Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

The Rise Of The Global Middle Class, Homi Kharas

Brookings Scholar Lecture Series

As part of the Brookings Scholar Lecture Series, Brookings Mountain West presented a lecture titled, "The Rise of the Global Middle Class" by Brookings senior fellow in global economy and development, Homi Kharas.

For the last two hundred years, ever since the start of the Industrial Revolution, the most successful economies in the world have developed large, stable middle classes. With globalization, the expansion of the middle class has accelerated to a historically unprecedented speed. But global consumerism is scaling faster than the adaptation of institutions, ecosystems, and social norms. Brookings senior fellow Homi Kharas discusses his most recent book, …

Shu World Review- February 9th 2026, Diplolab

SHU World Review

No abstract provided.

Shu World Review- February 3rd 2026, Diplolab

SHU World Review

No abstract provided.

Who Pays For Preparedness? Valuing Disaster App Features Through A Factorial Survey Experiment In Flood-Prone Communities, Katsuya Tanaka, Tadashi Kito, Kohji Tanaka

Center for Public Service Publications and Reports

This study evaluates public preferences for next-generation disaster preparedness apps using a factorial survey experiment in flood-prone Japanese communities. The analysis first reveals a fundamental heterogeneity in public receptiveness, identifying two distinct segments: a small "receptive" minority (approx. 20 %) willing to consider adoption, and a large "unreceptive" majority (approx. 80 %) that rejects the app regardless of its features or price. Consequently, focusing on the receptive segment, the study estimates the economic value of specific app features. Results show that functions for immediate personal safety and family security—such as Rescue Request and Family Status Confirmation—are most highly prized. These …

Living Well: The Built, Lived, And Social Determinants Of Well-Being, Yi Wen Tan, Zidane Tiew, Emi Loh, Shania Go, Wensi Lim

ROSA Research Briefs

As Singapore transitions into a super-aged society, it becomes imperative for us to develop sustainable, inclusive, and effective models of care. In recent years, there has been growing emphasis on embedding healthcare, social services, and everyday amenities within the community. During this year’s National Day Rally, the Government introduced Age Well Neighbourhoods, a new scheme that builds on existing efforts from the Age Well SG initiative. Age Well Neighbourhoods seeks to expand active ageing centre networks, bring healthcare closer to homes with the establishment of community health posts, and provide greater home personal care services, further cementing its focus on …

A Comparative Analysis Of U.S. And Mexico’S Migration Policy From 2009 To 2025: How Their Approaches Shape And Constrain Each Other’S Policy Choices, Viviana Adame

Senior Theses

The long history of movement across the U.S.–Mexico border has made migration one of the main issues shaping their bilateral relationship. This thesis examines how U.S. and Mexican migration policies from 2009 to 2025 affect and limit each other. Using the idea of migration diplomacy, it argues that migration is not just a domestic issue but a way both countries negotiate power and cooperation. The study compares six administrations: Obama, Trump, and Biden in the United States, and Calderón, Peña Nieto, and López Obrador in Mexico, through policy documents, data, and reports. It finds that the United States depends on …

Modernising Wills For A Smart Nation, Hang Wu Tang, Edward Ti

Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law

In a commentary, SMU Lee Kong Chian Professor of Law Tang Hang Wu and SMU Associate Dean (Undergraduate Curriculum and Teaching) and Associate Professor of Law Edward Ti highlighted that Singapore has digitalised almost everything around the will, but not the will itself. Prof Tang and Assoc Prof Ti noted that the current legislation insists that the will itself remains a paper ritual, which is not just an inconvenience but also risks Singapore’s competitiveness. They argued that Singapore should modernise without compromising on steps to prevent fraud and undue influence. They highlighted that the law should be modernised so that …

A Social Norm Perspective On Distorted Information In China, Zhe Li, Massimo Massa, Nianhang Xu, Hong Zhang

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

Can social norms give rise to distorted information in China? We observe that China’s leading social norm related to alcohol consumption and social drinking enhance earnings management. An analysis of toxic alcohol scandals supports a causal interpretation. Further evidence suggests that the influence of alcohol may come from the negative externality that it creates, which is propagated by corporate leaders and cannot be attenuated by market-oriented institutions. Our results reveal a social norm externality that may have important normative implications.

