Singapore tops most global indicators on governance, from health to pensions to public safety - confounding critics of the government system. Generally, a strong central public sector, led by a highly competent, active civil service, is seen as the engine of that achievement, which also challenges the myths of business-led growth.

For all its importance, Singapore’s public sector is curiously understudied. This lecture will explore current reforms and changes, as well as trajectories for the future, through a number of key questions:

• Singapore is the only Chinese-majority country outside of the ‘Sinosphere’ – has that made a difference?
• How much of Singapore’s public sector is from Westminster, how much is Confucian?
• How and why do digital prowess and innovativeness and a hierarchical public-sector structure match?

This lecture will be delivered in English.