MIDDLE-GROUND : SEEKING SPATIAL-POLITICAL EMPOWERMENT IN AN AUTHORITARIAN DEMOCRACY

Abstract

November 15th 2008, the Suvarnabhumi international airport was locked down as anger filled the streets of Bangkok, overturning cars and setting off flames within the city. The people of Thailand were raging for their rights and were forcing the Government to give in, voicing out their concerns via action and making sure the state hears them. With the escalation of civic dissent evident from the recent Singapore General Elections 2011, it may be important to realize that these may happen to Singapore as well. This dissertation will explore the context of the situation, Singapore where the land is depoliticized. It will do so by looking into Henri Lefebvre's and David Harvey's 'rights to the city', as well as consensus and conflictive democracy theories to define different types of spaces. The dissertation formulates a hypothesis where Middle-ground exists as a solution for the problems derived from both the conflictive and consensus theories and thus solving the need for the citizens’ rights to the city. This paper also attempts to locate the reasoning behind the need for a Middle- ground. By using the Athenian and Swiss concepts of democracy, the dissertation creates a plausible framework of how space can be used to repoliticize the authoritarian state. The dissertation will also point out that the spaces provided should not be virtual but physical, while further explorations on where and how such spaces can occur in Singapore will be discussed. Finally, the paper concludes with a plausible postulation of a politicized Singapore and discuss on how we may move off from there. The aim of this dissertation is to introduce a new spatial concept, for civil deliberation in Singapore to prevent civic unrest in the future.