Diplomacy: A Singapore Experience, June/2011
| Author(s) | S Jayakumar |
| ISBN10 | 9814266949 |
| ISBN13 | 9789814266949 |
| Format | Hardcover |
| Pages | 316 |
| Year Publish | 2011 June |
Synopsis
S Jayakumar’s reflections explain how Singapore manages to “punch above its
weight” on the international stage. … It offers valuable insights for historians,
political scientists and leaders from around the world.
--Kofi A Annan, UN Secretary-General, 1997–2006
… A fascinating personal account of Prof Jayakumar’s days as a senior diplomat
during Singapore’s formative period. … This book is highly recommended not
only to Jayakumar’s colleagues of a younger generation in Singapore working in the field of foreign policy … but also to a much wider circle of readers including young diplomats of other countries throughout the world.
--Judge Hisashi Owada, President of the International Court of Justice, since 2009
[This book] illustrates how a small but successful nation can become very
relevant and influential in international affairs.
--Dr Han Seung-soo, Prime Minister of the Republic of Korea, 2008–09, President of the 56th Session of the UN General Assembly, 2001–2002
It is a useful and intelligent insight about foreign policy challenges of a small
yet ambitious country in a rapidly changing world …It is a good read that
combines substance and style.
--Amre Mohammed Moussa, Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, since 2001
In this marvellous reflection … as the narrative unfolds, there is only one
conclusion: well played, indeed.
--Charlene Barshefsky, United States Trade Representative, 1997–2001
Shrewd, patient, modest and gifted with brilliant analytical skills, Professor
Jayakumar’s personal qualities have made him one of Singapore’s most
outstanding diplomats.…
--HRH Prince Mohamed Bolkiah, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Negara Brunei Darussalam, since 1984
After more than four decades of independence, Singapore has built up a
significant corpus of norms, principles and experiences that form the bedrock
of its foreign policy. Many of these milestone events and watershed moments
in MFA’s history are known only to a handful of ministers and officials. There is a need to always remember the fundamentals of our key foreign policy interests.
In Diplomacy: A Singapore Experience, Prof S Jayakumar records his reflections on selected episodes and events where he was involved as Minister or as Permanent Representative to the UN. They illustrate how Singapore created diplomatic and economic space for itself, and its proactive diplomacy in the UN and ASEAN. The author also recounts Singapore’s responses to moves by other countries that were inimical to its national interests, resolving disputes in an amicable manner through third party settlement, now an important feature of Singapore’s foreign policy. Included are episodes in bilateral relations with Malaysia, Indonesia and China which demonstrate that such relations must be on the basis of equals respecting each other’s sovereign status, and also in compliance with international law and international agreements.
About The Author:
S Jayakumar was born in Singapore on 12 August 1939. He was educated at
Raffles Institution and studied law at the University of Singapore (LLB 1963) and Yale Law School, USA (LLM 1966). He taught law at the Faculty of Law in Singapore where he served as Dean. Later, he became Permanent Representative to the UN. He entered politics in 1980 and his ministerial appointments included Foreign Affairs, Home Affairs, Law and Labour. He became Deputy Prime Minister in 2004, Co-ordinating Minister for
National Security in 2005 and Senior Minister in 2009 before retiring from politics in May 2011.
He is married to Dr Lalitha Rajahram and they have two sons and a daughter.
weight” on the international stage. … It offers valuable insights for historians,
political scientists and leaders from around the world.
--Kofi A Annan, UN Secretary-General, 1997–2006
… A fascinating personal account of Prof Jayakumar’s days as a senior diplomat
during Singapore’s formative period. … This book is highly recommended not
only to Jayakumar’s colleagues of a younger generation in Singapore working in the field of foreign policy … but also to a much wider circle of readers including young diplomats of other countries throughout the world.
--Judge Hisashi Owada, President of the International Court of Justice, since 2009
[This book] illustrates how a small but successful nation can become very
relevant and influential in international affairs.
--Dr Han Seung-soo, Prime Minister of the Republic of Korea, 2008–09, President of the 56th Session of the UN General Assembly, 2001–2002
It is a useful and intelligent insight about foreign policy challenges of a small
yet ambitious country in a rapidly changing world …It is a good read that
combines substance and style.
--Amre Mohammed Moussa, Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, since 2001
In this marvellous reflection … as the narrative unfolds, there is only one
conclusion: well played, indeed.
--Charlene Barshefsky, United States Trade Representative, 1997–2001
Shrewd, patient, modest and gifted with brilliant analytical skills, Professor
Jayakumar’s personal qualities have made him one of Singapore’s most
outstanding diplomats.…
--HRH Prince Mohamed Bolkiah, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Negara Brunei Darussalam, since 1984
After more than four decades of independence, Singapore has built up a
significant corpus of norms, principles and experiences that form the bedrock
of its foreign policy. Many of these milestone events and watershed moments
in MFA’s history are known only to a handful of ministers and officials. There is a need to always remember the fundamentals of our key foreign policy interests.
In Diplomacy: A Singapore Experience, Prof S Jayakumar records his reflections on selected episodes and events where he was involved as Minister or as Permanent Representative to the UN. They illustrate how Singapore created diplomatic and economic space for itself, and its proactive diplomacy in the UN and ASEAN. The author also recounts Singapore’s responses to moves by other countries that were inimical to its national interests, resolving disputes in an amicable manner through third party settlement, now an important feature of Singapore’s foreign policy. Included are episodes in bilateral relations with Malaysia, Indonesia and China which demonstrate that such relations must be on the basis of equals respecting each other’s sovereign status, and also in compliance with international law and international agreements.
About The Author:
S Jayakumar was born in Singapore on 12 August 1939. He was educated at
Raffles Institution and studied law at the University of Singapore (LLB 1963) and Yale Law School, USA (LLM 1966). He taught law at the Faculty of Law in Singapore where he served as Dean. Later, he became Permanent Representative to the UN. He entered politics in 1980 and his ministerial appointments included Foreign Affairs, Home Affairs, Law and Labour. He became Deputy Prime Minister in 2004, Co-ordinating Minister for
National Security in 2005 and Senior Minister in 2009 before retiring from politics in May 2011.
He is married to Dr Lalitha Rajahram and they have two sons and a daughter.
