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jwsg's review against another edition
4.0
Air Conditioned Nation Revisited combines Cherian George's essays from The Air-Conditioned Nation (2000) and Singapore Incomplete (2017), with a couple of essays from 2020. In the preface, George confesses he was long loathe to re-open The Air-Conditioned Nation, wary of the "potential embarrassment". But 20 years after its publication, he muses that perhaps these essay now have "some archeological value, at the very least".
I read The Air-Conditioned Nation in 2002, before Goodreads was launched, and Singapore, Incomplete in 2018. In 2002, I found the metaphor of Singapore as an Air-Conditioned Nation - "designed, first and foremost, for the comfort of its inhabitants…[dependent] on effective insulation, to ensure that the wealth gradient is not flattened by the socialist impulse to equalise outcomes….[and dependant] on central control" - absolutely brilliant. Some 20 years later, the metaphor still resonates. As do the bulk of the essays from The Air-Conditioned Nation, which touch on various aspects of the political landscape, from the role and standing of the opposition in Singapore (sidenote: Zuraidah Ibrahim - George's wife - has a wonderful SCMP op-ed from Jan 2020 on "Singapore election: the PAP's order and stability will win out, but how will the opposition shape up"), to government-civil society relations, government-media relations, the potential implications of the internet on the space for public debate and discussion, national identity and OB markers, to name a few.
George's modest hopes for including his 2000 essays in this collection are that they will provide "some archeological value, at the very least". But, what struck me, re-reading these essays, in particular those from 2000, was how current and relevant they still felt. They did not feel like quaint, outdated readings of Singapore's political landscape, or succinct historical narratives. It was somewhat depressing, truth be told, that so little about our political landscape has changed in the past two decades, even as our urban landscape, leisure and consumption patterns and how we connect and engage with others have radically transformed.
The essays from Singapore, Incomplete (2017) spoke to the different manifestations of the "culture of fear" in Singapore. From the government's fear of of “inconvenient truths” and narratives that challenge its own, fear of the conflict and protests that might arise should the status quo shift, and above all, fear of outcomes that the PAP cannot control and that might be detrimental to its interests.
There are two 2020 additions to the collection - one on the challenges facing the 4G leadership and another on Pofma. I found these two essays to be slightly blunter in tone compared to the 2000 and 2017 pieces. In the Pofma piece for instance:
"First, Pofma signifies an entrenching of the principle of executive dominance…since independence, PAP ideology has been contemptuous of liberal democratic checks and balances that impede the important work of cabinet…Aside from ideology, the PAP's sheer longevity in office has strengthened its hegemony."
If you've never read George's earlier collections, I would say Air-Conditioned Nation Revisited is a must read. Even if you have read The Air-Conditioned Nation and Singapore, Incomplete, if it's been a while (like in my case), it's worth re-reading these essays; George's keen observations and pithy writing are a joy to read and like I said, much of what he wrote on 2000 is still relevant today. The organisation of the essays into 7 themes - The Singapore Model, Palace Intrigues (on personality dynamics and politics within the government), Electoral Politics, Upgrading the PAP, Controlling the Message, National Identity and Disciplining Dissent - also provide new lenses and frames with which to examine George's earlier writings.
I read The Air-Conditioned Nation in 2002, before Goodreads was launched, and Singapore, Incomplete in 2018. In 2002, I found the metaphor of Singapore as an Air-Conditioned Nation - "designed, first and foremost, for the comfort of its inhabitants…[dependent] on effective insulation, to ensure that the wealth gradient is not flattened by the socialist impulse to equalise outcomes….[and dependant] on central control" - absolutely brilliant. Some 20 years later, the metaphor still resonates. As do the bulk of the essays from The Air-Conditioned Nation, which touch on various aspects of the political landscape, from the role and standing of the opposition in Singapore (sidenote: Zuraidah Ibrahim - George's wife - has a wonderful SCMP op-ed from Jan 2020 on "Singapore election: the PAP's order and stability will win out, but how will the opposition shape up"), to government-civil society relations, government-media relations, the potential implications of the internet on the space for public debate and discussion, national identity and OB markers, to name a few.
George's modest hopes for including his 2000 essays in this collection are that they will provide "some archeological value, at the very least". But, what struck me, re-reading these essays, in particular those from 2000, was how current and relevant they still felt. They did not feel like quaint, outdated readings of Singapore's political landscape, or succinct historical narratives. It was somewhat depressing, truth be told, that so little about our political landscape has changed in the past two decades, even as our urban landscape, leisure and consumption patterns and how we connect and engage with others have radically transformed.
The essays from Singapore, Incomplete (2017) spoke to the different manifestations of the "culture of fear" in Singapore. From the government's fear of of “inconvenient truths” and narratives that challenge its own, fear of the conflict and protests that might arise should the status quo shift, and above all, fear of outcomes that the PAP cannot control and that might be detrimental to its interests.
There are two 2020 additions to the collection - one on the challenges facing the 4G leadership and another on Pofma. I found these two essays to be slightly blunter in tone compared to the 2000 and 2017 pieces. In the Pofma piece for instance:
"First, Pofma signifies an entrenching of the principle of executive dominance…since independence, PAP ideology has been contemptuous of liberal democratic checks and balances that impede the important work of cabinet…Aside from ideology, the PAP's sheer longevity in office has strengthened its hegemony."
If you've never read George's earlier collections, I would say Air-Conditioned Nation Revisited is a must read. Even if you have read The Air-Conditioned Nation and Singapore, Incomplete, if it's been a while (like in my case), it's worth re-reading these essays; George's keen observations and pithy writing are a joy to read and like I said, much of what he wrote on 2000 is still relevant today. The organisation of the essays into 7 themes - The Singapore Model, Palace Intrigues (on personality dynamics and politics within the government), Electoral Politics, Upgrading the PAP, Controlling the Message, National Identity and Disciplining Dissent - also provide new lenses and frames with which to examine George's earlier writings.
charsiew21's review against another edition
5.0
Together with Cheong Yip Seng's OB Markers, essential reading for anyone interested in Singapore politics. Definitely better to read this updated edition, which has additional essays on more recent topics.
env_lee's review against another edition
5.0
Reading this gives you a good idea on the state of politics in Singapore and how it has evolved to such a state today. A good book for someone that sees a more progressive Singapore society where citizens have a say in how we want to be governed.
blau_elmo's review
informative
medium-paced
4.75
A great book with incisive essays about Singapore's political history, media and identity.
Would recommend to anyone wishing to learn more about Singapore.
Would recommend to anyone wishing to learn more about Singapore.