A part of academic work inspired by Nye's concept of "soft power" has adopted his conceptualisation without much reservation, while another part has contested it. Some authors describe Nye's conceptualisation of power as biased towards democracies, or otherwise challenge the concept as category of analysis. On the case study of the partial democracy of Singapore, through analysis of official discourse, the thesis explores whether Singapore's government acknowledges the idea and if so, how it interprets it. Secondly, the thesis aims to provide more insight into the use of soft power as category of analysis with the help of the selected case study.

This study examines the production of a new regional space known as the Growth Triangle. The Growth Triangle represents a (re)integration of the economies of Singapore, the Riau Archipelago in Indonesia and Johor State in Malaysia. It is argued that the Growth Triangle should be seen as an ‘open region.’ The open region is affected by a wide range of ‘external’ influences and is open to shifting representations which are important to its unfolding. The study takes on the interpretation of the open region through a consideration of the unstable and amorphous realm of ‘middle space.’ Middle space is manifold. It includes: 1) the middle spaces between the global and the local; 2) the middle spaces between conceptual divisions (e.g., urban/rural and labour/capital); and 3) the middle spaces of circulation (i.e., connections between individuals, firms and places). The triangulation of these three arenas provides a heuristic device for the examination of the changes sweeping the Growth Triangle. The analysis moves from a time when the region’s global niche was based on the movement of goods to more recent developments where-in the movement of information and capital are crucial. The global flows of information and capital are the ‘winds’ of the title. The region, and various ways of conceptualizing it, are the ‘shadows.’ The main findings are that: 1) global change must be seen in terms of local roots and consequences; 2) local differentiation and the representation of difference are increasingly important, even in the frame of globalization; 3) analytic strength may be gained by dulling the edges of interpretive constructs (such as information or labour); 4) there are strong connections between the circulation of goods, people, money and information (spatial interaction) and the generation of new and distinct geographies (areal differentiation); and 5) there are strong linkages between Singapore’s shift towards advanced world city functions (‘intensive globalization’) and the mega-urbanization of the near-by international hinterlands (‘extensive globalization’). To understand each of the three corners of the Growth Triangle one must engage Singapore as a World City and as an Open Region. / Arts, Faculty of / Geography, Department of / Graduate

This study examines the production of a new regional space known as the Growth Triangle. The Growth Triangle represents a (re)integration of the economies of Singapore, the Riau Archipelago in Indonesia and Johor State in Malaysia. It is argued that the Growth Triangle should be seen as an ‘open region.’ The open region is affected by a wide range of ‘external’ influences and is open to shifting representations which are important to its unfolding. The study takes on the interpretation of the open region through a consideration of the unstable and amorphous realm of ‘middle space.’ Middle space is manifold. It includes: 1) the middle spaces between the global and the local; 2) the middle spaces between conceptual divisions (e.g., urban/rural and labour/capital); and 3) the middle spaces of circulation (i.e., connections between individuals, firms and places). The triangulation of these three arenas provides a heuristic device for the examination of the changes sweeping the Growth Triangle. The analysis moves from a time when the region’s global niche was based on the movement of goods to more recent developments where-in the movement of information and capital are crucial. The global flows of information and capital are the ‘winds’ of the title. The region, and various ways of conceptualizing it, are the ‘shadows.’ The main fmdings are that: 1) global change must be seen in terms of local roots and consequences; 2) local differentiation and the representation of difference are increasingly important, even in the frame of globalization; 3) analytic strength may be gained by dulling the edges of interpretive constructs (such as information or labour); 4) there are strong connections between the circulation of goods, people, money and information (spatial interaction) and the generation of new and distinct geographies (areal differentiation); and 5) there are strong linkages between Singapore’s shift towards advanced world city functions (‘intensive globalization’) and the mega-urbanization of the near-by international hinterlands (‘extensive globalization’). To understand each of the three corners of the Growth Triangle one must engage Singapore as a World City and as an Open Region. / Arts, Faculty of / Geography, Department of / Graduate

Recently the European Union proposed a “Fair minimum wage initiative”. The proposal is to create a common framework across the EU 28 member countries. However, the Nordic countries have rejected the proposal. We investigate this issue through a literature review. We start with a presentation of empirical research on the effects of a minimum wage. In the theoretical analysis we use the simple classical monopsony model and the model with frictions in our examination of minimum wage effect on welfare and labour market participation. The conclusion is mixed concerning effects from an introduction of minimum wage, depending on how the countries adopt and implement the minimum wage. If the countries government implemented minimum wage correctly using specific industry minimum wage, there is clear evidence for a positive effect.

