Multilateralism and Regionalism
 In the brief span of less than a decade, academic
and policy-relevant scholarship produced by
RSIS on multilateralism and regionalism in
the Asia-Pacific has achieved international
renown. Funded by international foundations
such as the Sasakawa Peace Foundation of Japan
and the Friedrich Ebert Foundation of Germany,
the research output of the Multilateralism
and Regionalism Programme is comparable to
that of more established centres elsewhere.
Indeed, so successful has its efforts been
that the Programme, coordinated by Dr Tan See
Seng since its inception, will be upgraded
in 2007 to become the Centre for Advanced Study
in Regionalism and Multilateralism, which will
constitute one of several centres within the
new S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies
(RSIS).
In 2006, the research output of the Multilateralism
and Regionalism Programme included two edited
anthologies by reputable international presses,
three special and/or working papers and about
a dozen commentaries. Individual publications
by the Programme’s staff and associates
included one single-authored book (to be released
either in late 2006 or early 2007), one special
issue of a leading academic journal, and multiple
book chapters, journal articles, conference
and/or seminar papers, op-ed pieces and commentaries.
Staff and associates also presented papers
at various academic as well as policy-related
conferences, workshops and roundtables both
within and beyond Singapore.
There was considerable networking activity
including the organisation of four conferences,
two symposia, four talks by distinguished
visitors, and numerous briefings and discussions
with
visiting delegations and project teams. The
Programme also hosted visiting researchers
working on Asian multilateralism and regionalism
from around the world.
In recognition of the success of its collaboration
with RSIS, the Sasakawa Peace Foundation
has provided the Institute a grant totalling
US$350,000
in support of the Programme’s Sentosa
Roundtable; a three-year-long, annual policy-oriented
dialogue involving prominent academics,
activists and policymakers on regional
community and
order in Asia. The first of these roundtables
was held in December 2006. A smaller grant
from the Friedrich Ebert Foundation in
Germany was also awarded to the Programme
to conduct
research on security sector governance
in Southeast Asia and on ASEAN regionalism.
The Multilateralism and Regionalism Programme
aspires to become a leading research
hub for multilateralism and regionalism
studies
in
the Asia-Pacific region. The evolution
to a Centre in 2007 is an important step
in
that
direction.
Revolution
in Military Affairs
The Revolution
in Military Affairs (RMA) Programme was
established in 2003. Coordinated by Dr
Bernard Loo, the RMA Programme aims to
develop an indigenous scholarly and policy-relevant
expertise on the subject of RMA theory
and the related area of military transformation.
The Programme thus seeks to adapt the
existing body of RMA literature towards
the geopolitical conditions unique to
Singapore and the Singapore Armed Forces
(SAF); in so doing, the Programme aims
to be relevant to the future development
of the SAF.
The Programme works
closely with the SAF’s Future Systems
Directorate in identifying areas of research.
These areas of research fall into 5 broad
categories:
-
Transformation
and strategy;
-
Transformation
and operational doctrines;
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Impediments
to Transformation;
-
Country
approaches to Transformation; and
-
Transformation
and defence industrialisation and management.
In terms of research output, Programme staff have had articles accepted
by major refereed journals such as Defence Studies and Contemporary
Southeast Asia; a number of articles are also currently under review
by other refereed journals. In addition, members of the Programme
have had chapters accepted in a number of edited volumes. The Programme
has also contributed actively to the RSIS Commentaries series.
In the area of networking, the Programme has organised four conferences
since its inception, examining various aspects of the RMA; these
range from strategy to operational planning to the economics of
the RMA. In addition, the Programme has conducted two workshops
for the SAF, the latest involving experts from war and staff colleges
from the United States and the United Kingdom.
In seeking to
expand its contact with the SAF and
the Ministry of Defence, the Programme
is working with The Pointer: Journal
of the SAF to publish selected papers
from the first two conferences and
papers from the second workshop, as well
as an edited volume to be published
by Taylor and Francis. New directions
for the Programme include exploring
closer linkages with the SAFTI Military
Institute for future workshops and
conferences, as well as embarking on two
major studies of the state of the military
and military industrialisation in Southeast
Asia.
