Back
About RSIS
Introduction
Building the Foundations
Welcome Message
Board of Governors
Staff Profiles
Executive Deputy Chairman’s Office
Dean’s Office
Management
Distinguished Fellows
Faculty and Research
Associate Research Fellows, Senior Analysts and Research Analysts
Visiting Fellows
Adjunct Fellows
Administrative Staff
Honours and Awards for RSIS Staff and Students
RSIS Endowment Fund
Endowed Professorships
Career Opportunities
Getting to RSIS
Research
Research Centres
Centre for Multilateralism Studies (CMS)
Centre for Non-Traditional Security Studies (NTS Centre)
Centre of Excellence for National Security
Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies (IDSS)
International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research (ICPVTR)
Research Programmes
National Security Studies Programme (NSSP)
Social Cohesion Research Programme (SCRP)
Studies in Inter-Religious Relations in Plural Societies (SRP) Programme
Other Research
Future Issues and Technology Cluster
Research@RSIS
Science and Technology Studies Programme (STSP) (2017-2020)
Graduate Education
Graduate Programmes Office
Exchange Partners and Programmes
How to Apply
Financial Assistance
Meet the Admissions Team: Information Sessions and other events
RSIS Alumni
Outreach
Global Networks
About Global Networks
RSIS Alumni
Executive Education
About Executive Education
SRP Executive Programme
Terrorism Analyst Training Course (TATC)
International Programmes
About International Programmes
Asia-Pacific Programme for Senior Military Officers (APPSMO)
Asia-Pacific Programme for Senior National Security Officers (APPSNO)
International Conference on Cohesive Societies (ICCS)
International Strategy Forum-Asia (ISF-Asia)
Publications
RSIS Publications
Annual Reviews
Books
Bulletins and Newsletters
RSIS Commentary Series
Counter Terrorist Trends and Analyses
Commemorative / Event Reports
Future Issues
IDSS Papers
Interreligious Relations
Monographs
NTS Insight
Policy Reports
Working Papers
External Publications
Authored Books
Journal Articles
Edited Books
Chapters in Edited Books
Policy Reports
Working Papers
Op-Eds
Glossary of Abbreviations
Policy-relevant Articles Given RSIS Award
RSIS Publications for the Year
External Publications for the Year
Media
Cohesive Societies
Sustainable Security
Other Resource Pages
News Releases
Speeches
Video/Audio Channel
External Podcasts
Events
Contact Us
S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies Think Tank and Graduate School Ponder The Improbable Since 1966
Nanyang Technological University Nanyang Technological University
  • About RSIS
      IntroductionBuilding the FoundationsWelcome MessageBoard of GovernorsHonours and Awards for RSIS Staff and StudentsRSIS Endowment FundEndowed ProfessorshipsCareer OpportunitiesGetting to RSIS
      Staff ProfilesExecutive Deputy Chairman’s OfficeDean’s OfficeManagementDistinguished FellowsFaculty and ResearchAssociate Research Fellows, Senior Analysts and Research AnalystsVisiting FellowsAdjunct FellowsAdministrative Staff
  • Research
      Research CentresCentre for Multilateralism Studies (CMS)Centre for Non-Traditional Security Studies (NTS Centre)Centre of Excellence for National SecurityInstitute of Defence and Strategic Studies (IDSS)International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research (ICPVTR)
      Research ProgrammesNational Security Studies Programme (NSSP)Social Cohesion Research Programme (SCRP)Studies in Inter-Religious Relations in Plural Societies (SRP) Programme
      Other ResearchFuture Issues and Technology ClusterResearch@RSISScience and Technology Studies Programme (STSP) (2017-2020)
  • Graduate Education
      Graduate Programmes OfficeExchange Partners and ProgrammesHow to ApplyFinancial AssistanceMeet the Admissions Team: Information Sessions and other eventsRSIS Alumni
  • Outreach
      Global NetworksAbout Global NetworksRSIS Alumni
      Executive EducationAbout Executive EducationSRP Executive ProgrammeTerrorism Analyst Training Course (TATC)
      International ProgrammesAbout International ProgrammesAsia-Pacific Programme for Senior Military Officers (APPSMO)Asia-Pacific Programme for Senior National Security Officers (APPSNO)International Conference on Cohesive Societies (ICCS)International Strategy Forum-Asia (ISF-Asia)
  • Publications
      RSIS PublicationsAnnual ReviewsBooksBulletins and NewslettersRSIS Commentary SeriesCounter Terrorist Trends and AnalysesCommemorative / Event ReportsFuture IssuesIDSS PapersInterreligious RelationsMonographsNTS InsightPolicy ReportsWorking Papers
      External PublicationsAuthored BooksJournal ArticlesEdited BooksChapters in Edited BooksPolicy ReportsWorking PapersOp-Eds
      Glossary of AbbreviationsPolicy-relevant Articles Given RSIS AwardRSIS Publications for the YearExternal Publications for the Year
  • Media
      Cohesive SocietiesSustainable SecurityOther Resource PagesNews ReleasesSpeechesVideo/Audio ChannelExternal Podcasts
  • Events
  • Contact Us
    • Connect with Us

