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After briefly tracing the development of cultural policy in Singapore since the country's independence in 1965, the dimensions & directions of contemporary cultural policy are outlined. Particularly evident is the government's goal of making Singapore a "global city of the arts" at the forefront of a cultural renaissance for all of Asia. The creation of the Ministry of Information & the Arts in 1990 & its establishment of the National Arts Council the following year are described, & their major policies & programs are reviewed, including promotion of the arts, an appreciation of national heritage, literacy, social harmony, patriotism, & international understanding. Statistical data are presented to document the growth of arts & theater groups during the 1990s, as well as public participation in these activities. The spatial consequences of recreating Singapore as a renaissance city of the arts are explored, focusing on the creation of arts housing districts, the "sanitizing" of the urban landscape, & the "Disneyfication" of the civic & cultural district. The place of cultural policy in a government increasingly involved in the global capitalist system is considered within a larger discussion of the relationship between cultural policy & modernity in the contemporary nation-state. 1 Table, 38 References. K. Hyatt Stewart

After briefly tracing the development of cultural policy in Singapore since the country's independence in 1965, the dimensions & directions of contemporary cultural policy are outlined. Particularly evident is the government's goal of making Singapore a "global city of the arts" at the forefront of a cultural renaissance for all of Asia. The creation of the Ministry of Information & the Arts in 1990 & its establishment of the National Arts Council the following year are described, & their major policies & programs are reviewed, including promotion of the arts, an appreciation of national heritage, literacy, social harmony, patriotism, & international understanding. Statistical data are presented to document the growth of arts & theater groups during the 1990s, as well as public participation in these activities. The spatial consequences of recreating Singapore as a renaissance city of the arts are explored, focusing on the creation of arts housing districts, the "sanitizing" of the urban landscape, & the "Disneyfication" of the civic & cultural district. The place of cultural policy in a government increasingly involved in the global capitalist system is considered within a larger discussion of the relationship between cultural policy & modernity in the contemporary nation-state. 1 Table, 38 References. K. Hyatt Stewart

"In this chapter, I analyze the process of the search for and selection of a residence with respect to the highly mobile German financial managers in London and Singapore. It shall be shown that the integration into social networks, that is, the social capital, and the identity-related direct local experiences are particularly important for the selection of a residence and its location.; My research is based on 40 interviews conducted in a research project, which was concluded in 2008. Based on the principles of the grounded theory and the subsequent development of a theory out of the data (...), German financial managers from various financial companies in various management positions were surveyed in semistructured interviews in London and Singapore. For this chapter, the interviews of the male interviewees were analyzed. With this comparative analysis of the practice of searching for a residence as exhibited by male German financial managers in London and Singapore, this chapter follows the argument that the previously neglected comparative approach brings out the specifics of the individual urban localities (...), which can then be used for migration studies (...)." (Text excerpt, IAB-Doku) ((en))

"In this chapter the experiences of Filipina domestic workers in Hong Kong, Singapore, and Qatar are examined in the framework of their structural vulnerability to health problems. The chapter shows how their poor state of Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) can be the outcome of a combination of forms of institutional discrimination that are interconnected and should be investigated in respect of: (a) the worth of their 'identity' (migrant, female, the work they do); (b) the distinct aspects of discourse on sexuality and normativity which specifically relate to their presence in the destination countries; and (c) ideational and material realities constraining their own agency in finding adequate care. The chapter shows how variations in the potential for access may be explained by the types and degree of their structural vulnerability regarding labour rights, their relationship with employers and migrants' associations, and their personal SRH awareness - together with what emerges from cooperation between those government officials and civil society organizations who work with migrant domestic workers. Attentiveness to the particular combination of forms of institutional discrimination in a given cultural and institutional context, especially the ways in which the Sexual and Reproductive Health of Filipina domestic workers are linked to the ways in which labour migration are organized, should be helpful for effective SRH advocacy." (author's abstract)

