Human populations, to a skilled analyst, tell a dramatic story: In what direction is a country headed? What are its strengths and weaknesses, its potential disaster areas, its most promising human resources? What do the changes observed here—from the early history of Singapore to the present time—mean to the future of the country and the region?

In South Asian studies, which have suffered from a lack of data, Singapore Population in Transition is a major contribution. It is more than the best and latest statistical study of the area. The author writes with the insight of a resident observer and throws light on race and culture contacts, cultural accommodation among the peoples, separatism, urbanization and political history.