ABSTRACT
The notion of cosmopolitanism as an important ingredient in the success of Singapore as a nation in the global arena is an issue of recent and popular interest. The ‘Singapore 21 Vision’ launched by Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong (henceforth PM Goh) in 1997 envisions Singapore as the ultimate cosmopolitan pit stop. This vision of the city aims to strengthen the ‘heartware’ of Singapore, drawing on the intangibles of society such as social cohesion, political stability and the collective will, values and attitudes of Singaporeans. This message has been communicated through constant pronouncements that the city should aim to become a ‘cosmopolis’ (Mah 1999), a ‘Renaissance City’ (Goh 1999), a ‘global city’ and a ‘globapolis’ (Goh 2001). Emphasis has been placed on ‘cosmopolitans’ who are ‘indispensable in generating wealth for Singapore’ (Goh 1999). The developing discourse on cosmopolitanism in Singapore is reflected in a number of specific ways. First, while some have agreed that the world is entering a post-nationalism era, it is clear that the strings of nationalism are still clearly attached in Singapore. The government intends to have a cosmopolitan Singapore, yet wants its citizens to feel emotionally attached to and identify with the country. As articulated in the ‘Singapore 21 Vision’, ‘whether [Singaporeans] live in Singapore or overseas . . . [they] must develop stronger bonds of belonging and commitment to [the] country’ (Singapore 21 Committee 1999). Alongside cosmopolitan goals, the demands of nation-building are also imperative, if somewhat contradictory.