      rsis.ntu
      rsis_ntu
      rsisntu
      rsisvideocast
      school/rsis-ntu
      rsis.sg
      rsissg
      RSIS
      RSS
      Subscribe to RSIS Publications
      Subscribe to RSIS Events

      Getting to RSIS

      Nanyang Technological University
      Block S4, Level B3,
      50 Nanyang Avenue,
      Singapore 639798

      Click here for direction to RSIS

      Get in Touch

    Connect
    Search
    • RSIS
    • Publication
    • RSIS Publications
    • CO10118 | Alternative Narratives: Why I Wrote It
    • Annual Reviews
    • Books
    • Bulletins and Newsletters
    • RSIS Commentary Series
    • Counter Terrorist Trends and Analyses
    • Commemorative / Event Reports
    • Future Issues
    • IDSS Papers
    • Interreligious Relations
    • Monographs
    • NTS Insight
    • Policy Reports
    • Working Papers

    CO10118 | Alternative Narratives: Why I Wrote It
    Ong Wei Chong

    17 September 2010

    download pdf

    Commentary

    IN RESPONSE to Hong Lysa’s remarks on my RSIS Commentary on Alternative Narratives: The Danger of Romanticising the Other published on 14 September, I would like to clarify three issues of contention: history as a practice; the writing of alternative narratives; and the crux of her argument. At no point did my article suggest that any Singapore-based academics were engaged in the romanticisation of violent revolutionaries. My commentary was premised not on any unfounded innuendos but on the perils of romanticising the exploits of violent revolutionaries that threatened the security of Malaysia and Singapore from 1968 to 1989.

    Strands of the Past

    There are different strands of writings on the past that range from the academic to the popular. Nonetheless, the lines between academic history (written by professional historians for a professional audience) and popular histories (written for a general audience) have somewhat been obfuscated by academic historians engaged in the penning of popular history. This blurring of boundaries is apparent in all genres of history including narratives on continuities and departures between pre and post independence Singapore.

    Peer review by fellow academic historians does ensure a certain level of credibility but conflict of interests does arise even in a double-blind peer review process. Approaches, writing styles and methodology may point toward a particular individual that the reviewer might severely disagree with. In short, the peer review process is not always bias-free. Moreover, certain prestigious university presses tend to reject history books that are deemed to be too policy-prescriptive. Even in spirit of encouraging enquiring, what is good or bad history can be a very subjective matter in the academic peer-review process.

