When Difference Becomes an Instrument of Social Regulation
Author(s)
Beng-Huat, Chua
Abstract
A history of discrimination against and exclusion of immigrant communities gave rise to calls for recognition of those groups’ contributions and respect for cultural differences in society. This article looks at Singapore as an example of the incorporation of a multiethnic reality into the constitutional structure of the state. It explains the pros and cons of Singapore’s handling of its situation, and ultimately concludes that strict group based policies lead to lack of respect for individuals. Rather than uniting people across ethnic boundaries, Singapore’s strict statutes regarding ethnicity actually inflamed tensions and increased feelings of ethnic separateness.
