As part of the Forum for Democratic Cooperation, held in Taipei on May 26–28, 2026 as Forum 2000’s first conference in the Indo-Pacific, we continue A Life in Democracy, a series of conversations on persistence, political courage, and the future of open societies. In this edition, we present Soon Juan Chee, Secretary-General of the Singapore Democratic Party, psychologist, and one of Singapore’s most prominent opposition figures.
Drawing on decades of political activism and his background in psychology, Chee reflects on democracy as an essential expression of human freedom and on the risks of placing economic performance and political order above participation, dissent, and civil liberties. He speaks about the importance of questioning authority, the role of creativity and innovation in open societies, and the dangers posed by inequality, concentrated power, and the growing influence of artificial intelligence. Looking to younger generations, he emphasizes the need to build resilience through meaning, hope, and agency, and reminds us that the human spirit may be suppressed, but it cannot be permanently crushed.