    Policy Relevant Past

    I do not disclaim the fact that I am approaching the subject of alternative narratives from a ‘history for staff college’ rather than a pure academic perspective. Hence, the securitisation bias. The advancement of historical scholarship that allows further generations to come to grasp with its nation’s roots is an integral process of any civil society. The main drivers of the process however must be Singaporeans and it must be done in a responsible and gradual manner that does not undermine the social cohesion or stability of contemporary Singapore.

    About the Author

    Ong Weichong is Associate Research Fellow with the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. He is attached to the Military Transformations Programme at the school’s constituent unit, the Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies. He is also a Doctoral Candidate with the Centre for the Study of War, State and Society, University of Exeter, UK. 

    Categories: RSIS Commentary Series / General / Singapore and Homeland Security / Southeast Asia and ASEAN

    Commentary

    IN RESPONSE to Hong Lysa’s remarks on my RSIS Commentary on Alternative Narratives: The Danger of Romanticising the Other published on 14 September, I would like to clarify three issues of contention: history as a practice; the writing of alternative narratives; and the crux of her argument. At no point did my article suggest that any Singapore-based academics were engaged in the romanticisation of violent revolutionaries. My commentary was premised not on any unfounded innuendos but on the perils of romanticising the exploits of violent revolutionaries that threatened the security of Malaysia and Singapore from 1968 to 1989.

    Strands of the Past

    There are different strands of writings on the past that range from the academic to the popular. Nonetheless, the lines between academic history (written by professional historians for a professional audience) and popular histories (written for a general audience) have somewhat been obfuscated by academic historians engaged in the penning of popular history. This blurring of boundaries is apparent in all genres of history including narratives on continuities and departures between pre and post independence Singapore.

    Peer review by fellow academic historians does ensure a certain level of credibility but conflict of interests does arise even in a double-blind peer review process. Approaches, writing styles and methodology may point toward a particular individual that the reviewer might severely disagree with. In short, the peer review process is not always bias-free. Moreover, certain prestigious university presses tend to reject history books that are deemed to be too policy-prescriptive. Even in spirit of encouraging enquiring, what is good or bad history can be a very subjective matter in the academic peer-review process.

    Policy Relevant Past

    I do not disclaim the fact that I am approaching the subject of alternative narratives from a ‘history for staff college’ rather than a pure academic perspective. Hence, the securitisation bias. The advancement of historical scholarship that allows further generations to come to grasp with its nation’s roots is an integral process of any civil society. The main drivers of the process however must be Singaporeans and it must be done in a responsible and gradual manner that does not undermine the social cohesion or stability of contemporary Singapore.

    About the Author

    Ong Weichong is Associate Research Fellow with the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. He is attached to the Military Transformations Programme at the school’s constituent unit, the Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies. He is also a Doctoral Candidate with the Centre for the Study of War, State and Society, University of Exeter, UK. 

    Categories: RSIS Commentary Series / General / Singapore and Homeland Security

    Popular Links

    About RSISResearch ProgrammesGraduate EducationPublicationsEventsAdmissionsCareersVideo/Audio ChannelRSIS Intranet

    Connect with Us

    rsis.ntu
    rsis_ntu
    rsisntu
    rsisvideocast
    school/rsis-ntu
    rsis.sg
    rsissg
    RSIS
    RSS
    Subscribe to RSIS Publications
    Subscribe to RSIS Events

    Getting to RSIS

    Nanyang Technological University
    Block S4, Level B3,
    50 Nanyang Avenue,
    Singapore 639798

    Click here for direction to RSIS

    Get in Touch

      Copyright © S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies. All rights reserved.
      Privacy Statement / Terms of Use
      Help us improve

        Rate your experience with this website
        123456
        Not satisfiedVery satisfied
        What did you like?
        0/255 characters
        What can be improved?
        0/255 characters
        Your email
        Please enter a valid email.
        Thank you for your feedback.
        This site uses cookies to offer you a better browsing experience. By continuing, you are agreeing to the use of cookies on your device as described in our privacy policy. Learn more
        OK
        Latest Book
        more info