ETHNIC STRATEGIES IN SINGAPORE POLITICS

Abstract

The aim of this Academic Exercise is to provide a means to comprehend the inconsistencies and changes in the ethnic policies of Singapore. This Academic Exercise presents a framework for understanding the Singapore's ethnic policies by identifying the key ethnic strategies employed by the state. Two such key strategies are the meritocratic and the ethnic arithmetic strategies. This Academic Exercise documents the co-existence and the application of these two incompatible strategies. It also seeks to identify whether there are phases in Singapore politics that are characterised by the predominance of one strategy ever the other. In addition, it examines the problems and dilemmas that arise from the co-existence of these two incompatible strategies. This is achieved by analysing three case studies. In this Academic Exercise, special emphasis is given to the 1980s. This is primarily because of the many changes and shifts in ethnic policies during this period. This Academic Exercise hopes to provide a means to understand the policy intracacies of the 1980s.