To what extent has common space ensured racial harmony in Singapore society?
Explain your answer. 13 marks
Preparation for essay (things you should be scribbling down as a rough outline)
Given factor: Common space
Issue: Ensured racial harmony.
Other factors: Building national identity and safeguarding minority rights
Key phrases to use in essay:
-Sustained social interaction leading to creation of common identity. (Common space)
-Bonding with different races through avenues such as education, residential areas and
national service. (Common space)
-Each racial group has a part to play in the building of Singapore, and all have a stake in
Singapore’s future, no group is marginalised. (Safeguarding minority rights)
-“A stake for everyone, opportunities for all” (Safeguarding minority rights)
-Building a common national identity which will take precedence over all other racial and
religious identities that might be divisive. Principles and rituals to bond the people of
Singapore together. (Building a national identity)
Para 1 Intro: The creation of common space has ensured racial harmony in Singapore
society to a large extent, as it allows for the sustained social interaction between
members of different racial groups, thereby facilitating inter-cultural understanding,
which paves the way to the creation of a common Singaporean identity. However, there
are other factors, such as the building of a national identity and the safeguarding of
minority rights that have also contributed to ensuring racial harmony in Singapore, by
ensuring that no group is marginalised, and that all Singaporeans, regardless of race,
language or religion feel that they are a part of Singapore. (All factors are presented,
with a coherent argument in place)
Para 2: Given factor: Creation of common space.
The creation of common spaces is very important in ensuring racial harmony in
Singapore, as it brings the different racial groups together in sustained social interaction
that will encourage mutual understanding and bonding across racial boundaries and help
in the creation of a common identity. (Point)
For example, daily interaction that takes place among students during lessons and
school activities provides an opportunity for friendships and social bonds to be cultivated
and strengthened. (example 1)
The more students communicate with members from other racial groups, the less the
chance of misunderstandings and tensions breaking out amongst different racial groups,
thus facilitating the growth of racial harmony. (analysis)
Moreover, this inter-racial interaction is reinforced when the children go home to housing
estates that have a good mix of different races. The ethnic integration policy introduced
in public housing in 1989 ensures that there is an even distribution of different races in
all housing estates. (example 2)
Sustained social interaction in schools and in residential area thus creates an
environment that is conducive for inter-racial understanding and communication, as
students and neighbours come together to celebrate festivals that are hold special
significance to their racial groups, and this not only fosters tolerance and promotes
greater understanding of another’s culture, but more importantly, aids in the creation of a
common Singaporean identity. Racial harmony is thus imbued in generations after
generations of children, who learn to respect cultural differences and to include the
other as being an integral part of Singapore’s multi-racial society. (analysis + link)
Para 3: Other factor 1: Safeguarding minority rights.
Safeguarding minority rights is also an important part of ensuring racial harmony in
Singapore, as all races are treated equally and are given an avenue to voice out their
opinions and to participate in Singapore’s growth as a nation. (Point)
Having minority representation in decision making at the top, through the Presidential
Council of Minority Rights and the Group Representation Constituency means that the
interests of the minority are taken into consideration, and this ensures that no racial or
religious groups is disadvantaged as a result of a law that is passed in Parliament.
Through the GRC system, the needs and concerns of the minority are also made known
to the government. (example)
Moreover, the existence of self-help groups (CDAC, SINDA, Mendaki and the Eurasian
Association) at the grass roots level not only provides moral support for less fortunate
members of their own community, but also helps them to improve their socio-economic
positions in society. (example)
As a result, the different racial groups in Singapore are treated equally, as all have a
stake in the future of Singapore, and are given opportunities to better themselves. In
doing so, there will not be any group in Singapore that feels marginalised or disaffected,
and all groups will have a vested interest in seeing that Singapore remains a raciallyharmonious and socially-stable society and continue to succeed as a nation, and will
be more willing to lay aside their parochial differences for the greater good of the nation.
(analysis + link)
Para 4: Other factor 2: Building national identity.
Finally, the building of a national identity is important in ensuring racial harmony in
Singapore, as it is only through the creation of an overarching national identity that will
bring together disparate racial/religious identities, thereby creating a common platform
for ensuring racial harmony, as people see themselves as being Singaporeans,
regardless of race, language or religion. (Point)
The principle of multi-racialism, enshrined in Singapore’s Constitution, is a key
cornerstone in ensuring racial harmony in Singapore as every racial group is treated
equally, as valued members of the Singapore society. This principle has also
encouraged the policy of bilingualism, which was introduced in schools in 1966, whereby
all students have to learn English and their own mother tongue. The building of national
identity is also played out in the common practices/rituals that all Singaporeans carry out
together, such as the singing of the national anthem and taking of the pledge every
morning in school. (examples)
These principle and policies thus help to create avenues where citizens see themselves
as being equals and part of the Singaporean community, through partaking in common
practices that inculcate national pride and loyalty, thereby binding the nation in one
affective community. The use of English as a common language aids communication
amongst members of this community, as it is a non-native and therefore ‘neutral’
language for all ethnic groups, thus showing that the state does not privilege one
language over another, but treats all racial groups equally. This prevents accusation by
any one group claiming to have been marginalised and aids in the maintenance of
racial harmony, as the different groups can use English as a common platform to
express their grievances and be understood by the other races, thus avoiding racial
tensions stemming from misunderstandings. (analysis and link)
Conclusion: Assessing relative importance of factors
In conclusion, the creation of common space is the most important factor in
ensuring racial harmony, as it provides the concrete avenue for sustained interaction
and bonding to take place, and helps to make the building of a national identity into a
reality. For example, the common practices such as the singing of the national anthem
and national service for Singaporean men which aim to build national identity can only
be made possible through the creation of a common space. Similarly, although
safeguarding minority rights is important in ensuring racial harmony, it is necessary for
these representatives not to promote their own group’s parochial interests, but to also be
mindful of racial sensitivities, which are in our nation’s interest. This racial sensitivity and
desire to co-exist peacefully can only be internalised through sustained social interaction
with other races in racially-integrated schools, residential areas and national service
which have fostered a real and deep sense of national bonds that will help to preserve
racial harmony in Singapore. Without common spaces, the building of national identity
will remain an empty rhetoric and safeguarding minority rights can become distorted as
different groups pursue their respective interests without concern for national interests.
1067 words