Citizen Participation and Policy Making in Singapore: Conditions and Predicaments

Leong, Ho Khai

doi:10.2307/3021155

Cited by 31 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 1 publication

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“…In my case study of Singapore's public housing program (Werlin 1998), I found that government officials were remarkably responsive to changing needs and demands, and they were willing not only to listen to criticisms and suggestions, but also to fund research on existing and emerging problems. In the Straits Times, one can find quite frank criticisms, and there are other opportunities for policy input (Leong 2000). While Mutilib (2000) strongly (and rightly) suggests that Singapore should move toward more liberal democracy, he reports on the government's willingness in 1998 to revise its economic policies, taking unusual steps to swing public opinion in favor of radical reform.…”

Section: Democracy: Singapore and Jamaicamentioning

confidence: 99%

Poor Nations, Rich Nations: A Theory of Governance

Werlin¹

2003

Public Administration Review

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This article argues that the difference between poor countries and rich countries has to do with governance rather than resources. In emphasizing the importance of public administration in explaining economic success and failure, the author examines three general theories of governance (organizational, cultural, and structural‐functional) presented in Ferrel Heady's textbook in comparative administration. Political elasticity theory is introduced as a way to reconcile and overcome the weaknesses of these theories and to explain a number of unresolved questions in the literature having to do with decentralization, corruption, democracy, culture, and globalization, using comparative case studies (the Netherlands and Ghana, Singapore and Jamaica, and Japan and Nigeria). The implications of political elasticity theory for foreign aid are suggested at the conclusion, illustrated by a comparison of Spain and Mexico. What ties these case studies together is the heretofore unnoticed and/or unexplained fact that as countries prosper, political power takes on “rubber‐band” and “balloon” characteristics.

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Section: Democracy: Singapore and Jamaicamentioning

confidence: 99%

Poor Nations, Rich Nations: A Theory of Governance

Werlin¹

2003

Public Administration Review

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“…Green spaces in cities are often relatively small and used by diverse stakeholders, which complicate the planning and design of urban landscapes. Several studies have shown that urban greening policies are more likely to be accepted if they take into account of public perceptions [33][34][35], including which types of ecosystems are wanted and where [36,37]. Public consultations also provide planners with valuable information about how preferences vary with time and location [13], which can help in designing solutions that are effective over an extended period and in the face of environmental changes [21].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Urban Vegetation Types are Not Perceived Equally in Providing Ecosystem Services and Disservices

Drillet¹,

Fung²,

Leong³

et al. 2020

Sustainability

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Urban vegetation is important in providing ecosystem services to people. Different urban vegetation types provide contrasting suites of ecosystem services and disservices. Understanding public perceptions of the ecosystem services and disservices can therefore play an important role in shaping the planning and management of urban areas. We conducted an online survey (n = 1000) to understand how residents in the tropical city of Singapore perceived urban vegetation and the associated ecosystem services and disservices. The questionnaire was designed to explore whether different urban vegetation types (grass, shrubs, trees, trees over shrubs, and secondary forest) were perceived as equal in providing benefits. Respondents considered ecosystem services provided by urban vegetation to be more important than disservices. Among ecosystem services, regulating services were most highly rated, with more than 80% of the respondents appreciating urban vegetation for providing shade and improving air quality. Respondents recognized that different vegetation types provided different ecosystem services. For example, secondary forest was most commonly associated with education and wildlife, while trees were strongly associated with cooling and air quality. We conclude that in developing plans and designs for urban vegetation and ecosystem services, it is important to understand the perceptions, priorities, and concerns of residents.

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“…According to Leong (2000, p. 438), 'any discussion of citizen participation [was] inevitably linked to state domination and administrative control over the government's fragmented and underdeveloped civil society'. However, since Lee Kuan Yew stepped down as Prime Minister in 1981, a new governing class has become more interested in forms of deliberative democracy (Leong, 2000). In fact, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong mentioned in his inaugural speech that '[Singaporeans] should feel free to express diverse views, pursue unconventional ideas [… and] have the confidence to engage in a robust debate' (Lee Hsien Loong, 2004in Noh & Tumin, 2008.…”

Section: Participation Policy and Food Waste In Singaporementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Citizens self-organising around environmental and social issues in Singapore are however far removed from the forms of protests and civil disobedience that are emerging elsewhere. Even taking ownership of projects and actions can be seen as radical in Singapore (Leong, 2000), as discussed in the following section on orchestrating surplus food redistribution. 6.…”

Section: Emergent Participationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Participating in food waste transitions: exploring surplus food redistribution in Singapore through the ecologies of participation framework

Rut

Davies

Ng³

2020

Journal of Environmental Policy & Planning

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Food waste is a global societal meta-challenge requiring a sustainability transition involving everyone, including publics. However, to date, much transitions research has been silent on the role of public participation and overly narrow in its geographical reach. In response, this paper examines whether the ecologies of participation (EOP) approach provides a conceptual framing for understanding the role of publics within food waste transitions in Singapore. First the specificities of Singapore's socio-political context and its food waste management system is reviewed, before discussing dominant, diverse and emergent forms of public engagement with food waste issues. This is followed by in-depth consideration of how participation is being orchestrated by two surplus food redistribution initiatives. Our analysis finds the EOP beneficial in its elevation of participation within the transitions field. It also provides a useful means to deconstruct elements that comprise participation practices and discuss culture-specific motivations, organisational realities and visceral experiences.

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Citizen Participation and Policy Making in Singapore: Conditions and Predicaments

Cited by 31 publications

References 1 publication

Poor Nations, Rich Nations: A Theory of Governance

Poor Nations, Rich Nations: A Theory of Governance

Urban Vegetation Types are Not Perceived Equally in Providing Ecosystem Services and Disservices

Participating in food waste transitions: exploring surplus food redistribution in Singapore through the ecologies of participation framework

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