Multilateralism and Regionalism
 In the brief span of less than a decade, academic
and policy-relevant scholarship produced by
RSIS on multilateralism and regionalism in
the Asia-Pacific has achieved international
renown. Funded by international foundations
such as the Sasakawa Peace Foundation of Japan
and the Friedrich Ebert Foundation of Germany,
the research output of the Multilateralism
and Regionalism Programme is comparable to
that of more established centres elsewhere.
Indeed, so successful has its efforts been
that the Programme, coordinated by Dr Tan See
Seng since its inception, will be upgraded
in 2007 to become the Centre for Advanced Study
in Regionalism and Multilateralism, which will
constitute one of several centres within the
new S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies
(RSIS).
In 2006, the research output of the Multilateralism
and Regionalism Programme included two edited
anthologies by reputable international presses,
three special and/or working papers and about
a dozen commentaries. Individual publications
by the Programme’s staff and associates
included one single-authored book (to be released
either in late 2006 or early 2007), one special
issue of a leading academic journal, and multiple
book chapters, journal articles, conference
and/or seminar papers, op-ed pieces and commentaries.
Staff and associates also presented papers
at various academic as well as policy-related
conferences, workshops and roundtables both
within and beyond Singapore.
There was considerable networking activity
including the organisation of four conferences,
two symposia, four talks by distinguished
visitors, and numerous briefings and discussions
with
visiting delegations and project teams. The
Programme also hosted visiting researchers
working on Asian multilateralism and regionalism
from around the world.
In recognition of the success of its collaboration
with RSIS, the Sasakawa Peace Foundation
has provided the Institute a grant totalling
US$350,000
in support of the Programme’s Sentosa
Roundtable; a three-year-long, annual policy-oriented
dialogue involving prominent academics,
activists and policymakers on regional
community and
order in Asia. The first of these roundtables
was held in December 2006. A smaller grant
from the Friedrich Ebert Foundation in
Germany was also awarded to the Programme
to conduct
research on security sector governance
in Southeast Asia and on ASEAN regionalism.
The Multilateralism and Regionalism Programme
aspires to become a leading research
hub for multilateralism and regionalism
studies
in
the Asia-Pacific region. The evolution
to a Centre in 2007 is an important step
in
that
direction.
Revolution
in Military Affairs
The Revolution
in Military Affairs (RMA) Programme was
established in 2003. Coordinated by Dr
Bernard Loo, the RMA Programme aims to
develop an indigenous scholarly and policy-relevant
expertise on the subject of RMA theory
and the related area of military transformation.
The Programme thus seeks to adapt the
existing body of RMA literature towards
the geopolitical conditions unique to
Singapore and the Singapore Armed Forces
(SAF); in so doing, the Programme aims
to be relevant to the future development
of the SAF.
The Programme works
closely with the SAF’s Future Systems
Directorate in identifying areas of research.
These areas of research fall into 5 broad
categories:
-
Transformation
and strategy;
-
Transformation
and operational doctrines;
-
Impediments
to Transformation;
-
Country
approaches to Transformation; and
-
Transformation
and defence industrialisation and management.
In terms of research output, Programme staff have had articles accepted
by major refereed journals such as Defence Studies and Contemporary
Southeast Asia; a number of articles are also currently under review
by other refereed journals. In addition, members of the Programme
have had chapters accepted in a number of edited volumes. The Programme
has also contributed actively to the RSIS Commentaries series.
In the area of networking, the Programme has organised four conferences
since its inception, examining various aspects of the RMA; these
range from strategy to operational planning to the economics of
the RMA. In addition, the Programme has conducted two workshops
for the SAF, the latest involving experts from war and staff colleges
from the United States and the United Kingdom.
In seeking to
expand its contact with the SAF and
the Ministry of Defence, the Programme
is working with The Pointer: Journal
of the SAF to publish selected papers
from the first two conferences and
papers from the second workshop, as well
as an edited volume to be published
by Taylor and Francis. New directions
for the Programme include exploring
closer linkages with the SAFTI Military
Institute for future workshops and
conferences, as well as embarking on two
major studies of the state of the military
and military industrialisation in Southeast
Asia.
Maritime
Security
The Maritime Security Programme (MSP) was established in 2004 with LTC Joshua Ho as its Coordinator. The programme adopts a comprehensive and holistic approach to address maritime security issues as maritime challenges can have multiple effects that spread across a spectrum of disciplines as a result of countries being more interconnected in a globalized world. The programme aims to cover the spectrum of maritime security issues ranging from traditional maritime security topics to non-traditional maritime security issues. Topics like the impact of force modernization on the regional balance of power, maritime boundary disputes and its impact on regional stability, maritime terrorism, piracy and armed robbery, maritime cooperation, regime building and confidence building measures, and the security of sea lanes and ports are challenges that come within the ambit of the maritime security programme.
In particular, areas of research in the programme fall mainly into 6 categories:
• Maritime Boundary Disputes
• Security of Sea Lanes and Ports
• Maritime Terrorism
• Piracy, Armed Robbery and Arms Smuggling
• Maritime Force Developments
• Confidence Building Measures
The programme has organized various conferences and seminars and its members have contributed articles to major refereed journals like Asian Survey, Contemporary Southeast Asia, Defence Studies, the International Hydrographic Review, The Jamestown Foundation Terrorism Monitor, Jane’s Intelligence Review, The Korean Journal of Defense Analysis, Maritime Affairs, Maritime Studies, and Security Challenges.
The programme has also developed a network of links with like-minded institutes and research centers around the world in the area of maritime security. Such organizations include the Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and Security (ANCORS), Canadian Maritime Forces Pacific, the Centre for Southeast Asian Studies, Jarkarta, the Centre for Strategic Studies, Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand, the Center for Naval Analyses, United States, the Center for International Trade and Security, University of Georgia, United States, COMLOGWESTPAC, the Institute of Foreign Affairs and National Security, Republic of Korea (IFANS), the Japan International Transport Institute (JITI), the Maritime Institute of Malaysia (MIMA), the Maritime Intelligence Group, Washington D.C (MIG), the National Defense University, People’s Republic of China, the National Institute of Defence Studies, Japan (NIDS), the National Maritime Foundation, New Delhi (NMF), the National Defense College of the Philippines (NDCP), the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI), the Norwegian School of Management, the Observer Research Foundation, New Delhi (ORF), the Ocean Policy Research Foundation, Japan (OPRF), the Okazaki Institute, Japan, the RAN Sea Power Centre (SPC-A), the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences (SASS), and the US Naval Postgraduate School (NPS).
There is also an active Visiting Fellow programme where well-known researchers spend time at the school conducting research on topical maritime issues. Previous Visiting Fellows have included Professor Geoffrey Till from the UK Joint Services Command and Staff College, Commodore Rajeev Sawhney from the National Maritime Foundation, New Delhi, and Thomas Timlen from BIMCO.
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