Foreseeable: A Podcast Series by Global-is-Asian

Southeast Asia now finds itself at the heart of a growing storm. As the geopolitical rivalry between the United States and China intensifies, ASEAN nations are navigating a delicate balance between two competing powers. Today, we speak with LKYSPP Professor Khong Yuen Fong, Li Ka Shing Professor in Political Science and Co-Director of Centre on Asia and Globalisation, about his work, examining how ASEAN is managing this rivalry and what the shifting global order means for the region's future.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is your job safe from AI? Or is the real question, is your country ready? As artificial intelligence reshapes, Singapore faces a critical challenge. How do we equip citizens to thrive? And how must public policy evolve to redefine the social contract between government, businesses and workers? We're joined by Dr. Reuben Ng, assistant professor at Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy. His work focuses on trust, social resilience, and the narratives shaping technology. This podcast will unpack the future of work in the age of AI and what Singapore must do to stay ahead.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the first episode of our newly launched podcast series, “Policy Unpacked”, we explore Singapore’s “small nation, big journey,” featuring Terence Ho, Adjunct Associate Professor in Practice at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy and author of “How Singapore Beat the Odds.” The conversation explores why Singapore’s survival was uncertain at independence - small population, high unemployment, reliance on British bases - and how it built success through ideas and institutions rather than luck. Ho highlights the pivotal role of first-generation leaders like Lee Kuan Yew and Goh Keng Swee, long-term planning, strong inter-agency coordination, and empowering capable people - principals, commanders, and civil servants - through mechanisms like block budgeting. A core theme is Singapore’s pragmatic synthesis: drawing from both left and right (compassion and self-reliance), combining market forces with judicious state intervention, and adapting global best practices to local context. Policy evolution, such as shifting from streaming to subject-based banding, illustrates continuous recalibration to reduce stigma while keeping standards. The civil service complements political leadership as “intellectual equals,” increasingly communicating policies publicly, while tripartism builds trust and buy-in, countering the misconception of a purely top-down technocracy. Associate Prof Ho outlines enduring tensions Singapore must balance: growth and equity, global openness and local identity, development and heritage. Looking ahead, he sees new “odds” in a fractured global trading system and disruptive AI, arguing for an updated success formula that layers resilience (domestic capabilities, local core) atop openness and investment in human capital. He is cautiously optimistic, citing strong institutions, societal trust, adaptability shown in COVID-19, and purposeful youth. His overarching takeaway: values - service, integrity, and evolving meritocracy - anchor Singapore’s policy playbook and continue to guide its inclusive, pragmatic path.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today we put the spotlight on the United Nations as it turns 80 years old in 2025. Current global crises, such as geopolitical conflicts, climate change, and humanitarian disasters are profoundly testing the UN's existing mechanisms and its capacity to respond effectively. We sit down with Professor Francesco Mancini to discuss the UN's ability to adapt, reform and successfully address these crises, which will ultimately define its relevance and determine its path forward in global governance.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of the Foreseeable podcast series, Associate Professor Leong Ching unpacks a behavioural experiment that explores how opt-in monitoring affects honesty across nine countries. With insights drawn from behavioural economics and public policy, she discusses how low-cost, non-intrusive interventions can promote pro-social behaviour and strengthen public trust.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of the Foreseeable podcast series, Assistant Professor Yongwook Ryu offers an in-depth analysis of South Korea's political upheaval marked by the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol. Explore the causes and effects of this dramatic political saga and understand its domestic politics and its impact on South Korea's foreign policy, particularly in relation to the US-China trade tensions, as the nation is poised for significant change amid a leadership vacuum that is expected to end after the presidential election on 3rd June.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Terence Ho, Adjunct Associate Professor in Practice at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, is a former policymaker and now academic. Terence's latest book, ‘Future-Ready Governance: Perspectives on Singapore and the World’, is a collection of essays exploring how Singapore is addressing critical issues like tech disruptions, climate change, social stresses, leadership transitions, and fiscal sustainability. Drawing on Singapore's experience, the book illuminates broader governance and leadership principles and aims to provide insights for those interested in Singapore's approach to navigating a complex future.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Singapore Budget 2025 is a landmark one, coinciding with the year Singapore turns 60, and arriving ahead of the General Elections. This is also the first Budget under Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. But beyond the headline-grabbing incentives, does Budget 2025 truly create opportunities for all? The team at the Social Inclusion Project (SIP) host this podcast special. Moderated by SIP’s Nessa Swinn Yap, and led by SIP’s lead, Dr Ng Kok Hoe (Senior Research Fellow, NUS Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy), they speak to guests Dr Stephanie Chok (Executive Director, Humanitarian Organization for Migration Economics (HOME)), and Lim Jingzhou (Community Worker, Cassia Resettlement Team) to explore the Budget’s implications for lower-income groups, migrant workers, and caregivers.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As lifespans increase, it's projected that 2.1 billion people will be aged 65 and above by 2050. That's one reason why it's so important to address the negativity surrounding ageing, as positive perceptions of ageing can lead to longer and healthier lives. Dr Reuben Ng is an Assistant Professor at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, and a behavioural scientist who also spent 16 years in government consulting and research. He's an expert in ageism, social gerontology, and quantitative social science. It's in that context that we spoke to him about the ongoing longevity revolution and how our AI and agency are helping to reframe ageing in a positive light.