Publications

CENS Staff Publications

 

[Book]
Title: Nations, National Narratives and Communities in the Asia-Pacific
Edited by Norman Vasu (Senior Fellow), Yolanda Chin (Research Fellow) and Kam-yee Law
Year: Septmber 2013
Publisher: Routledge

 

[Journal Article]
Title: From virtual to violent: Preliminary conceptual explorations of religious radicalisation in youth
Author: Kumar Ramakrishna (Head)
Date: August 2013
Publication: The Southeast Asia Regional Centre for Counter-Terrorism (SEARCCT) Journal (p. 1-13)
Description: It has been said that the world is currently experiencing a wave of terrorism that is religiously motivated in its origins. The September 11, 2001 attacks in New York City and Washington D.C., the 7 July 2005 London Underground attacks as well as the various bombings in Indonesia since the first Bali attacks in October 2002 were all perpetrated by religiously motivated terrorist networks. In this respect, radicalisation is an important related subject for study. As the authors of a well-known New York Police Department (NYPD) study of religiously-motivated radicalisation in the West suggest, terrorism is the ultimate consequence of the radicalisation process. Against this wider backdrop, it is has been clear for years that youth are prone to violent radicalisation processes that lead to such religiously-motivated terrorist acts.

 

[Journal Article]
Title: Youth self-radicalisation: Lessons from the Singapore narrative
Author: Bilveer Singh (Adjunct Senior Fellow)
Date: August 2013
Publication: The Southeast Asia Regional Centre for Counter-Terrorism (SEARCCT) Journal (p. 87-103)
Description: The threat posed by radicalism and terrorism is not new. However, with the end of the Cold War, while terrorism and extremism anywhere and associated with any religion is a major concern, what has come to dominate the security radar screen of Southeast Asian countries (and elsewhere) is the extremism and terrorism associated with Islam. This is particularly of concern in countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines. While agentinspired and induced radicalisation has long dominated the phenomenon, a relatively new concern is what is described as ‘self-radicalisation’. This is brought about by self-learning, mainly of published materials and of increasingly growing importance, through the Internet. This study will examine the following issues: What is self-radicalisation, why is it increasingly important, the Singapore narrative and more important, what to do.

 

[Book]
Title: Teror & Demokrasi: Dalam I’dad (Persiapan) Jihad (Perang)
(English: Terror and Democracy: In I’dad (Preparation) and Jihad (Warfare))
Author: Bilveer Singh (Adjunct Senior Fellow) & Abdul Munir Mulkhan
Year: 2012
Publisher: Penerbit Metro Epistema Kotagede
Language: Bahasa Indonesia

 

[Journal Article]
Title: Fatah’s al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades: Armed Struggle as a Response to a Crisis of Legitimacy (full article is only available to subscribers)
Author: Damien D. Cheong (Research Fellow)
Publication: Melbourne Journal of Politics, Issue 35, 2012, pp. 39 – 59
Abstract: This article explores the link between violence and legitimacy by using the al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades (AMB) as a case study. It firstly examines the reasons for the AMB’s formation in the context of the declining popularity of the Fatah movement. Second, it looks at how the AMB was able to increase its legitimacy vis-à-vis its armed struggle against Israel. Third, it explains the circumstances that led to the deterioration in the relationship between the Fatah movement and the AMB. Finally, it analyses the impact of the AMB’s armed struggle on the legitimacy of both the Fatah-PA leadership and the Fatah movement as a whole.

[Journal Article]
Governance through Difference in Singapore: Corporatism’s Composition, Characteristics, and Complications
Author: Norman Vasu (Deputy Head)
Publication: Asian Survey, Vol. 52, Number 4, pp. 734–753
Abstract: Although the normative ideal of multiculturalism is the accommodation of communal differences, Singaporean multiculturalism is instead integral to a corporatist form of governance. This article argues that an emerging Singaporean-ness antithetical to the necessary inter-communal divisions required for corporatism poses a strong challenge to the manner in which the city-state is governed.

 

[Report]
Title: The Ties that Bind and Blind: A Report on Inter-racial and Inter-religious Relations in Singapore (2012)
Authors: >Norman Vasu(Deputy Head) and Yolanda Chin (Research Fellow)
Publication: CENS, RSIS
Description: The report compares survey data from 2007 and 2011 to address the two following questions pertaining to the social fabric of Singapore: (1) Have Singapore’s multicultural ties been resilient between 2007 and 2011? (2) Were Malays, Christians and Chinese consistently less inclusive than non-Malays, non-Christians and non-Chinese respectively between 2007 and 2011?

 

[Journal Article]
Title: Oneness in Many
Author: Bilveer Singh (Acting Head, CENS)
Date: July 2011
Publication: BiblioAsia, Vol. 7 Iss. 2 (p. 4-9)
Description: This article talks about the importance of resilience in terms of national security and looks into the concept of resilience in a Singaporean context. It argues that through concerted efforts and socialisation, national resilience in Singapore is about developing an enduring capacity to cope with acute challenges and more importantly, to recover, bounce back and emerge even stronger than before.