There Is No One-Size-Fits-All Approach To Sovereign Finance, Guan Seng Khoo, Annie Koh

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

In a commentary, SMU Professor Emeritus of Finance (Practice) Annie Koh and Khoo Guan Seng, Asia-Pacific advisory council member of the SWF Academy and EU-Asean Centre, opined that in a volatile world, the strength of a sovereign wealth fund lies in its ability to fulfil its specific, sovereign purpose. Prof Koh and Mr Khoo said that sovereign wealth funds are bespoke instruments of national policy, and in the world of sovereign capital, one size does not, and cannot, fit all. They noted that each fund is a reflection of a country’s unique ambitions, its resource endowments and its specific fears …

Eliciting Supplier Cooperation For Value Chain Decarbonization: A Field Experiment With Smallholder Farmers In India, Sukti Ghosh, Jasjit Singh

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

Many firms are pledging to reduce greenhouse gas emissions across their value chains. However, this requires their suppliers to also adopt more climate-friendly practices for decarbonization. This can involve addressing gaps in not only the suppliers’ ability but also their willingness to adopt such practices, which can be challenging if the suppliers perceive the practices as risky or potentially detrimental to their economic well-being. We examine the effectiveness of relational investments to help mitigate this challenge, arguing that relational investments can serve as a signal of the firm’s commitment towards joint value creation. In a field experiment conducted with supplier …

Reflections On Judicial Supervision Of Prosecutorial Powers, Benjamin Joshua Ong

Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law

The courts occasionally claim that the limits to the power to prosecute are different from the limits to other executive powers. They say that prosecutorial decisions are subject to judicial review on a reduced set of grounds compared to other executive decisions. I have previously argued that this approach is wrong, and aim to elaborate on the argument in this blog post. The focus will be on the laws of the UK and of Singapore, but it is hoped that the reflections here will be of some use in other common-law jurisdictions as well.

Counter-Urbanization In China: A Systematic Review Toward A Comprehensive Typology, Chengxue Yang, Qian Forrest Zhang

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

Drawing on a systematic review of both international and Chinese-language scholarship on counter-urbanization in China, this article proposes a comprehensive typology of counter-urbanization migrations—consisting of eight types of new migrants—based on the diverse motivations driving such migration. We build a bilingual corpus of 273 research papers published between the 1970s and 2025. Integrating bibliometric mapping and qualitative synthesis, we conduct a systematic review to trace the temporal evolution and thematic diversification of counter-urbanization research. The review reveals persistent conceptual ambiguity surrounding counter-urbanization in the Chinese context, which this study addresses by conceptually distinguishing counter-urbanization from suburban expansion, population decentralization, and …

Bridging Policy And Grassroots Action With Technology: A Framework For Civic Engagement In Environmental Sustainability, Mikhail Ola Adisa, Sonny Rosenthal, Shola Oyedeji, Ifeoma Adaji, Jari Porras

Research Collection College of Integrative Studies

Grassroots and civic organizations are increasingly recognized as “middle actors” in sustainability, leveraging ICT-driven solutions to bridge top-down policies with bottom-up citizen engagement and behavioral change. This study examines how civic organizations in Finland and Singapore integrate digital tools to support sustainable waste management practices aligned with Sustainable Development Goals 11, 12, and 17. Guided by a Design Science Research (DSR) approach and drawing on Middle-Out and multi-level governance theories, we developed and validated the Integrated Sustainability Engagement Framework (ISEF) based on interviews with 21 civic organizations and iterative feedback. Findings highlight the central roles of policy translation, localized practices, …

The Affective Economy Of Toxic Atmospheres: Sensory Governance, Ecological Intelligences And The Performative Politics Of Urban Mosquito Management, Orlando Woods, Creighton Connolly