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr Denis Hew is Senior Research Fellow at the National University of Singapore's Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy. Prior to taking up his current appointment, he was director of the APEC Policy Support Unit, PSU, from 2011 to 2022. Dr Hew also spent two years in the Asian Development Bank, ADB in its Southeast Asia department, where he managed technical assistance programmes on regional cooperation and integration. Dr Denis Hew is Senior Research Fellow at the National University of Singapore's Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy. Prior to taking up his current appointment, he was director of the APEC Policy Support Unit, PSU, from 2011 to 2022. Dr Hew also spent two years in the Asian Development Bank, ADB in its Southeast Asia department, where he managed technical assistance programmes on regional cooperation and integration. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Professor Eduardo Araral, is a distinguished academic and practitioner with over 30 years of experience in academia and government. His research primarily focuses on institutions for collective action. As a prominent figure in the field, Professor Araral has contributed to significant projects with various governments and international organisations, including the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank. He has engaged in over 250 executive education programmes, sharing his insights with thousands of government officials, business leaders, and NGOs across more than 50 countries.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Assistant Professor Tan Soo Jie Sheng primarily uses micro econometrics techniques combined with economic modelling to conduct empirical research in the areas of environment, health, and development. Recently, he and his co-authors published an article titled, “Using Cost–Benefit Analyses to Identify Key Opportunities in Demand-Side Mitigation.”See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The world’s largest democracy, India, has recently concluded its six-week long election, counting 640 million votes. India’s incumbent Prime Minister Narendra Modi was re-elected but his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lost their majority and are now in a coalition with the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). What does this mean for India, Asia and the world?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new book, Building Urban Resilience: Singapore's Policy Response to Covid-19 is one of the first few books to discuss the Covid-19 crisis as an urban phenomenon. Written by our guests—J.J. Woo who is a Senior Lecturer at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy and Debbie R. Loo, who is an architect by training with a background in professional practice, urban studies research, and teaching—the book takes a look at how pandemics have shaped urban planning for centuries, and how we can learn from the experience to improve our population centres in many different ways.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Indonesian voters in Southeast Asia’s largest democracy elected the ticket of former military general Prabowo Subianto and Gibran Rakabuming Raka in February 2024, but not without controversy. Gibran is the son of outgoing President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, who is accused of manipulating the courts to allow Gibran to run despite being below the constitutional minimum age.   There are even charges of vote rigging that are being handled by Indonesia’s Election Supervisory Agency or Bawaslu and The General Elections Commission known as KPU.   Associate Professor Suzaina Kadir is Vice Dean of Academic Affairs at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy and an expert on politics in Southeast Asia.   As an avid Indonesia watcher, we wanted to get her take on what the upcoming administration means for Indonesia domestically, regionally and globally.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From booming GDP growth and low interest rates to raging inflation and a shrinking economy, most of us have a sense of how the macroeconomic ups and downs can affect our lives. But have you ever considered what it takes to keep an economy healthy?  Our guest certainly has. Ramkishen S. Rajan is Yong Pung How Professor at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy. He has been a Visiting Fellow at various regional research institutes, including the Asia Competitiveness Institute, the Institute of Policy Studies as well as the Asian Development Bank Institute.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The last time we spoke to Leong Ching, Vice Provost for Student Life, NUS, and Associate Professor at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, we discussed the "yuck factor" which describes people's visceral aversion to drinking recycled water. Today, we'll be expanding on that topic to look at the rationale behind irrational environmental behaviour in general. As an institutional economist, Professor Leong uses narratives, perceptions and stories to understand collective public behaviour as well as environmental identities. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Urban environments, from infrastructure to green spaces, play a crucial role in shaping lifestyle choices, social dynamics, and overall quality of health.  Tan Shin Bin is an Assistant Professor at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (LKYSPP). She previously worked as an urban planner at Singapore’s Urban Redevelopment Authority, the government body tasked with guiding the physical development of Singapore in a sustainable manner. She joins us to discuss how urban environments impact health, as well as the opportunities and challenges faced when developing policies to promote healthier lifestyles within urban spaces.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr Marina Kaneti is an Assistant Professor at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy. Her area of research centres on global governance and questions of migration, climate and geopolitical developments. She has explored the influence of China around the world, including the Belt and Road initiative. Recently, she produced a two-part documentary series titled “The Seas That Bind Us and Define Us”, exploring maritime heritage and its significance in Asia. She joins us to talk about maritime heritage, exploring the shaping and impact of narratives, and implications for the present and beyond. Get our monthly updates to stay ahead on Asian policy issues here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In an increasingly interconnected world, the advent of mobile banking has ushered in a transformative era. Access to mobile banking can have a profound impact on people in developing economies. The impact of mobile banking extends beyond individual lives – it ripples through entire communities, affecting aspects such as migration and inequality. Dr Saravana Ravindran, Assistant Professor at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, studies challenges and potential policy solutions relating to migration, including mobile banking and digital financial services. He has conducted research into whether mobile technology can reduce inequality by modernising traditional ways to transfer money. He joins us to explore the socio-economic impact of mobile banking on communities. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.