Ethics and Leadership in Foreign Policy: The Case of Singapore

Abstract

This case study discusses moral dilemmas that statesmen face in international affairs. It does so by considering Singapore’s approach towards global issues that can only be alleviated through the collective effort of international society. By examining Singapore’s foreign policy towards issues such as rights violation, extreme poverty and climate change, this study raises two questions for discussion. How should we understand the tension between global justice and national interest? What are the grounds for states to contribute more towards global justice? Two sets of ideas will be surveyed to help the reader arrive at some conclusions on the above two questions. One set is located within International Relations (IR) theory, involving views from the realist, liberal and constructivist schools. The other is located within international political theory, where we consider the tension between the sovereignty of the state and the rights of the individual. The theoretical nature of the discussion will be balanced by the world of practice, through key events and speeches in Singapore’s foreign policy history.