Maritime
Security
LTC Joshua Ho coordinates the Maritime
Security Programme at IDSS, a centre within the School. Research
in maritime security started in 2004
following concerns over the security
of ports and sea lanes. Due to this
concern, the Programme has maintained
a research focus on piracy, armed robbery,
maritime terrorism, and the security
of sea lanes.
 A key outcome
in 2006 was the publication of a
policy paper,
Safety
and Security in the Malacca and
Singapore Straits. The paper proposed
21 recommendations to enhance safety,
security and environmental protection
of these waterways. A dissemination forum
was held in Singapore and the recommendations
were also presented at the CSCAP Maritime
Studies  Group meeting in May and the
Asia-Pacific Roundtable in June, both
held in Kuala Lumpur. The paper was well
received both in Singapore and the region.
An edited volume Maritime Security in
Southeast Asia, which is a joint project
between the School and the Norwegian
Institute of International Affairs (NUPI),
will be published in 2007.
A conference
on the theme of globalization and
defence was also organised. The
conference examined how increasing
economic  interdependence affects the
conduct of conflict, i.e., whether
it will make conflict more likely or
less likely. The conference also examined
the effects of economic interdependence
on threat perception, defence posture
and the defence industry. An edited
volume based on the conference’s proceedings
will be published in 2007. In 2006,
the Programme also developed links
with the National Maritime Foundation,
a new Indian think tank based in New
Delhi. Commodore Rajeev Sawhney, the
Executive Director of the National
Maritime Foundation of India, was a
Visiting Senior Fellow at the School
from April to June 2006.
In 2007, the Maritime Security Programme is planning a joint conference with the Japan International Transport Institute and maritime think tanks from Malaysia and Indonesia on the theme of Cooperation between User and Littoral States. This would be held in Kuala Lumpur in March 2007. The Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia is expected to deliver the opening remarks for the conference. The Programme us presently discussing the possibility of organising a conference with Defence IQ, a subsidiary of International Quality and Productivity Centre, on the theme of Roles of Navies, Coast Guards and National Maritime Authorities in Maritime Security. Professor Geoffrey Till, Senior Lecturer at the UK Joint Services Command and Staff College will come as a Visiting Senior Fellow from January to March 2007.
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The
impact of force modernisation on the
regional balance of power;
-
Maritime
boundary disputes and its impact on
regional stability;
-
-
Piracy
and armed robbery;
-
-
Regime
building and confidence-building measures;
-
-
How
the physical characteristics and the
human and physical geography of the
maritime environment impact on safety
of navigation and security of shipping;
-
How
the transit of ships may affect the
maritime environment; and
-
How
emerging legal regimes, shipping and
port development trends may affect
maritime policy.
The
CeMPS will have the two main objectives
of understanding the regional maritime
environment and of promoting a stable regional
maritime regime. The objective of understanding
the regional maritime environment is achieved
through research into the six areas of:
-
Regional
force modernisation and
maritime boundary disputes; The
security of regional
sea lanes that includes
an examination of shipping
and port development
trends and its impact
on maritime policy; The
phenomenon of maritime
terrorism, armed robbery
and piracy; The
development of confidence
building measures, enhancement
of maritime cooperation,
and
regime building; The
effect of emerging legal
regimes on shipping and
policy; and The
impact of the maritime
environment on the safety
and security of shipping.
-
The
objective of promoting
a stable regional
maritime regime is
achieved through
networking activities.
-
In
2007, the Maritime
Security Programme
is planning a joint
conference with the
Japan International
Transport Institute
and maritime think
tanks from Malaysia
and Indonesia on
the theme of Cooperation
between User and
Littoral States.
This
would be held in
Kuala Lumpur in March
2007. The Deputy
Prime Minister of
Malaysia is expected
to deliver the opening
remarks for the conference.
The Programme us
presently discussing
the possibility of
organising a conference
with Defence IQ,
a subsidiary of International
Quality and Productivity
Centre, on
the theme of Roles
of Navies, Coast
Guards and National
Maritime Authorities
in Maritime Security.
Professor Geoffrey
Till, Senior Lecturer
at the UK Joint
Services Command
and Staff College
will come as a Visiting
Senior Fellow from
January to March
2007.
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