no / Singapore commercial contract law has taken an Asian perspective in respect of express terms of good faith in the negotiation of contract. In general, however, it adheres to the English contract law orthodoxy regarding good faith. More specifically, Singapore, like England, does not recognize a general duty or principle of good faith and it is reluctant to imply a duty of good faith into a contract. However, as a hub of international trade and a rising forum for commercial dispute resolution, Singapore will have a stronger need to reconcile the differences in good faith in contract law between the English/Commonwealth and the European-Asian legal traditions. Conventional wisdom and international commercial law instruments in this respect are not as helpful as one would expect for such a need. Instead, to an enlightening but limited extent, the “organizing principle” approach in Bhasin v Hrynew could be useful for setting up a framework for reconciling the differences. This framework could consist of an organising principle of (honouring) reasonable expectations, a duty of honesty, and a duty of fair dealing. The framework realistically concretises good faith into the three components, all of which are essentially objective and ascertainable in specific factual matrix and are well-recognised in both common law and civil law.

From the futuristic Jewel at Changi Airport, the healing gardens at Khoo Teck Puat Hospital in Yishun to School of the Arts at Orchard Road, greenery has sprouted in buildings vertically and horizontally in Singapore, painting a growing green canopy for the dense, high rise city. This paper combines both analyses from first-hand site visits and case studies from external scholar studies to examine the performance of existing Green Building Infrastructures (BGIs) within Singapore’s unique urban context. The study reveals that the success of BGIs is highly dependent on the programming (i.e. thermal comfort design, accessibility, amenity facilities etc.), as well as the function and users of the existing building. Designs and planning that take those factors into consideration while being in line with the city’s general development goals, such as storm water management and pervasive greenery, are likely to bring out the most benefits in BGIs. To demonstrate, this paper also proposed several policy and planning recommendations that included several sets of rudimentary yet relevant parameters. Future research is encouraged to explore more complex combinations of considerations, their incorporation in design and policy making process, as well as a scientific and systematic method to evaluate BGI performance that includes both objective environmental impacts and subjective user experience that might be achieved through smart city developments.

Utgångspunkten för denna studie har varit Singaporemodellens undervisningssätt i en svensk kontext i förhållande till frasen En skola för alla med fokus på inkludering av alla elever i matematikundervisningen. Syftet med studien har varit att med hjälp videoobservationer undersöka Singaporemodellens inkluderande arbetssätt i praktisk verksamhet utifrån de tre inkluderingsbegreppen dynamisk inkludering, innehållsinkludering och deltagande inkludering. Studien har utgått från tre frågeställningar. Hur ser organisationen av undervisningen ut ur ett inkluderingsperspektiv i samband med matematiklektioner som utgår från Singaporemodellen? Hur representeras och bearbetas det matematiska innehållet ur ett inkluderingsperspektiv i samband med matematiklektioner som utgår från Singaporemodellen? Hur ser deltagandet ut ur ett inkluderingsperspektiv i samband med matematiklektioner som utgår från Singaporemodellen?  Studien inleds med en beskrivning av frasen En skola för alla följt av en generell beskrivning av inkluderingsbegreppet. Sedan beskrivs olika aspekter av inkludering i matematikundervisningen, följt av en beskrivning av Singaporemodellen. Vidare beskrivs och diskuteras kulturella skillnader mellan Singapore och västvärlden. De som har deltagit i observationerna är tre skolklasser i årskurs 1-3. Resultatet visade att Singaporemodellen lägger stor vikt vid muntlig undervisning med stöd av konkreta och visuella representationer. Slutsatsen av studien  utifrån den undervisning som observerades är att Singaporemodellen är en modell att utgå ifrån vad gäller inkludering av alla elever i matematikundervisningen men att ytterligare lösningar utanför Singaporemodellens ram kan behövas för att tillgodose alla elevers behov. En annan slutsats är att lärarens förmåga att fånga elevernas intresse spelar stor roll för Singaporemodellen som inkluderande modell. / This study departs from the Singapore model's teaching method in a Swedish context in relation to the term “A school for all”, focusing on the inclusion of all students in mathematics education. The purpose of the study was to use video observations to examine the Singapore model's inclusive approach in practice based on the three concepts of inclusion: dynamic inclusion, content inclusion and participatory inclusion. The study departed from three research questions: What does the organisation of teaching look like from an inclusion perspective in mathematics lessons based on the Singapore model? How is the mathematical content represented and processed from an inclusion perspective in mathematics lessons based on the Singapore model? What does participation look like from an inclusion perspective in mathematics lessons based on the Singapore model? The study begins with an account of the term “A school for all”, followed by a general description of the concept of inclusion. This is followed by a description of various aspects of inclusion in mathematics education and a description of the Singapore model. Furthermore, cultural differences between Singapore and the western world are described and discussed. The observations included three school classes in grades 1-3. Based on the observations, the study found that the Singapore model places great importance in verbal teaching with the support of concrete and visual presentations. The study concludes that the Singapore model can be assumed from the inclusion of all students in mathematics education, but that further solutions outside the framework of the Singapore model may be needed in order to meet the needs of all students. Another conclusion is that the teacher's ability to capture students' interest plays a significant role for the Singapore model as an inclusive model.

