SOC205 Singapore Society

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of global cooperation in the areas of public health, food security, supply chain resilience, research and development etc., and has brought into stark consciousness the reality of shared histories and interdependenceof nation-states and communities in a globalised world. Draw on the course materials about national historiesand the construction of nation-statesin Weeks 1 and 2to critically examinehow Singapore’s national history and development have been charted since Independence. Then, with this basicidea of connectedness in mind,to what extent are thenarratives about our nation’s history thatused to serve as charters for action –and their ideological underpinnings –adequate or relevant, especially in today’s context? The TMA requires you to recognise the sociological processes involved in the construction of a nation-state. Your response should, in particular, takeon the important concept of (national)history as a construct. A few initial guiding questions to help you approach the question: -How haveour nation’s story and national interests been framed post-Independence and what were the ideologies associated with these narratives? -What limitations and sociological critiques of these narratives have you encounteredin the course readings?Discuss these.-Especially considering what the current pandemic has revealed about global connectednessand the survival of nations, what newer ways of thinking about our national histories may be useful?-Are there other similarities or differences in the construction of our national story then (post-Independence) and now? In responding to the question, you should bring into your discussion where relevant:1.The concepts ‘state’, ‘nation’ and ‘nation-state’ as used by sociologists and social scientists; the processes of state-building and nation-building, differentiating between the two2.Singapore as a secondarynation-state, and the way this contributed to the historical exigencies of post-independence nation-state construction 3.The significance of Singapore’s founding myths and national interests as defined by the state; other relevant concepts such as ‘top-down’ etc It is essential toutilise the material and arguments from the course for your assignment, and that you demonstrate a sound sociological understanding of the topic.