ABSTRACT
This chapter uses the case studies analysed previously to steer a middle course, and creates a definition of Singapore pragmatism that reflects both the nuance and outsider perspectives to be found in academic analyses. As Tan noted, pragmatism tends to have specific connotations when used in a foreign policy context, effectively functioning as a synonym for ‘realist’ most of the time. The reliance upon pragmatism as a panacea for all pressing problems has led to its gradual assumption of many of the attributes of an ideology. Today, though many of the external pressures that led to its adoption have evolved, the ideal of pragmatism remains an article of faith among Singapore’s politicians and bureaucrats. While history and socio-cultural factors have played a role in fostering pragmatism, they in turn are strongly influenced by geography, meaning that the latter can be said to be the root cause.
