THE ROLE OF NEIGHBOURHOOD RACIAL INTEGRATION IN PROMOTING INTERRACIAL RELATIONSHIPS

Abstract

Social cohesion is the key factor, which has ensured Singapore’s racial harmony and stability over the years. To foster social cohesion, the government has taken conscientious efforts to promote and preserve racial diversity especially in residential environment. This paper examines the association between the level of racial integration in residential environment and interracial relationships of residents both within and beyond their neighbourhoods. To properly isolate the treatment effect of racial integration, Tampines (more integrated: treatment group) and Ang Mo Kio (less integrated: comparison group) are selected for the study. Using the survey data of 150 residents residing in Tampines and 150 residents residing in Ang Mo Kio that consist of their number of (interracial) friends and demographic attributes, a series of empirical analyses including independent sample T-test and multiple regression analysis were performed. A main finding reports that controlling for income and demographic attributes including respondent race, Tampines residents have a 20.6% higher probability of interracial friendships, compared to residents in Ang Mo Kio. Results also demonstrate that residents living in HDB estates are 14.6% more likely to have interracial friends, compared to residents living in condominiums/apartments.

The policy implications arising from these results indicate that housing policies such as the Ethnic Integration Policy (EIP) mandated for HDBs play an important role in fostering interracial relationships, and in turn, social cohesion. On the other hand, results reveal that there is variation in success of such policies between neighbourhoods with different racial composition in terms of delivering interracial bonding amongst residents. Potential policy recommendations include a closer monitoring of neighbourhood racial composition followed by timely revision of EIP in its racial housing quota as well as encouraging more social interactions among residents.