Navigating Uncertainty: Our Region in an Age of Flux

Professor Joseph Liow is the Institute of Policy Studies’ 13th S R Nathan Fellow for the Study of Singapore. This book is an edited collection of his three IPS-Nathan Lectures, delivered from October to November 2023, and includes highlights of his question-and-answer segments with our audience.The Southeast Asian region, celebrated for its economic growth and rich cultural tapestry, currently stands at the crux of global power dynamics. In this lecture series, Professor Liow delves into the complex challenges and dynamics that shape the region. These range from the escalating rivalry between the United States and China, to the emerging centrifugal forces within the region itself. The region’s trajectory, tracing its path from Cold War turbulence to recent economic resurgence, is now facing geopolitical shifts and heightened risks of fragmentation arising from its inherent ethnic and religious diversity. By gaining a nuanced perspective on Southeast Asia’s history and domestic tensions, we can gain insight into the potential strategies the region; and vitally, Singapore can take in a rapidly changing global environment.The IPS-Nathan Lecture series was launched in 2014 as part of the S R Nathan Fellowship for the Study of Singapore, named after Singapore’s sixth and longest-serving president. It seeks to advance public understanding and discussion of issues of critical national interest for Singapore.