Singapore’s foreign policy: The search for regional order

Amitav Acharya

Research output: Book/ReportBookpeer-review

18 Scopus citations

Abstract

The conventional understanding of Singapore’s foreign policy can be summarized in three main propositions: first, it is dictated by the imperatives of being a small state; second, its primary purpose is to ensure Singapore’s survival, given its small size; and third, this logic of survival dictates a realpolitik approach to foreign policy and national security. This book argues that an exclusively realist view of Singapore’s foreign policy is inadequate. Singapore’s foreign policy is also shaped by the positive effects of economic interdependence and regional institution-building - instruments that realists tend to dismiss, but which Singapore has self-consciously tried to promote as instruments of regional order. The book first looks at the evolution of Singapore’s foreign policy, before analyzing Singapore’s international relations and national security in the context of economic growth and terrorism. It concludes with an interesting chapter on the impact of the rise of China and India on the regional landscape.

Original languageEnglish
PublisherWorld Scientific Publishing Co.
Number of pages205
ISBN (Electronic)9789812770349
ISBN (Print)9789812708595
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Jan 2007

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2008 by World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd. All rights reserved.

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