Ordinary Singapore: The Decline of Singapore Exceptionalism

For decades Singapore’s ruling elite has sought to legitimate its rule by claiming to be a talented and competent elite that has made Singapore an exception among its neighbours – an exemplar of success and progress in a sea of mediocrity. In this article it is contended that this basis of legitimation has been irreversibly damaged. In essence, it is suggested that the governing People’s Action Party has lost control of the national narrative, and its achievements are increasingly regarded as being “ordinary” by the electorate. The mystique of exceptionalism, which was the basis on which the government was widely presumed to be above the need for close scrutiny and accountability, has collapsed. This collapse has substantially levelled the political playing field, at least in terms of expectations and assumptions. The government can and probably will continue to win elections and rule through its control of the instruments of institutional power, but the genie of scepticism and accountability has been released from its bottle, and it is hard to see how it can be put back in. This fundamentally changes the condition of Singapore politics: the narrative of exceptionalism is dead and the Singapore elite finds itself struggling to cope in a new and critical political environment.     

The Iraqi Coups of July 1968 and the American Connection

After the June 1967 war, Iraqi President ’Abd al-Rahman ’Arif and Prime Minister Tahir Yahya broke diplomatic relations with Washington and began signing strategic economic agreements for oil development with France and the Soviet Union. On 17 July 1968 their regime was toppled by a coup initiated by members of the Ba?th Party and a group of military officers. Just 13 days later in another coup initiated by the Ba?th, the officer leadership was deposed. This article examines Washington's reaction to the two coups and the indications of the western orientation of the short-lived regime that ended on 30 July. It also reveals findings that support the claim of American involvement in the overthrow of ’Arif.     

美国霸权的终结--兼评伊拉克战争对未来国际政治的影响

美国谋求单极世界霸权的企图已是一个不争的事实.它现在不仅拥有了实现这一野心的硬实力,而且似乎也具备了相应的软实力.但如果据此认为美国真的能实现它的这一梦想那又未免过于主观.本文将重点探讨有哪些现实因素将阻碍美国实现其单极霸权,以及为什么说美国的这一野心注定会失败.     

俄伊传统关系终结之思考

俄伊关系是苏伊军事合作关系的继承和发扬。俄伊传统关系的终结意味着俄罗斯在伊战略利益的丧失,亦意味着美国全球扩张战略中又一个重要目标的实现和大国在伊利益排序作有利于美国的转移。对伊战争隐含美国多重利益目标,这由美国霸权主义野心和单边主义行为所决定。此外,根据逻辑推断,存在着下一个俄(或X)——X关系终结的可能,应引起国际社会高度重视。     

想象的地方性神圣历史——菲律宾阿拉安人的神话观

本文探讨了菲律宾原住民族阿拉安人主位式的神话观。笔者通过五次参与式田野调查,深入民都洛岛山区,搜集当地阿拉安人"活形态"的洪水神话、创世神话,调查原住民的神灵信仰。本文首先介绍了阿拉安人及其神话的基本情况;然后从学术史的角度回溯了"神话观"在民俗学研究中所涉及到的理论和方法;接着重点论述了阿拉安人把神话视为想象的、地方性的历史,作为当地重要的、神圣的"地方性知识",进行朴素而真实的讲述;最终提出神话在阿拉安人中是作为地方性的、神圣的历史而存在的,是原住民理解世界起源、人类起源、本民族起源的世界观和历史观,是原住民"地方性知识"系统中不可缺失的核心内容。     

"东盟方式":现实与神话

对"东盟方式"的赞誉和批评都有着一定的历史背景,因此"东盟方式"也有其一定的现实性与神话性.前东盟秘书长舒云路所强调的法制以及著名学者阿查亚的"本土化"概念都为观察东南亚地区合作的发展提供了有益的新视角,作者主张使用历史和动态的眼光看待和评价"东盟方式".