Jul 12, 2026 · 13 min · 9 segments
Professor Alex Tan's entire life's work has centred around creating 'sophisticated citizenry' when it comes to global issues and awareness, specifically in the Indo-Pacific region. He spoke to Rachel…
Alex TanGuest
Rachel GrahamHost
The intent, why I studied democracy, why am I worried about global affairs? It's because of my experience living in an authoritarian state.
You know, I remember I was about, you know, year two, probably in New Zealand terms.
I remember because we now, after martial law was declared September 21st, 1972, a few months after that, they have to make sure that the residences close to the presidential palace do not have threats, you know, are not security threat.
So I remember my father and, you know, male residents were told to fall in line on the streets and being inspected by military people.
And, you know, as a young kid, eight-year-old, what do you know? These guys are brandishing rifles and, you know, what do you know will happen? You know what I mean? I can still remember it because I still remember what I was wearing and what my father was wearing.
You know, it was evening when everybody was called to go down, go out to the street and queue up, being inspected, you know.
that
That's one reason why teaching politics and political science, political economy makes sense.
Because for me, if students are not armed with these knowledge, democracy requires sophisticated citizenry.
Unfortunately, sometimes in our society, people do not see the value of studying humanities and social sciences.
Even in high school, we have counselors who will tell them, oh, don't go to social sciences, humanities.
Well, we have to remember that those countries that did not go that way were like Soviet Union and China, right? Those countries really valued the science, technology, engineering, medicine.
The intent, why I studied democracy, why am I worried about global affairs? It's because of my experience living in an authoritarian state.
You know, I remember I was about, you know, year two, probably in New Zealand terms.
I remember because we now, after martial law was declared September 21st, 1972, a few months after that, they have to make sure that the residences close to the presidential palace do not have threats, you know, are not security threat.
So I remember my father and, you know, male residents were told to fall in line on the streets and being inspected by military people.
And, you know, as a young kid, eight-year-old, what do you know? These guys are brandishing rifles and, you know, what do you know will happen? You know what I mean? I can still remember it because I still remember what I was wearing and what my father was wearing.
You know, it was evening when everybody was called to go down, go out to the street and queue up, being inspected, you know.
that
That's one reason why teaching politics and political science, political economy makes sense.
Because for me, if students are not armed with these knowledge, democracy requires sophisticated citizenry.
Unfortunately, sometimes in our society, people do not see the value of studying humanities and social sciences.
Even in high school, we have counselors who will tell them, oh, don't go to social sciences, humanities.
Well, we have to remember that those countries that did not go that way were like Soviet Union and China, right? Those countries really valued the science, technology, engineering, medicine.
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