Introduction

The S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS) is a leading think tank and school of graduate education offering Master of Science Programmes in Strategic Studies, International Relations, International Political Economy, and Asian Studies. Its five Research Centres and three Research Programmes, led by the Executive Deputy Chairman, and assisted by the Dean on the academic side, drives the School’s research, education and networking activities. RSIS produces both scholarly and policy-relevant research on security and international affairs in top-tier academic journals and leading university presses. RSIS researchers engage in global and regional discussions on security and international affairs, such as the Shangri-La Dialogues, Council of Councils meetings, Trilateral Commission Conferences and Halifax International Security Forums.

Governance

RSIS is an autonomous school within NTU Singapore. It has a Board of Governors comprising distinguished local and foreign representatives from the Government, business and academic communities, and practitioners in diplomacy and national security affairs. The Executive Deputy Chairman of RSIS is presently also the Director of Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies (IDSS).

Office of the Executive Deputy Chairman

Within the Office of the Executive Deputy Chairman, the Policy Studies group identifies new emerging trends of concern in the broad national security domain that may then be gradually incubated to form new policy-relevant RSIS research programmes.

The Future Issues and Technology (FIT) was launched on 1 September 2017. Also under the purview of the Office of the Executive Deputy Chairman, the FIT group works with relevant RSIS Centres, Programmes and researchers to better identify emerging, cross-cutting issues and technology that have strategic impact on policy, as well as potential disruptive national security implications. These include cyber, artificial intelligence, SMART Nation issues, and implications of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Increasingly, too, issues such as the interplay between trade, technology and geopolitics will feature in the work that FIT does in conjunction with RSIS Centres and Programmes. The focus of research in RSIS is on issues relating to the security and stability of the Asia Pacific region and their implications for Singapore and other countries in the region.

Research Centres and Programmes

Research in RSIS covers two main areas – traditional and evolving. Under traditional areas:

• The Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies (IDSS) covers the Asia Pacific, Military and Security: regional architecture to manage rivalries among major powers; maritime security; Indo-Pacific visions of major powers and response by ASEAN; politics and religions in Malaysia and Indonesia, and implications for Singapore; impact of geopolitics and technology competition;
• The International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research (ICPVTR) focuses on terrorism and extremism;
• The Centre of Excellence for National Security (CENS) covers radicalisation studies; social resilience and homeland defence; cybersecurity, cyber governance and norms; impact of social media and online falsehoods/manipulation; technology competition and implications for Singapore;
• The Centre for Multilateralism Studies (CMS) focuses on international political economy and role of multilateral organisations: ASEAN and its community building, economic integration and rules making; WTO trade negotiations and role played by national parliaments and other stakeholders, WTO’s future in the existing multilateral trading system.

Under evolving areas:

• The Centre for Non-Traditional Security Studies (NTS Centre) researches into HADR and policymaking; climate change and implications for food security; marine pollution and environmental protection; nuclear energy and ASEAN cooperation; migration; peace and security, and impact on ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community building;
• The Studies in Inter-Religious Relations in Plural Societies (SRP) Programme focuses on inter-religious relations;
• National Security Studies Programme (NSSP);
• Science and Technology Studies Programme (STSP);
• Futures Issues and Technology (FIT).

RSIS produces both academic and policy-relevant research on security and international affairs. The School publishes scholarly research in top-tier academic journals and leading university presses, and distribute policy research in a timely manner to a wide range of readers.

RSIS researchers engage in global and regional discussions on security and international affairs, such as the Shangri-La Dialogues, Council of Councils meetings, Trilateral Commission Conferences and Halifax International Security Forums. RSIS continues to serve as Secretariat for both the Singapore National Committee of the Council for Security Cooperation in the Asia Pacific (CSCAP Singapore) and the Track II Network of ASEAN Defence and Security Institutions (NADI). These roles allow RSIS to actively contribute to discussions on regional security, support the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) with relevant inputs and timely ahead-of-the-curve policy recommendations, and build the confidence of ASEAN think tanks and research institutions.

International Collaboration

Collaboration with other professional schools of international affairs to form a global network of excellence is a RSIS priority. RSIS maintains links with other like-minded schools so as to enrich its research and teaching activities as well as learn from the best practices of successful schools. RSIS is Singapore’s representative to the Council of Councils, an international initiative to connect leading foreign policy institutes from around the world in a dialogue on issues of global governance and multilateral cooperation. Membership of the Council of Councils includes leading institutions from twenty-four countries, roughly tracking the composition of the Group of Twenty (G20). The network facilitates candid, not-for-attribution dialogue and consensus-building among influential opinion leaders from established and emerging nations. RSIS’ contributions as member can be viewed here and its contribution to the Report on the Challenges of Global Governance Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic  is here.

RSIS continues to serve key roles in security within the region, acting as Secretariat for both the Singapore National Committee of the Council for Security Cooperation in the Asia Pacific (CSCAP Singapore) and the Track II Network of ASEAN Defence and Security Institutions (NADI). These roles allow RSIS to actively contribute to discussions on regional security, support the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) with relevant inputs and timely ahead-of-the-curve policy recommendations, and build the confidence of think tanks and research institutions in the region.

RSIS also acts as the Secretariat of the Consortium of Non-Traditional Security (NTS) Studies in Asia. A network of 31 institutions and think tanks across Asia, NTS-Asia is a platform for academic and policy exchange on developments on NTS issues and research across the Asian region. The Centre for Non‐Traditional Security Studies staffs the secretariat. In 2018, it held its annual conference on “Resilience in the Face of Disruptions”, bringing together 50 participants from member institutions of the consortium to deliberate on disruptive implications relating to NTS issues in the region.

Graduate Programmes

RSIS offers a challenging graduate education in international affairs, taught by an international faculty of leading thinkers and practitioners. The Master of Science degree programmes in Strategic Studies, International Relations, International Political Economy, and Asian Studies are distinguished by their focus on the Asia Pacific, the professional practice of international affairs, and the cultivation of academic depth. Thus far, students from 66 countries have successfully completed one of these programmes. In 2010, a Double Master’s Programme with Warwick University was also launched, with students required to spend the first year at Warwick and the second year at RSIS. A select Doctor of Philosophy programme caters to advanced students who are supervised by senior faculty members with matching interests.

Endowed Professorships

RSIS has four endowed professorships that bring distinguished scholars and practitioners to teach and to conduct research at the School.

• The S. Rajaratnam Professorship in Strategic Studies
• The Ngee Ann Kongsi Professorship in International Relations
• The NTUC Professorship in International Economic Relations
• The Peter Lim Professorship in Peace Studies