Our Singapore Conversation: bridging the great affective divide

Abstract

In 2012 after having obtained its lowest-ever electoral results in Singapore's history in both parliamentary and presidential elections, and facing an unprecedented outpouring of discontent towards policies such as spiralling property prices and rapid immigration, the Singapore Government was faced with a conundrum: how could it rebuild trust with Singaporeans? This case study examines the background, process and outcomes of Our Singapore Conversation (OSC), situating it in the context of a long history of engagement initiatives in Singapore, as well as recent changes to Singapore’s political climate. What, or where, would the OSC lead to? And how could the OSC committee best design a consultative process that would rebuild trust between government and citizens?