"This book grew out of a one-day conference of the same name organized by the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies in August 1999. Eight papers were presented at that conference, of which seven were selected, revised in 2001, and now appear as chapters in this book. The editor then commissioned three more chapters, so as to make the book more rounded"--Pref. Singapore—Congresses.Singapore—Politics and government—Congresses.Singapore—Foreign relations—Congresses.Singapore—Economic conditions—Congresses.Singapore—Social conditions—Congresses.