Chapter 1: Chapter 1: Singapore – A Nation in The Singapore – A Nation in The WorldWorld

What will you be learning today?What will you be learning today?

What does it mean to be a nation?What does it mean to be a nation?

What were the challenges Singapore What were the challenges Singapore faced as a newly independent state?faced as a newly independent state?

‘‘Country’, ‘State’, ‘Nation’Country’, ‘State’, ‘Nation’

What does the term ‘country’ refer to?What does the term ‘country’ refer to?

‘‘Country’, ‘State’, ‘Nation’Country’, ‘State’, ‘Nation’

What does the term ‘country’ refer What does the term ‘country’ refer to?to?

An area of land that is ruled by a An area of land that is ruled by a governmentgovernment

Geographical location of a group of Geographical location of a group of people.people.

What does the term ‘state’ refer to?What does the term ‘state’ refer to?

‘‘Country’, ‘State’, ‘Nation’Country’, ‘State’, ‘Nation’

What does the term ‘state’ refer to?What does the term ‘state’ refer to?

The system of government within an area of landThe system of government within an area of land

This system of government develops and enforces This system of government develops and enforces laws to organise the country and citizenslaws to organise the country and citizens

Regulated by the Constitution (a separate set of Regulated by the Constitution (a separate set of laws) which ensures the stability of the government laws) which ensures the stability of the government even when there is a change in the political party even when there is a change in the political party ruling the countryruling the country

What does the term ‘nation’ refer to?What does the term ‘nation’ refer to?

‘‘Country’, ‘State’, ‘Nation’Country’, ‘State’, ‘Nation’

What does the term ‘nation’ refer to?What does the term ‘nation’ refer to?

Formed when a group of people Formed when a group of people accepted one and another and share a accepted one and another and share a common bond like common lineage, common bond like common lineage, culture or historical experiencesculture or historical experiences

Thinking Time!Thinking Time!

Can you think of how Singaporeans of Can you think of how Singaporeans of different races form a bond with one and different races form a bond with one and another?another?

Let’s imagine …Let’s imagine …You have just being elected PRESIDENT of You have just being elected PRESIDENT of a newly independent state, how do you think a newly independent state, how do you think you should handle following issues?you should handle following issues?

What kind of government should you have? What kind of government should you have? WHY?WHY?

In what ways can you take care of your In what ways can you take care of your citizens? WHY?citizens? WHY?

How should you handle your state’s How should you handle your state’s relationships with other countries? WHY?relationships with other countries? WHY?

What else can you do to improve the What else can you do to improve the society? WHY?society? WHY?

Challenges a state faces…Challenges a state faces…

Establishing a stable governmentEstablishing a stable government Building a nation Building a nation

(national identity & social cohesion)(national identity & social cohesion) Maintaining sovereignty Maintaining sovereignty

(deterrence & diplomacy)(deterrence & diplomacy) Meeting people’s needsMeeting people’s needs

(social needs & economic needs)(social needs & economic needs)

Challenges that Singapore faces Challenges that Singapore faces as an independent state…as an independent state…

Small island surrounded by larger neighbors Small island surrounded by larger neighbors and therefore easily affected by the events and therefore easily affected by the events in the neighbouring countriesin the neighbouring countries

Lack of natural resources and therefore Lack of natural resources and therefore dependent on other countries for important dependent on other countries for important resourcesresources

How should Singapore overcome How should Singapore overcome these constraintsthese constraints

Needs to be resourceful in building on its Needs to be resourceful in building on its strengths and overcoming its limitationsstrengths and overcoming its limitations

Has to be adaptable to the changes in Has to be adaptable to the changes in Southeast Asia and the worldSoutheast Asia and the world

Singapore’s Road to IndependenceSingapore’s Road to Independence

1942-1945: The Awakening1942-1945: The Awakening

• Surrender of the British

• Start of Japanese Occupation

• Development of nationalistic feelings

1947: Year of Strikes1947: Year of Strikes Shortages in employment & housingShortages in employment & housing S’poreans dissatisfied with the BritishS’poreans dissatisfied with the British Communist activitiesCommunist activities

