image: This is the first book in the World Scientific Series of Singapore's 50 years of nation-building. view more
Credit: World Scientific, 2015
50 Years of Social Issues in Singapore is the first book to be published and launched in the World Scientific book series to commemorate Singapore's 50 years of nation building.
Consisting of 16 chapters authored by 24 experts such as Professor Tommy Koh, Former CEO of HDB Dr Liu Thai Ker, Senior Research Fellow Gillian Koh and Minister of State Maliki Osman, the book examined various social issues in Singapore. Examples include issues on population, marriage, racial and religious harmony, social mobility, foreign domestic workers, community building, civil society, and social media.
In his foreword, Singapore Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam commended the book being a "most worthwhile endeavour", bringing together "a distinguished team of thinkers and scholars to examine and reflect on a range of critical social issues that have received wide public and policy attention in Singapore."
"A good understanding of the various social issues", said Singapore Management University (SMU) Professor David Chan (above), "will facilitate effective policy-making and constructive public actions." Professor Chan also opined that Singapore's advantageous position could be partly attributed to its cohesive approach on social issues ranging from social mobility, racial and religious harmony, community building, and ageing population. Social progress, he noted, was a potpourri of issues of inclusivity, including social mobility, developing communities and giving attention to marginal groups.
Minister for Education Heng Swee Keat, who launched the book, said: "Through his book, David looks at - and looks out for - Singaporeans by addressing our most pertinent concerns. He writes with a strong focus on serving the people, and boldly challenges Singaporeans today with daring hopes for the future of our nation. As our city-state celebrates our golden jubilee, this book will remind us that in Singapore's next fifty years, people will matter the most."
More information about the book can be found at http://www.worldscientific.com/worldscibooks/10.1142/9373 (50 Years of Social Issues in Singapore). The book is available at all leading bookstores and retails at US$65 / £43 (hardcover) and US$36 / £24 (paperback).
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About World Scientific Publishing:
World Scientific Publishing is a leading independent publisher of books and journals for the scholarly, research and professional communities. The company publishes about 500 books annually and more than 120 journals in various fields. World Scientific collaborates with prestigious organisations like the Nobel Foundation, US National Academies Press, as well as its subsidiary, the Imperial College Press, amongst others, to bring high quality academic and professional content to researchers and academics worldwide. To find out more about World Scientific, please visit http://www.worldscientific.com
About the World Scientific Series on Singapore's 50 Years on Nation-Building:
To commemorate Singapore's 50 years of nation-building, World Scientific is launching a 25-volume book series covering important aspects of Singapore's development. Experts who have championed or played significant roles in many of Singapore's nation-building initiatives have come on board to edit the books. All volumes will be scholarly, inspirational, and easy to read in order to reach out to a wide audience. For details, please see http://www.worldscientific.com/page/sg50