THE SINGAPORE NARRATIVE: MEDIATIZED NEGOTIATIONS OF POVERTY AND INEQUALITY

Abstract

The Singapore Narrative: the success story of the nation’s quick and miraculous economic progress, from colonial state to a global powerhouse, has been established as a critical aspect of the young nation’s identity. However, citizens who fall through the cracks of this narrative – in essence, the poor – continue to be marginalized as the nation progresses. This was particularly salient during the year 2018, where there was a resurgence of inequality and poverty discussions. Through the lens of neoliberal governance and its alienating potential, this paper seeks to identify the problematic marginalizing potential of poverty and inequality discussions engaged by the Singaporean government and mainstream media in 2018. To do so, we will be analysing Channel News Asia’s controversial 2018 documentary, Regardless of Class, along with its most popular social media comments. We will also be looking at news articles centring around poverty and inequality published in the media as well as ministerial statements made in 2018. This paper highlights several key problems in the poverty and inequality discussion: the maintenance of the faultlessness of Singapore Narrative; the perpetuation of individualistic poverty; the superficiality of compassion which ultimately sustains the status quo; and lastly the blanketing of crucial racial differences which promotes colour-blind racism. Overall, the paper foregrounds the fact that to effect impactful change requires boldness, and seeks to be one of the many voices offering an alternative perspective to do so.