Explores the emergence, appeal, & progress of Soka Gakkai International (SGI) in Southeast Asia. Although SGI exists in all Asian nations, a comparative analysis focuses on Malaysia, Singapore, & Hong Kong, as "newly industrializing countries" with significant Chinese populations. It is maintained that SGI's success is due to its ability to provide members with a Buddhist foundation that fills a spiritual vacuum in their lives. Data for a profile of SGI membership in Malaysia, Singapore, & Hong Kong drawn from a survey of 305 members showed that most joined SGI because family members already belonged; however, those who joined on their own were prompted by illness or other stress-causing situations. Reports of the benefits of SGI membership emphasized happiness, confidence, hope for the future, & a better life. Religious, educational, & cultural activities are described, along with SGI's emphasis on patriotism/national service, especially in Singapore. Other issues discussed include SGI's relationship with diverse ethnic groups, the impact of rapid socioeconomic change, & perceptions of Soka Gakkai as an extended family. 2 Tables. J. Lindroth

Compares the revival of Islam in Indonesia, Malaysia, &, to a lesser extent, Singapore. Each country, partly because of its colonial legacy, has responded differently to Islamic revivalism, trying to solve the problem of reconciling the conflicting social needs arising from the tensions inherent in officially secular states that recognize Islam as a state religion. Focus is on the implications of these differences in the context of the international Islamic resurgence. The origins, ideology, & growth of the Malaysian dakwah (evangelist) movement are analyzed. Its often paradoxical social & political roles in Malay society are contrasted with those of similar movements in Indonesia, which have been more circumspect because of greater government control of religion, less ethnic strife, & a stronger national identity. Common social & cultural elements of Islamic revivalist groups in Southeast Asia are identified. It is concluded that, as long as these groups offer a viable program for social change, they will continue to be influential in Indonesia & Malaysia. Bibliog. T. Arnold

Singapore's new middle class has recently been asserting its preferences & aspirations by seeking greater autonomy from the ruling People's Action Party, but this autonomy is often exercised in the form of consumerism rather than political opposition. Census & statistical data, 1960-1990, show that extraordinary social change has accompanied Singapore's dramatic economic growth. An important aspect of this change is identified as the emergence of a sizable new wealthy strata of society that has asserted itself not only economically, but also culturally & socially. However, because the People's Action Party is also dominated by leaders with professional backgrounds who play a crucial economic role for the new wealthy strata of society, its control over the economy has been extended in this period. Further, because the state has promoted the meritocratic ideology by which the middle class has enjoyed an elevated social status, this class has been incorporated into the existing political ideology. It is noted that the most important political consequence of recent prosperity has been an increase in material disparities, a pattern that represents a challenge for the state, which must compensate for these disparities without compromising its ideology of meritocracy. 5 Tables. D. M. Smith

"Foresight is challenging to adopt within an institution, because part of its value lies in challenging conventional thinking, and its outputs are hard to measure. Careful thought needs to be given to what it is for. Its activities will require championing at a senior level. This paper presents options available to a national government considering setting up a regular foresight process, under the headings of purpose and aims, structure and model, sponsorship and governance, and the type of foresight process used. With reference to these options, contrasting strategic foresight approaches from three countries are presented: the United Kingdom, Singapore and Finland." (author's abstract)

The causes of corruption in Asian societies are examined, & measures designed to reduce rates of Asian corruption are considered. Three principal causes of corruption are (1) public officials receive low salaries; (2) several opportunities for committing corrupt acts exist; & (3) officials view the risks of corruption as low. Several Asian nations, eg, India & Singapore, have created anticorruption campaigns that work in conjunction with various independent agencies. Use of an independent agency to implement anticorruption legislation provides the most effective approach to combating the spread of corrupt behavior. Discoveries resulting from this analysis are presented; eg, political leaders must play a significant role to reduce corruption, & anticorruption agencies must be disassociated with police agencies. 1 Table. J. W. Parker

"Since the Tate 1990s there has been a rising trend of Vietnamese women migrating to neighbouring countries (Taiwan, South Korea, Singapore, and China) for marriage. