Today's resurgence of global strife, polarization and neo-nationalism is unprecedented in intensity since the end of the Cold War. Against the backdrop of such dramatic changes, there is anxiety leading many to cling to certitudes that the world is made up of clear-cut divisions: developed versus undeveloped; democratic versus dictatorial; tolerant versus intolerant... Yet, when taking a long term view, and when delving into the vastness of geographical spaces, it becomes obvious that such...

Peter Ho, former Head of the Singapore Civil Service, was the Institute of Policy Studies' 2016/17 S R Nathan Fellow for the Study of Singapore.This book collects the four IPS-Nathan Lectures that he delivered between April and May 2017, and gathers highlights of his dialogues with the audience.Ho surveys the increasingly complex world, and suggests what governments can do to prepare for the future — even as no one can predict it. He uses metaphors such as the 'black elephant' and concepts...

Why would the removal of authoritarian institutions in some developing countries lead to sustained socio-economic crisis, while others experience explosive growth despite 'persisting' informal, insecure and rent-seeking institutional arrangements? A key to solving this enigma lies in understanding China, a country where the paradoxes of development are highly visible. Peter Ho argues that understanding China's economy necessitates an analytical refocusing from Form to Function, detached fr...

First published in 2006. Over the past decades, the world has witnessed the profound transformation of China, Vietnam, Taiwan and Singapore from impoverished developing regions into strong and internationally competitive economies. Also dubbed Newly Industrializing Economies (NIEs), it has become obvious that their rapid development has come at a price. Contrary to their economic successes, these NIEs have been much less successful in terms of ecological sustainability and environmental pr...

Developmental Dilemmas singles out land as an object of study and places it in the context of one of the world's largest and most populous countries undergoing institutional reform: the People's Republic of China. The book demonstrates that private property protected by law, the principle of 'getting-the-prices-right', and the emergence of effectively functioning markets are the outcome of a given society's historical development and institutional fabric. Peter Ho argues that the ...

This is a ground-breaking volume on the role of religion as a major force of cohesion across the Indian Ocean region.A diverse range of experts present a case for conceptualizing religion as an enabler of not only shared religious identities throughout the Indian Ocean world, but multiple shared identities mediated through religion, particularly as religion intersects with other manifestations of human society in this part of the world. This theme is explored throu...

'There are some stories that require as much courage to write as they do art. Peter Ho Davies's achingly honest, searingly comic portrait of fatherhood is just such a story . . . The world needs more stories like this one, more of this kind of courage, more of this kind of love.' - Sigrid Nunez, National Book Award-winning author of The FriendWhen does sorrow turn to shame? When does love become labour? When does chance become choice? And when ...

This book initiates dialogue between recent scholarship on the Psalms and on the Book of the Twelve. While these two biblical corpora are seemingly similar, the scholarship on them has not been brought into fruitful conversation, until now. This volume seeks to demonstrate that insights gained from reading the two sets of biblical texts, even if done separately, can productively inform the reading of both when brought together in conversation. An international team of specialists who have ...

The books of Habakkuk and Zephaniah are God’s word to his people Israel at the lowest point in their history – the time of the Babylonian captivity. In the horizon, the looming national disaster is not simply contrasted with the prophetic hope of deliverance; rather the brightest light that shines is the display of God’s unchanging faithfulness, power, and holiness – the foundations for divine action for the well-being of the remnant of Judah. They show us the faith of the righteous among ...

The fifteenth volume in the Art of series takes an expansive view of revision—on the page and in lifeIn The Art of Revision: The Last Word, Peter Ho Davies takes up an often discussed yet frequently misunderstood subject. He begins by addressing the invisibility of revision—even though it’s an essential part of the writing process, readers typically only see a final draft, leaving the practice shrouded in mystery. To combat this, Davies pulls exam...

Shades of Green examines the impact of political, economic, religious, and scientific institutions on environmental activism around the world. The book highlights the diversity of national, regional and international environmental activism, showing that the term "environmentalism" covers an entire range of perceptions, values and interests. It demonstrates that each instance of environmental activism is shaped by historically unique circumstances, highlighting within each chapter ...

From an award-winning author, this novel about the choice to start a family is an "achingly honest, searingly comic portrait of fatherhood."*A People ten Best Books of the Year • A New York Times Notable Book of the Year • An Independent (UK) twenty Best Books of the Year"Wise, bracingly honest . . ....