RSIS organised the third edition of the International Conference on Cohesive Societies (ICCS), themed “Cohesive Societies, Resilient Futures”. Supported by the Ministry of Culture, Community & Youth, the conference took place from 24 to 26 June 2025. About 1,000 global thought leaders, policymakers, community practitioners and young leaders from more than 50 countries and territories gathered in Singapore to exchange ideas, share best practices, and develop innovative solutions that foster cohesive and resilient multicultural societies worldwide.
Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam, President of the Republic of Singapore, gave the opening Address/Keynote Speech in which he underscored the need for actively fostering shared purpose, mutual respect, and inclusive interaction to sustain social cohesion in multicultural societies.
RSIS presented the Southeast Asian Social Cohesion Radar Report 2025 on the second day of the conference. It offers insights into the state of social cohesion across ASEAN. The overall Social Cohesion Index was generally positive across all countries (with a regional average of 72.4%). Read the report here.
ICCS 2025 explored practical approaches to build social cohesion anchored in three key pillars — Unpacking Multiculturalism, Navigating Uncertainty, and Forging Societal Resilience. Through plenaries, breakout sessions, and skills workshops, attendees gained actionable insights and practical skills in areas such as futures thinking, conflict mediation, humanitarian relief, and civic conversational skills.
