[Recording] A Talk by Dr. Chee Soon Juan: Singapore’s Slow Unraveling?

On September 22, 2026, the New York Southeast Asia Network (NYSEAN) hosted a talk by Dr. Chee Soon Juan, Secretary-General of the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP). Dr. Chee discusses Singapore’s politico-economic vulnerabilities with insights from his new book, Unbroken: The Power of Resilience.

This event was organized by NYSEAN and co-sponsored by the SUNY/CUNY Southeast Asia Consortium.

Abstract:

Beneath Singapore’s gleaming façade is a model propped up on rent-seeking, tax-haven strategies, and the grip of a single party. In this talk, Dr. Chee Soon Juan discusses Singapore’s politico-economic vulnerabilities with insights from his new book Unbroken: The Power of Resilience. Drawing on both structural analysis of the system and personal experience of isolation and vilification, he questions if the model can remain viable in the years ahead, or is it headed for unravelling? The talk is of interest to all who are thinking about the relationship between neoliberalism and authoritarianism. It is especially relevant to Singaporeans abroad, who must decide what role they will play in shaping the country’s next chapter.

About the Speaker:

Dr. Chee Soon Juan is Secretary-General of the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP). Chee received his PhD in neuropsychology from the United States. He was sacked from the National University of Singapore, where he was Lecturer, three months after he joined the SDP, and he has repeatedly been sued by Singapore’s prime ministers for his outspokenness. He was also imprisoned on several occasions for organizing public speeches and protests, which are banned in Singapore. A leading dissident against Singapore's authoritarian regime, Dr. Chee continues to be an inspiration in the fight for democracy and human rights.