SOCIO-POLITICS
Issue 7: Current Socio-Political issues
Some other broad political concerns included the dominance of a single party,
the need to improve rights through legislation (e.g. 377A), and how the state
views the Indian community (e.g. the Thaipusam debate on music). However,
these were not discussed at length during the seminar.
A) Ethnic and communal issues
Conflict between various Indian ethnicities was a hot topic. Problems of
exclusivity in various sects are fuelled by misconceptions of static identity
and worsened by the ignorance of other ethnic groups. For instance,
participants mistakenly viewed Chinese people as a monolith which is
incredible yet sobering. One participant also raised concerns of a perceived
resurgence of caste in the Indian community and attributed it to the influx of
Indian foreign nationals and the influence of religion. This is difficult to verify.
B) Class and inequality
Class and inequality were discussed at length, particularly the debates
surrounding high and low socio-economic status (SES). Also, there is the
stigmatisation of those perceived as less educated (eg; dropouts) and the
subsequent inferiority complex such people suffer from. There is a lack of
success stories which everyone can relate to. The pervasive myth of a
classless Singapore is also unhealthy as it leads to the notion that there is no
problem associated with class in Singapore. Social mobility is possible in
Singapore but it needs improvement. Various social groups suffer from a lack
of interaction. Finally, there is the problematization of meritocracy and
elitism (e.g. SAP schools).
Maathi Yosi | 2019
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