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World sea levels are rising because of increasing levels of greenhouse gases (GHGs) in the atmosphere. This report aims to describe and analyze how the small, low-lying and vulnerable country of Singapore is planning for sea level rise (SLR). The ministries, authorities, agencies, secretariats etc. that are working with SLR questions are identified and the most important environmental documents with or without SLR are also studied. University and government researchers as well as other government personnel are contacted and asked questions in relation to SLR. The interview process was difficult because some people have signed agreements with the government that restrict them from participating in any activities. Planning for SLR is discussed from different points of view and numbers of possible sea levels are also discussed. Mostly they follow IPCC projections and they often refer to the assessment report 4 (AR4) where SLR is estimated to 0.18-0.59 m by 2100. They rarely refer to IPCC’s assessment report 5 (AR5), since the research for Singapore’s environmental documents was conducted before the release of AR5. The IPCC levels are mean sea levels and it is argued by one governmental researcher who is part of the study that these levels are not sufficient for planning purposes as it is the sea level extremes that are important to plan for. Seasonal wind, tides, waves and other factors all interact to affect sea level extremes at any particular location. Singapore is located in a particularly complex region and is therefore a complex country to plan for. The report concludes that Singapore needs a better strategy to share information, and authorities need to show their results in relation to SLR, and pass on their knowledge. This will help the whole world to reduce their impact and together, make it possible to create a sustainable world, minimizing climate change effects on Earth.

Continuous information technology development changed traditional ways of management and business operations. Nowadays there is a high demand for new innovative business solutions and the ways of managing people that enables to fully elicit their potential. Physical boundaries are removed; work is becoming incredibly dispersed around the world enabling growth of 24/7 customer service, home banking, online shopping and other services that were seemed incredible just a few years ago. In this fast paced environment the companies are seeking for any possibility to increase their competitiveness. Implementing flexible working is considered by most of organizations as a tool to adapt to never-ending changes. This paper aims to test the hypothesis that flexible working increases organizational productivity from the perspective of the property as well as from the perspective of employees. In current work organizational productivity from the perspective of property is analyzed from economic standpoint when flexible working decreases operational and real estate costs per employee, thus, allowing saving and investing in other business areas that would increases profitability of the company. Productivity from staff perspective is measured by employee's satisfaction of his working environment, work-life balance, and increased efficiency through team collaboration, flexible hours and telecommuting. Methodology used is case study and literature review. Case study was performed on-site in Alcatel-Lucent in Singapore. It is limited to six months from planned full year of 3 implementation project. Set of interviews with company managers was conducted to support the case results. The thesis suggests the hypothesis, according to the literature review and overview of some cases in different countries, that flexibility in property as well as in working mode increases productivity both in terms of real estate costs savings and in terms of employee’s increased productivity due to better team collaboration in open space, flexible working hours, ability to choose preferred location for work, telecommuting that creates a positive work-life balance. The case study performed for this paper in Alcatel-Lucent Singapore shows that the aforementioned benefits are not there yet due to the project timeline but are highly anticipated by local and global management. Nevertheless, thorough assessment of business requirements and the needs of employees should be undertaken before deciding on flexible working. It is extremely crucial to secure efficient and open internal communication and employees’ involvement in all stages of the project in order to achieve fast acceptance and adaptation to new environment. Based on the current example, future research suggests investigating in cultural aspect of global strategy deployment by corporate decision in different countries.