Every episode comes with the full video, the audio, and a complete transcript.
Episode 01 · Professor Tan Kong Yam on The Evolution of Singapore’s Unique Relationship with China
Prof Tan Kong Yam recounts what he saw from inside the room as Dr Goh Keng Swee’s chief assistant when Deng Xiaoping brought him in to advise on China’s reform in 1985. In this episode - Prof Tan explains the unique relationship Singapore held with China and how he think governance in China will evolve.
Episode 02 · Professor Kumar Ramakrishna on The Evolution of Terrorism & How Singapore Is Combatting It
Prof Kumar Ramakrishna has interviewed detained militants across Southeast Asia, including a rehabilitated JI recruiter who told him exactly which students joined and which walked away. In this episode, Prof Kumar explains what actually drives radicalisation, why educated people are not immune, and how a multicultural Singapore defends its fault lines before they are weaponised.
About the partnership
The National Security Studies Programme at the Rajaratnam School of International Studies is 10 years old this year. It was launched in April 2016 to study key episodes in Singapore’s national security history and draw out what they mean for today.
This series marks the 10th anniversary ; as an effort to generate greater awareness in the public about the geopolitical, economic and technological developments affecting Singapore.
The Front Row Podcast is a long-form video podcast hosted by Keith Yap, with senior policymakers, academics, and business leaders on geopolitics, economics, governance, and technology.