In an interesting coincidence, at the first Inter-Asia Connection conference held in Dubai in 2010, I proposed a workshop on \u27Singapore as model\u27, i.e. Singapore as reference for many developing nations, while Aihwa Ong proposed one on \u27Inter-referencing Asia\u27 in examining how Asian cities are borrowing from each other in urban planning and developments. While the selected papers from Ong\u27s workshop, including mine, were in preparation, Chen Kuan Hsing published his Asia as Method. All these efforts can be distilled into the idea of \u27inter-referencing\u27 Asia. The idea that of referencing relaxes the process of comparison which enables one to introduce the methodological terms used in Cultural Studies, such as resonance and provocation. In this seminar, I will discuss the use of \u27inter-referencing Asia\u27 as a method and as a substantive practice among Asian nations
