Seminar on Democracy and Elections: the Impact of Online Politics in Singapore

James Gomez

Abstract Since coming to power in 1965, the People’s Action Party (PAP) government of Singapore has introduced a series of legal innovations to the electoral framework. In doing this, the PAP has tried to deflect criticisms of its performance and to perpetuate its incumbency. During the last three general elections, held between 1997-2006, some of these innovations have been aimed at limiting the impact of the internet on voter attitudes. The PAP’s concerns over the internet have been prompted by opposition parties, NGOs (both local and international) and ordinary individuals using online technologies to generate alternative political content that has been accessed by voters, especially during election campaigning. Is there evidence that the use of the internet by opposition elements has had significant impact on electoral outcomes? Have the PAP’s innovations reduced the effectiveness of this internet use? In this seminar, James Gomez critically reviews the impact of online efforts of INGOs, local NGOs and individuals and opposition parties, then evaluates the PAP’s efforts to curb these activities.

The Speaker James Gomez recently submitted his PhD thesis on Singapore politics, undertaken at the Monash Asia Institute, Monash University, Australia. His published articles on Singapore include: “Citizen Journalism: Bridging the Discrepancy in Singapore’s General Elections News”, in Sudostasien Aktuell - Journal of Current Southeast Asian Affairs (June 2006) (German Institute of Global and Area Studies); “Restricting Free Speech: The Impact on Opposition Parties in Singapore”, in Copenhagen Journal of Asian Studies Special Issue: Stability, Risks and Opposition in Singapore 23 (2006) (Copenhagen Business School, Denmark); and “International NGOS: Filling the civil society ‘gap’ in Singapore”, in Sojourn: Special Focus on Democracy and Civil Society: NGO Politics in Singapore 20(2) (2005), (Institute for Southeast Asian Studies, Singapore). James Gomez maintains a website at www.jamesgomeznews.com and can be contacted at [email protected]

*** All are Welcome ***

5 May (Monday) 4:00 – 5:00 pm G7619, FHS Conference Room, 7/F, Green Zone, Academic Building, City University of Hong Kong

Language: English Enquiries: please contact Josephine Yim at 3442 6106