In a divided world fraught with uncertainty, Singapore—hitherto a largely neutral yet consistently principled observer—is increasingly comfortable voicing its opinions on global matters and even acting appropriately when it matters.
This is particularly evident in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine War, where the support for imposing sanctions on Russia has remained consistent even as Singaporeans were polled at different times. Before official sanctions were imposed by Singapore, 3 in 5 (60%) Singaporeans were in favour of it. Post actual sanctioning, the approval remained high with over half of Singaporeans (55%) feeling positive about the move.
Given that a ‘might is right’ mentality seems to be taking precedence over traditional rules-based systems that usually govern international relations, such a stance by the island nation is a significant move.
Remaining connected in a divided world
Singapore’s membership of and continued relations with ASEAN countries is heartening at a time when countries are adopting a self-serving approach and bilateral/multilateral cooperation is facing challenges.
Most Singaporeans (92%) wholeheartedly approve of the Government’s healthy relations with its ASEAN neighbours. The need for such continued relations is even more evident in some of the recent undesirable events such as Malaysia’s ban on chicken exports—a reminder that in the absence of good bilateral relations, the domestic policies of other countries can culminate into existential threats for Singapore.
When it comes to threats though, Singaporeans feel they are well protected. Over 9 in 10 (91%) exude trust in the city-state’s approach to defence.
China’s rise stalled by COVID handling
While China has led the way in recent times on global issues such as international trade, climate change, and even space exploration, giving it a ‘potential future superpower’ status, its zero COVID policy has been criticised internationally, and 76% of Singaporeans believe that China’s superpower aspirations have been curtailed due to the country’s handling of COVID-19.
Persistent global concerns
Singaporeans are tuned into global issues, and a number of these concern them. While inflation dominates concerns, climate change is a close second. A United Nations report states that “90% of disasters are classified as weather and climate-related, costing the world economy 520 billion USD each year, while 26 million are pushed into poverty as a result.”
Other concerns include food shortages that remains a serious issue, with the Global Report on Food Crises (GRFC) stating that nearly 193 million people remain acutely food insecure. Food security must then be a priority for all nations going forward, given that an already devastating problem due to climate change’s adverse effect on seasonal harvests, is being compounded by rising food prices due to the Russia-Ukraine War. Both countries are top exporters of wheat and there have been knock-on effects of rising wheat prices on other food-related prices such as animal feed.
The above summary offers a glimpse of our detailed study “Emerging From The Pandemic: The New Mood In Singapore”. To get all the insights into the attitudes, behaviours, and perceptions of citizens and consumers in Singapore, send us an email with the subject, “Yes, send me my free report!”, to connect@blackbox.com.sg.
Author: Blackbox Research Team
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