THE NANNY STATE THROUGH THE LENSES OF GAMBLING: SINGAPORE IN THE 1950S AND 60S

Abstract

This thesis studies two entities that are extremely relevant to the Singapore we know today, yet not fully understood in terms of its historicity. In terms of the nanny state, which Singapore has come to be synonymous with today, the formation, development and entrenchment of such a political entity has to be properly examined in order for a proper elucidation of the challenges that the Singapore state had overcame in order to establish themselves as the legitimate nannies to a Singapore society. In terms of the gambling issue, Singapore has also came a long way, from Sir Stamford Raffles initial castigation of the activity as a vice to the state sanctioned running of casinos in Singapore we have today. An examination of the nanny state through the lenses of gambling in Singapore in the 1950s and 60s will thus provide historians with an insight into the historical development of the nanny state as well as allow scholars to gain a sense of the debates revolving around gambling in Singapore during the abovementioned time frame. Moreover, gambling occupies a rather unique position in our social imagination, with some sections of the Singapore population perceiving it as a social vice, while others seeing it as a beneficial activity that potentially generates revenue for the state. Hence, the morally grey area that gambling occupies allows it to become a suitable lens to study state-society relations especially in newly formed states such as Singapore where social, economic, and political needs might clash with the need for moral governance. This thesis will elucidate and explore these issues in greater detail in the later chapters.