Singapore is a founding member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). It sits at the geographic and logistical center of Southeast Asia. Large populations of Southeast Asians – Malaysians, Indonesians, Filipinos, Thai, Burmese, and others live and work in Singapore. At a diplomatic level, maintaining good relationships with Singapore’s Southeast Asian neighbours is a top priority. Yet, of all citizens of Southeast Asia, Singaporeans feel themselves least strongly associated with ASEAN and with the region. There is arguably as much of an affinity for East Asia as there is Southeast Asia. Singapore tends to be thought of as being in Southeast Asia but not of Southeast Asia. This talk will discuss the various reasons for Singapore’s somewhat aloof relationship to Southeast Asia. It will also look historically, geographically, and socio-economically the forces that have made Singapore what it is today, and the ways in which those forces are closely tied to Singapore’s Southeast Asian make up and character. 

This talk is organised in conjunction with the establishment of the ASEAN Corner. The ASEAN Corner is an information centre providing accurate, timely, and relevant information about ASEAN developments and ASEAN member states.