Multiculturalism and citizenship

Abstract

Cognisant of the volatile and socially disruptive nature of ethnic relations, Lee Kuan Yew firmly believed in inter-cultural harmony and social cohesion for Singapore. The first part of the chapter introduces the key features of Lee’s ideal of multiculturalism that encompasses his views on citizenship. The section explains how Lee underscores the need for various ethnic groups to preserve their respective cultural traits while subscribing to shared communitarian values. The next section discusses the application of Lee’s ideas to Singapore schools through ‘multiracialism’ where students learn about the cultural characteristics ascribed to the four ‘races’ (Chinese, Malay, Indians, Others) in Singapore. The concluding section highlights the contribution of and key challenges associated with Lee’s model of multiracialism in a globalised world.