A History of Modern Singapore, 1819-2005

by C.M. Turnbull

First published in 1977, C. M. Turnbull’s one-volume history of Singapore has been an essential resource for more than forty years. Turnbull’s History provides a solid foundation for understanding of the two-hundred-year trajectory of Singapore from colonial outpost to world city. While many modern studies focus on current affairs or very recent events, emphasizing Singapore’s successful transition from the developing to the developed world, Turnbull connects this story to Singapore’s colonial experience under the East India Company and the British Crown. This new edition, building on two earlier thorough-going revisions, presents the standard history in a new and more affordable format for students, teachers, and anyone fascinated by the many stories of changing Singapore.
 

Genres: History

824 pages, Paperback

First published December 30, 2008

About the author

Constance Mary Turnbull was a British historian known for her work on Southeast Asian history, in particular on the history of Singapore.

Reviews

[Darcel Anastasia · Rating 5 out of 5]

One people, one nation, one Singapore.

[WaldenOgre · Rating 4 out of 5]

本书是一部相当传统的编年史。主体部分或许略显乏味，但绝对翔实。而且，它的导言和结尾也写得非常精炼且出彩。

在政治理论上，新加坡肯定无法被自由主义的框架充分认可，但和传统上大家对威权主义的定义又有所区别。它是儒家学说和亚当·斯密理论、威权主义和民主体制的奇异混合体。“虽然官方会毫不留情地处置政治异议分子，但对于他们反映的民生问题，政府确实会采取措施加以解决”。政府在解释政策和承认错误上都非常坦率，“但这并不代表他们就更加听从公众的意见”。

在实际效果上，人民行动党稳定且高效，政策连贯，取得的成就得到了大多数民众、甚至是反对派的承认。而后者批评的往往也只是政府的执政风格，而非政策本身。但另一面，政府施加的强力控制，也使得公民更倾向于避开任何可能产生争议的活动。长此以往，就“形成了对公众事务的冷漠疏离”。虽然社会安定有序，可也缺乏生命活力。结果，整个国家“变得非常像一个商业上经营得非常成功的公司。国会选举就像每年的股东大会”。

新加坡的自然条件决定了它有先天的脆弱性，既往的成功政策也无法保证它能成功应对新世纪的挑战。它依然是一场写满悖论、饱含争议、成就斐然却又悬而未决的巨大实验。

[Francesco · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read some chapters of what is considered the definitive history of Singapore. Heavily dependent on English sources, the book surveys the trajectory of the city state from a small British port to a major international hub within the British Empire and then to the modern country that Singapore is today (the book ends in 2005). I particularly enjoyed the chapters on WWII and "The Road to Merdeka".

[CopperTopper · Rating 1 out of 5]

Reading this for a history course. What worth is a history of Singapore if the author speaks no Tamil, no Mandarin, no Malay?

[Ariyasacca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good