Research Collection College of Integrative Studies

This paper considers how atmospheres can play a powerful role in troubling the management of nature in the multispecies city. It brings the cyclical nature of atmospheric effects, the affective values and il/logics that determine human responses to non-human threats, and the misguided and potentially deleterious health outcomes that ensue into one analytical frame. Drawing on the empirical case of urban mosquito management in Singapore, it considers how the creation of toxic atmospheres through fogging – blowing insecticides into the air in a bid to kill mosquitoes – is ineffective and sets in motion a cascading series of socio-environmental consequences. …

Asia’S Future Will Be Won By Soft Power, Not Force, Lily Kong

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

Lily Kong argues that while force remains essential to deter aggression and manage worst-case scenarios, military strength may prevent defeat, but it rarely produces legitimacy. When hard power dominates the strategic imagination, volatility rises and markets suffer. Soft power – the ability to influence countries through persuasion, attraction and legitimacy – has become a strategic asset, she writes. It shapes expectations, lowers baseline tensions, and creates off-ramps in moments of crisis, often determining whether tensions escalate, how long crises last, and how much economic damage they inflict. Prof Kong believes that in a nuclear-armed, economically interdependent Asia, the real test …

Dual Self-Construal Integration (Dsci) And Romantic Relationships In Singapore: Enhancing Romantic Relationship Satisfaction Through Creativity, Kenneth Tan, Chi-Ying Cheng, Gloria J. Lai, Daniel Ho

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

Research has shown that independent vs. interdependent self-construals are largely shaped by culture and can predict the endorsement of distinct relational schemes when dealing with close others. Intriguingly, individuals exposed to both Eastern and Western cultures can develop both independent and interdependent self-construals and possess the two seemingly conflicting self-construals simultaneously. What is less explored is how different management of both independent and interdependent self-construals influence individuals' navigation of relational schemas in their romantic relationships. The current research examines the influence of how one's dual self-construal integration (DSCI)—an individual difference measure that captures the degree to which individuals perceive independent …

Russia’S Soft Power In Nahdlatul Ulama’S Art Exhibition Russia-Indonesia: Within The Framework Of Art, Nurul Rahmawati, Ahmad Fahrurodji

International Review of Humanities Studies

This study analyzes the construction of Russian cultural diplomacy in news media coverage of art exhibitions. Russia-Indonesia: Within the Framework of Art. The research uses the method Critical Discourse Analysis with Norman Fairclough's model and concept soft power Joseph Nye and the skeleton Taxonomy of Soft Power from Ohnesorge to map actor relations in cultural diplomacy practices. The results show that Russia utilizes art, religious symbols, and collaboration with Nusantara Utama Gallery and the involvement of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) artists as an instrument of soft power to build appeal and legitimacy among the Indonesian Muslim public through cross-media discourse …

Literature Review: Crowdfunding And Political Fundraising, Saiful Ahmad, Palupi Lindiasari Samputra

Journal of Strategic and Global Studies

Crowdfunding is an effort to raise relatively small amounts of money involving many individuals to support a specific project. Typically, crowdfunding is conducted online through fundraising platforms. The aim of this paper is to identify and analyse the utilisation of crowdfunding in fundraising activities that are related to or have political goals carried out by certain organisations or political groups. The method used in this paper is qualitative in the form of narrative analysis carried out through in-depth reading of several scientific literatures that discuss political fundraising through crowdfunding. The sources of scientific literature collection were obtained through the Google …

How A Stay-At-Home Father Plays A Role In Family Resilience?, Fatimah Fatimah, Eko Daryanto

Journal of Strategic and Global Studies

One of the impacts of modernization is the loss of barriers between job and particular gender. This also happens in the family unit, more specifically in the role of husband and wife. The husband's job which is identical to earn money and the wife's job is to manage the household should be able to be done more flexibly according to family conditions. This adaptation process is needed in order to strengthen family resilience. Non-traditional family composition that usually consist of a stay-at-home father and a working mother can be used as a family adaptation strategy. This study uses the results …

Implementation Of Zero Trust Architecture On Local Server Management In Educational Institutions, Joko Purwanto, Safar Dwi Kurniawan

Journal of Strategic and Global Studies

Educational institutions are facing increasingly complex cyber threats, particularly as they continue to rely on on-premises servers with limited cybersecurity resources. Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA) offers a security model that rejects implicit trust and requires strict verification of each access request. This study aims to examine the applicability of ZTA in managing local servers within educational institutions through a qualitative literature review approach. Relevant literature from 2014 to 2025 was analyzed using thematic synthesis to identify recurring concepts, strategies, and gaps. The results show that ZTA, when integrated with Identity and Access Management (IAM), Security Information and Event Management (SIEM), …

China’S Health Diplomacy To Asean Through Asean-China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership 2021-2025, Zahra Shaffa Kamila, Deasy Silvya Sari

Journal of Strategic and Global Studies

The world always faces limitations in dealing with the pandemic. China had emerged as an active actor in health diplomacy to address this. China was the first country to send vaccines and health aid to Southeast Asia through ASEAN. However, the relationship between China and ASEAN did not begin with the pandemic. Both countries have a long history and recently renewed their plan of action (POA), which serves as evidence of their relationship namely the ASEAN-China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) 2021-2025. The POA includes a sub-chapter on health that navigates China's health diplomacy towards ASEAN. Therefore, this research aimed to …

Egypt’S Strategic Hedging In Economics With The United States And China From 2014-2024, Abigail Flynn

Theses and Dissertations

This research aims to explain how Egypt is able to engage economically with two internationally competitive powers, the United States and China, using the theoretical framework of strategic hedging in the period of 2014-2024. While existing literature on strategic hedging is primarily focused on Southeast Asia and broadly deals with political hedging, this study applies the framework specifically to Egypt and is limited to economic relations. This research is significant because it identifies how Egypt is able to increase its economic engagement with the U.S. and China despite their competitive status and offers a novel argument which can be tested …

Domestic Violence Againts Women In Thailand: Galtung-Based Analysis Of Violence In Thai Drama “Tie Me (K)Not”, Akhdiat Dimas Abimanyu, Rahadjeng Pulungsari

International Review of Humanities Studies

This study examines the portrayal of domestic violence against women in the Thai drama Tie Me (K)not (2022) using Johan Galtung’s theory of violence, which categorizes violence into direct, structural, and cultural forms. Through qualitative content analysis, the research identifies how the drama depicts these forms of violence, reflecting broader societal issues in Thailand. The findings reveal explicit instances of direct violence, such as physical and psychological abuse, systemic structural violence through institutional failures in justice and support systems, and cultural violence rooted in patriarchal traditions that justify gender inequality. The drama not only highlights these oppressive dynamics but also …

Adaptation Processes In Cross - Cultural Communication Within Chinese - Indonesian Workplace Settings: An Analysis Of The Tiktok Series "Day 1 Kerja Sama Orang China. ", Shi Jie, Amelia Burhan

International Review of Humanities Studies

In the background ofChina's deepening economic engagement with Indonesia under the Belt and Road Initiative, increasing numbers of Chinese workers have entered Indonesian industrial zones, creating a workplace environment characterized by intensive cross-cultural interaction. While previous studies on cross-cultural adaptation have primarily emphasized macro-level cultural barriers and language difficulties, this research shifts attention to the micro-level communicative practices through which cultural adaptation is negotiated in everyday collaboration. Drawing on Howard Giles' Communication Accommodation Theory (CAT), this study conducts a qualitative analysis of TikTok videos depicting workplace interactions between Chinese and Indonesian workers particularly those labeled "Day 1 kerja sama orang …

Right-Wing French Media Coverage Of The Rassemblement National’S 2027 Presidential Candidates, Amelinda Sundari, Myrna Laksman-Huntley

International Review of Humanities Studies

The 2027 French presidential election has become a contest over political legitimacy, and the media play a key role in shaping candidates’ images. Within the right-wing camp, Rassemblement National (RN) presents two potential figures, Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella. Le Pen faces legal threats that could prevent her candidacy, while Bardella is projected as a successor to represent RN in the contest. Drawing on framing theory Pan & Kosicki (1993) and Critical Discourse Analysis Fairclough (1995), this qualitative study investigates right-wing French media preferences between these two candidates. The analysis examines three articles each from Le Figaro and Le …

Sahel Region In French Postcolonial Discourse: Macron's Production Of Space And Security Rhetoric, Azzahrah F. A Putri, Abellia Anggi Wardani Dr.

