Singapore
A Home, A Nation
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 16624810 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Gillian Koh (corresponding author), Ooi Giok Ling |
| Year | 2002 |
| Volume | 2002 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Pages | 255-281 |
| Publication date | 2002-04-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Southeast Asian affairs (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0377-5437 • E-ISSN: 1793-9135 |
| Publisher | ISEAS - Yusof Ishak Institute (PUBLISHER • SG) |
| DOI | 10.1355/seaa02o |
| OpenAlex | W2010721681 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 4 |
Introduction Three key themes emerged in in 2001: National Integration, Economic Renewal, and the New Singapore. The issues they entailed will be further explored in a series of national consultation exercises in 2002. The People's Action Party (PAP) government's vision of a New Singapore was one of a global city, a cosmopolis that had a maturing yet dynamic economy, and a strong social compact among its inhabitants. These themes and the vision were the government's attempt to manage developments that precipitated an increasing sense of uncertainty on the ground as 2001 wore on. These were firstly, tensions in racial-religious relations; secondly, economic recession arising from the cyclical conditions of the global economy as well as structural limitations of previous growth strategies; thirdly, the threat from international terrorism and the rise of political Islam in the region; and finally, the pressures for renewal and transition in political leadership. If there ever were a year, post-Independence, when the legitimacy of the PAP government could have been tested, 2001 would have been it. The seeds for a socio-political crisis were there, challenging the PAP's effectiveness for delivering the goods, its key governance principles of multiracialism and meritocracy, and its ability to routinize its political authority beyond the personal charisma of its founding father, Lee Kuan Yew, or that of his popular successor, Goh Chok Tong. The general election, technically not due till August 2002, opened the prospect for the Opposition to make headway in the political landscape had they been able to effectively articulate and address the tensions and questioning taking place on the ground. In the event, the incumbent government adopted a multi-pronged strategy to reduce the prospects for the Opposition. It took advantage of the crisis situation to suggest that in difficult times citizens should best trust their fate to the seasoned hands of the PAP to keep the ship of state on an even keel. Secondly, it gave more handouts, epitomized by the New Shares. In previous years, such actions would be rationalized as a way of sharing
Political science · Asian Studies and History · Socioeconomic Development in Asia
| Unique citing works | 4 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 0,17 |
| Citation span | 2003 - 2008 (6) |
| Citation velocity | historical |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 3 |