ABSTRACT
This paper examines how Singapore manages its racial and religious diversity in building a cohesive society. It considers the role of state and non-state actors by exploring the genesis and development of state- and grassroots-driven interfaith initiatives in Singapore. The first section addresses the CMIO racial policy adopted by the postcolonial Singapore government and highlights the unprecedented challenges posed by an increasingly complex and diverse globalised society. The second section delves into discussing religious diversity and the politics of interfaith dialogue in Singapore. It argues that Singapore, as a secular state, manages religion pragmatically by closely scrutinising religious expression in the public space through a range of legal and policy instruments aimed at maintaining security and stability for economic development. The final section reconsiders the potential for social cohesion as a soft power statecraft moving beyond the prevailing model characterised by compliant and occasional cosmetic displays of harmony. It examines how the ideas of multiculturalism and interfaith harmony, rather than being a mere message of social harmony to a domestic audience, have been exported by Singapore as a form of soft power.
