ABSTRACT
Introduction This chapter offers an exposition of the theoretical foundations upon which our analysis of the Muslim community in Singapore is based. We argued previously that a central concept for the understanding of the contemporary situation is ‘enclavement’. As briefly described in the opening chapter, enclavement can take place at both the micro level, as practised by pious individuals, for example, in their everyday lives, as well as at the macro level, as a feature of the larger social structure and as a consequence of official policies. Enclaves thus exist at the everyday level, in state activities and as a feature of the collective Muslim community. However, we also stress that these levels, while different in their dynamics, are dialectically linked and mutually reinforcing. Part one of this chapter offers a discussion of micro-level enclavement, which we term ‘social distancing’. We also propose that two inter-related practices constitute social distancing: the rituals of intimacy and the practice of piety. Part two examines macro-level enclavement, which we argue can be seen in the management of religion by the state. We also recognize that collectives or groups, such as ethnic or religious communities, may also practise social distancing, but social enclaves can also emerge as the unintended consequence of social arrangements. The chapter ends with a brief discussion of how these levels regularly influence each other.