 

[Journal Article]
Title: Being and Becoming: Constructing Singapore and Singaporeans
Author: Chan Wen Ling
Date: July 2011
Publication: BiblioAsia, Vol. 7 Iss. 2 (p. 10-15)
Description: The article explores the notion of national identity and the meaning it carries in Singapore. It is argued that Singapores ethnically and culturally diverse citizens would benefit from a more inclusive, cosmopolitan, and non-ethnic understanding of a Singaporean identity. This in turn would produce the social capital needed to help Singaporeans adapt to the challenges of globalisation for the long-term continued success of the country.

 

[Journal Article]
Title: Martyrdom, Galvanization, and Restructuring: Understanding the Impact of Osama bin Ladens Demise for the Evolving War on Terrorism
Author: Kumar Ramakrishna
Date: 2011
Publication: The Indonesian Quarterly, Vol. 39 No. 2. p. 185-196

[Journal Article]
Title: The Four Mutations of Violent Muslim Extremism in Southeast Asia: Some Implications for a Cognitive Immunization Policy
Author: Kumar Ramakrishna
Date: July 2011
Publication: Asia Policy, No. 12. p. 13-19

[Monograph]
Title: Southeast Asia-India Defence Relations in the Changing Regional Security Landscape
Author: Bilveer Singh (Acting Head, CENS)
Date: May 2011 (IDSA Monograph Series No. 4)
Published by: Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, New Delhi Description: An analysis of the nature of Southeast Asia-India defence relations, the reasons for the growth in ties and more importantly, the consequences of the defence relations.

 

[Report]
Title: Jihadists in jail - Radicalisation and the Indonesian prison experience
Author: CENS and ASPI
Date: May 2011
Description: A joint report by CENS and the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) on the issue of terrorist motivations and pathways towards violent extremism in Indonesia. This research is based on personal interviews with members of the Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) terrorist organisation who are serving or have served prison sentences in Indonesia.

 

[Monograph]
Title: Resilience and National Security in an Uncertain World
Edited by: Centre of Excellence for National Security
Date: 2011
Description: A monograph on the role of resilience and intelligence in national security contributed by speakers of Global Futures Forum General Meeting which took place in Singapore on September 2010.

 

[Chapter]
Title: Singapore
Author: Kumar Ramakrishna
Book: Asian Transnational Security Challenges: Emerging Trends, Regional Visions
Date: 2010
Publication: Macquarie University
Description: A report based on the Emerging Threats Survey carried out by Council for Asian Transnational Threat Research (CATR), which CENS participates as a member institution.

 

[Journal Article]
Title: Jemaah Islamiyah: Of Kin and Kind
Author: Sulastri Osman
Date: 2010
Publication: GIGA: Journal of Current Southeast Asian Affairs, Vol. XXIX Issue 2

 

[Book]
Title: Radical Pathways: Understanding Muslim Radicalization in Indonesia
Author: Kumar Ramakrishna
Date: 2009
Publication: Praeger Security International Academic

 

[Journal Article]
Title: "A Holistic Critique of Singapore’s Counter-Ideological Program"
Author: Kumar Ramakrishna
Date: Jan 2009
Publication: CTC Sentinel, Vol. 2 Issue 1 (p. 8-11)

[Chapter]
Title: "Challenging, not Overwhelming: Singapore and the Threats to Security"
Author: Norman Vasu
Book: “Singapore Futures” by Gillian Koh (ed)
Date: 2009
Publication: Institute of Policy Studies, Singapore, forthcoming

[Chapter]
Title: “Singapore and the Threats to National Security”
Author: Yolanda Chin and Norman Vasu
Book: “Singapore Futures” by Gillian Koh (ed.)
Date: 2009
Publication: Institute of Policy Studies, Singapore, forthcoming

[Chapter]
Title: “Community Confidence and Security”
Author: Yolanda Chin
Book: “The Management of Singapore Revisited: A Critical Survey of Modern Singapore” by K.
Kesavapany and Terrence Chong (eds)
Date: 2009
Publication: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, Singapore, forthcoming

[Journal Article]
Title: “A Non-Chinese PM? Race, Social Cohesion and Singaporean Identity”
Author: Yolanda Chin and Norman Vasu
Date: January 2009
Publication: Karyawan, Vol. 9, Issue 2, pp. 30-31

 

[Book]
Title: Threads of Gold: The Rise of Indochinese Enterprises in Terengganu, Re-building Community
Identity & Social-Economic Resilience
Author: Ng Sue Chia
Date: 2009
Publication: VDM Verlag

 

[Book Review]
Title: A Review of The Hegemonic Influence of the Tatmadaw: Ebbs and Flows ( A Book Review of
Myoe, 2009, Building the Tatmadaw: Myanmar Armed Forces Since 1948 )
Author: Ng Sue Chia
Date: December 2009
Publication: Asia Pacific Viewpoint Vol. 50 No. 3

