SSC109e Introduction to Social Sciences – As Singapore celebrates its bicentennial this year, there has been a renewed interest in the evolution of Singapore, Singapore

Question (Total: 100 marks)

As Singapore celebrates its bicentennial this year, there has been a renewed interest in the evolution of Singapore as a modern nation-state and the Singaporean identity. Read the following articles which contribute to these discussions about national identity and nation-building in Singapore.

1. Searching for the Singapore identity (2019, Jan- March). The ALUMNUS (116). Retrieved from: http://www.nus.edu.sg/alumnet/thealumnus/issue-116-jan-mar2019/perspectives/focus/searching-for-the-singapore-identity

2. Han, Fook Kwang (2017, July 23). Is Singapore’s identity-less clear today? The Straits Times. Retrieved from: https://www.straitstimes.com/opinion/is-singaporesidentity-less-clear-today

3. Tan, Tai Yong (2019, March 8). ‘Cosmolanders’ and Singapore’s dual personality. The Straits Times. Retrieved from:
https://www.straitstimes.com/opinion/cosmolanders-and-singapores-dual-personality

The development of a nation-state and questions about national identity are not just issues facing Singapore. The past 100 years have seen many new nation-states, and in the past few years, there have been growing debates about national identity around the world. This assignment requires you to provide your thoughts about the development of nation-states and national identity, by addressing the following tasks.

a) Explain, drawing from the assigned articles and other relevant resources, why national identity is an important social issue that should be studied by social science as a discipline? In addition, explain why, when Singapore became independent, it faced challenges in becoming a modern nation-state.
(30 marks)

b) Employing at least two perspectives from the social sciences, present an account of how Singapore has developed its national identity since 1965. Your understanding of any perspectives used must be demonstrated through adequate definitions/characterization of those perspectives.
(40 marks)

c) Using the relevant perspectives mentioned earlier, identify and present at least two challenges that Singapore faces in preserving its national identity in the next 50 years? What policies could be implemented to address these challenges? Your understanding of the perspectives used must be demonstrated through adequate definitions/characterization of those concepts or perspectives.
(30 marks)