International Review of Humanities Studies

Between the Sahara Desert and the Sudanese Savannah, the Sahel region has become a contested geopolitical space. This study analyses how France is reconstructing its hegemony following its military withdrawal through the rhetoric of Emmanuel Macron (2021 and 2025). Using Critical Discourse Analysis (Fairclough, 1995) and the theory of spatial production (Lefebvre, 1974), this study examines how the discourses of “partnership” and “security” are employed to maintain French influence. Qualitative methods were applied to Macron's speeches, French media, and statements by former presidents of Sahel countries. The results show that France is redefining the Sahel as a ‘crisis zone’ requiring …

The Mediating Role Of Trust: How Cultural Factors Shape Consumer Acceptance Of Chinese Electric Vehicles In Jakarta, Indonesia, Suci Kuswardani, Ike Iswary Lawanda

International Review of Humanities Studies

This study examines the mediating role of consumer trust in the relationship between cultural factors and the purchase intention of Chinese Electric Vehicles (EVs) in Jakarta, Indonesia. While global EV adoption is often analyzed through techno-economic lenses, this research addresses a critical gap by investigating the under-explored socio-cultural dimensions that shape consumer behavior in emerging markets. Framed by an integrated theoretical approach combining Hofstede’s Cultural Dimensions, the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), and Reception Theory, the study explores how local cultural values such as collectivism, uncertainty avoidance, and social status filter the acceptance of Chinese EV technology. A qualitative case study …

Songs Of Mahzani Of Woloan And Rukukan: From Ritual To Performance, Jeane Angela Manus, Priscila Fitriasih Fitriasih Limbong, Turita Indah Setyani, Muhammad Yoesoef

International Review of Humanities Studies

As one of oral traditions acknowledged in Woloan and Rurukan, Tomohon Minahasa, the songs of mahzani have long been sung in these two areas. As we understand that oral tradition would disappear from its community when it has lost its real function, this particular oral tradition has developed into staged performances. Songs of mahzani that had been practiced for generations as part of the mapalus traditions in the last decades has significantly decreased in line with the change of lifestyle of the people who practice it. Using qualitative method with an ethnographic approach, this article is to delve into the …

Diplomasi Orangutan Malaysia Dalam Perspektif Ekologi Budaya: Sebuah Tinjauan Kritis Terhadap Implikasi Ekspansi Kelapa Sawit, Akhdiat Dimas Abimanyu

Multikultura

This study examines the phenomenon of Malaysia's orangutan diplomacy as part of public diplomacy and cultural diplomacy in the face of international pressure on the palm oil industry, particularly from the European Union. Inspired by animal diplomacy practices such as China's panda diplomacy, Malaysia in 2024 initiated a plan to make the orangutan a diplomatic symbol to build a positive image and strengthen trade relations with partner countries. This study uses a qualitative descriptive approach with a literature review method that utilizes academic sources, policy documents, non-profit organization reports, and mass and social media. The analysis is conducted through a …

Program Makan Bergizi Gratis Indonesia Dalam Pandangan Media Internasional Berbahasa Arab, Said Muhammad Hasan Al Syarif

Multikultura

This study examines how Indonesia’s Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) Program is represented in Arabic language media, focusing on the construction of ideology and the framing of public policy within discourse. As a quick-win initiative of President Prabowo Subianto’s administration in 2025, the MBG Program aims to improve nutrition and human capital quality, yet it has sparked controversy and drawn significant international media attention. This research addresses a gap in existing studies by critically analyzing the representation of Indonesian social policy in Arab media. The study employs a descriptive qualitative method using Norman Fairclough’s Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA), encompassing three dimensions: …