The meritocratic ideology of Singapore has begun to show signs of wear, and its elite seems incapable of regenerating itself as that of the PRC does. Lee [Kuan Yew]'s pioneer generation - the 'Men in White' - has given way to an ever more circumscribed stratum, a process which Michael Barr, the leading historian of modern Singapore, examines in rich detail. * London Review of Books *
In this well-researched and clearly argued book, the highly respected Australian scholar Barr (Flinders Univ., Australia) challenges the entire Singapore Story through a thematically organized revisionist history of Singapore from its earliest times into the 21st century ... Barr builds his argument on extensive archival research and mastery of secondary scholarly and popular publications, including government-issued textbooks that promulgate the official Singapore Story. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through faculty. * CHOICE *
Dr. Barr is a very talented writer. His intellect and more nuanced perspectives come through in this book, in which the content dives deep into Singapore's history from a political, geographic, and economic view ... If you want a very real and well-researched academic historical book, don't miss out on this one! * Singapore Politics: Blog *
'Michael Barr does the study of Singapore a great service with this path-breaking book. He debunks the ascendant account of Singapore's modern history to explain so much more about how and why this city-state developed as it did. Barr breaks decisively from the prevailing orthodoxy serving elite political interests to highlight struggles, forces and dynamics fundamental in shaping modern Singapore.' * Garry Rodan, Professor of Politics and International Studies, Murdoch University *
'Michael Barr's Modern History of Singapore offers a refreshingly candid counter-narrative to The Singapore Story. Broad, bold and brazen, Barr's self-consciously revisionist history of Singapore breaks away from the dominant meta-narrative of the Singapore state and its elites. It offers readers a succinct, thematic (and dramatic) history of Singapore that emphasises the continuities that transcend the Founding moment of 1819 and situate Singapore's growth and development within a larger regional and global framework. This is not a history for data-miners or squirrels of historical minutiae but for those who seek to better understand the land, idea and country that is Singapore.' * Kevin YL Tan, Executive Editor, Asian Journal of Comparative Law and Professor (Adjunct), Faculty of Law, National University of Singapore *
Barr offers insights into Singapore history that no other historian can give scholars and students. Singapore: A Modern History deserves a prominent place alongside the works of other historians who have also embarked on this most challenging task of writing a general history of Singapore. * Australian Journal of Politics and History *