 

[Report]
Title: "Food Defence Incidents 1950-2008
Author: G. R. Dalziel
Date: 2009
Publication: S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Nanyang Technological University,
Singapore

 

[Journal Article]
Title: “How Diasporic Peoples Maintain their Identity in Multicultural Societies: Chinese, Africans,
and Jews”
Author: Norman Vasu
Date: 2008
Publication: Lampeter and New York: Edwin Mellen Press

[Journal Article]
Title: “(En)countering Terrorism: Multiculturalism and Singapore”
Author: Norman Vasu
Date: February 2008
Publication: Asian Ethnicity, Vol. 9 Issue 1, Pp. 17-32

[Journal Article]
Title: “Countering Terrorism: Multiculturalism in Singapore”
Author: Kumar Ramakrishna & Norman Vasu
Date: Winter/Spring 2007
Publication: Connections, Vol. 5 No. 4 (p. 143-155)

 

[Journal Article]
Title: "Multiculturalism and Social Resilience in Singapore"
Author: Norman Vasu
Date: 2007
Publication: RUSI/Jane’s Homeland Security and Resilience Monitor, Vol. 6, No. 2, Pp. 12-13

 

[Chapter]
Title: “The (Psychic) Roots of Religious Violence in South and Southeast Asia”
Author: Kumar Ramakrishna
Book: “Religion and Conflicts in South and Southeast Asia” by Linell E. Cady and Sheldon W. Simon
(eds.)
Date: 2007
Publication: London and NY: Routledge

[Chapter]
Title: “It’s the Story, Stupid: Neutralizing Radical Islamism in the Southeast Asia Theatre”
Author: Kumar Ramakrishna
Book: “The Ideological War on Terror: Worldwide Strategies for Counter-Terrorism” by Anne Aldis
and Graeme Herd, eds.
Date: 2007
Publication: London and New York: Routledge

 

[Report]
Title: "The Ties That Bind and Blind: A Report on Inter-racial and Inter-religious Relations In
Singapore"
Author: Norman Vasu & Yolanda Chin
Date: 2007
Publication: S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Nanyang Technological University,
Singapore

 

[Chapter]
Title: "Reviewing National Education: Can the Heart be Taught Where the Home is?"
Author: Yolanda Chin
Book: “Social Resilience in Singapore: Reflections from the London Bombings” by Norman Vasu (ed.),
Date: 2007
Publication: Select Publishing, Singapore

[Book]
Title: "Social Resilience in Singapore: Reflections from the London Bombings"
Author: Norman Vasu (ed.)
Date: 2007
Publication: Select Publishing, Singapore

[Chapter]
Title: "Total Defence for National Security: An Assessment"
Author: Norman Vasu
Book: “The Management of Singapore Revisited: A Critical Survey of Modern Singapore” by K.
Kesavapany and Terence Chong (eds.)
Date: 2007
Publication: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, Singapore, forthcoming

[Chapter]
Title: "Sailing a Steady Ship: Goh Chok Tong’s Multiculturalism"
Author: Norman Vasu
Book: “Impressions: The Goh Years in Singapore” by Bridget Welsh, James Chin, Arun Mahizhnan,
Tan Tarn How (eds.)
Date: 2007
Publication: National University of Singapore Press, forthcoming

[Chapter]
Title: “Indoctrination Processes within Jemaah Islamiyah”
Author: Kumar Ramakrishna
Book: “The Making of a Terrorist: Recruitment, Training, and Root Causes, Volume II: Training” by
James J. F. Forest (ed.), p. 211-224
Date: 2006
Publication: Westport, Connecticut, Praeger Security International

[Chapter]
Title: “The Making of the Jemaah Islamiyah Terrorist”
Author: Kumar Ramakrishna
Book: “Teaching Terror: Strategic and Tactical Learning in the Terrorist World” by James J. F. Forest
(ed.), p. 223-260

Date: 2006
Publication: Lanham, Maryland, Rowman & Littlefield Publishers Inc.

[Chapter]
Title: "Locating S Rajaratnam’s Multiculturalism"
Author: Norman Vasu
Book: “S Rajaratnam on Singapore: From Ideas to Reality” by Kwa Chong Guan (ed)
Date: 2006
Publication: World Scientific Press, Singapore

[Journal Article]
Title: "People Power in the war on Terrorism"
Author: Norman Vasu
Date: 2006
Publication: RUSI/Jane’s Homeland Security and Resilience Monitor, co-authored with Tom Quiggin,
Vol. 5, No. 5, Pp. 16-17

 

[Book]
Title: “After Bali, the Threat of Terrorism in Southeast Asia”
Author: Kumar Ramakrishna and See Seng Tan (eds.)
Date: 2004
Publication: World Scientific Publishing Company

 

 

[Book]
Title: “The New Terrorism, Anatomy, Trends and Counter-Strategies”
Author: Andrew T. H. Tan and Kumar Ramakrishna (eds.)
Date: 2003
Publication: Times Academic Press, Singapore