1954 – 1955: Communist Terror1954 – 1955: Communist Terror Communists wanted to gain Communists wanted to gain

powerpower Organised strikes & riots to Organised strikes & riots to

force government to give in force government to give in to their demandsto their demands

1955: Limited Self-Government1955: Limited Self-Government

Granted limited self-government but Granted limited self-government but not independence as British not not independence as British not confident of Singapore’s ability to confident of Singapore’s ability to govern herself due to the following govern herself due to the following reasons:reasons:

1.1. Singapore did not have large-scale Singapore did not have large-scale industries or agriculture to support industries or agriculture to support the populationthe population

2.2. The British feared that the The British feared that the Communists would come to rule Communists would come to rule SingaporeSingapore

3.3. British wanted to use Singapore as a British wanted to use Singapore as a military base and commercial military base and commercial centre in SAcentre in SA

1959 – 1963: 1959 – 1963: Becoming a state & Towards MergerBecoming a state & Towards Merger

1959: PAP won the election1959: PAP won the election

Merger with Malaysia to form Merger with Malaysia to form the Federation of Malaysia inthe Federation of Malaysia inorder to obtain independenceorder to obtain independence

Unity of all races

Action

Purity & Integrity

1963: Opposition to Merger1963: Opposition to Merger

Indonesia and the Philippines objected to Indonesia and the Philippines objected to the merger the merger

Unhappiness over inclusion of Sabah, Unhappiness over inclusion of Sabah, Sarawak & BruneiSarawak & Brunei

Indonesian Indonesian ConfrontationConfrontation

Philippines broke off Philippines broke off diplomatic relations diplomatic relations with Malaysiawith Malaysia

1964: Race Riots1964: Race Riots Conflict between the government of Conflict between the government of

Malaysia and SingaporeMalaysia and Singapore Communal VS non-communal politicsCommunal VS non-communal politics Race riots sparked off by some extreme Race riots sparked off by some extreme

members of the Federal governmentmembers of the Federal government

1965: Independence1965: Independence

Social unrest & disagreement over Social unrest & disagreement over economic matters lead to separationeconomic matters lead to separation

Challenges that Singapore faces Challenges that Singapore faces as a newly independent stateas a newly independent state

1.1. Stable government and social needsStable government and social needs

2.2. Economic challengeEconomic challenge

3.3. SovereigntySovereignty

4.4. Social cohesion and National identitySocial cohesion and National identity

Stable government & social needsStable government & social needs

Basic needs of SingaporeansBasic needs of Singaporeans(E.g. education, healthcare)(E.g. education, healthcare)

Stable governmentStable government

Support of SingaporeansSupport of Singaporeans

Economic ChallengesEconomic Challenges

Widespread unemployment and poverty in Widespread unemployment and poverty in the 1960sthe 1960s

Need to create enough jobs for peopleNeed to create enough jobs for people

Need to plan for economic development Need to plan for economic development so Singapore could continue to growso Singapore could continue to grow

SovereigntySovereignty

Singapore had to rely entirely on the small Singapore had to rely entirely on the small population to defend itself population to defend itself

Gain recognition from other statesGain recognition from other states

Build good relations and establish Build good relations and establish friendships with othersfriendships with others

Social Cohesion & Social Cohesion & National IdentityNational Identity

Tension between different ethnic groups after Tension between different ethnic groups after the Indonesian Confrontation and race riotsthe Indonesian Confrontation and race riots

Immigrants who were still loyal to their Immigrants who were still loyal to their homelandhomeland

Thus there was a need to create a bond Thus there was a need to create a bond among people and develop a national identityamong people and develop a national identity

Instill confidence and belief in people that Instill confidence and belief in people that Singapore could survive as a nationSingapore could survive as a nation

1.1. What does it mean to be a nation?What does it mean to be a nation?

2.2. What are some of the challenges that a state What are some of the challenges that a state may face?may face?

3.3. What are Singapore’s natural constraints?What are Singapore’s natural constraints?

4.4. What were some of the challenges faced by What were some of the challenges faced by Singapore as a newly-independent state?Singapore as a newly-independent state?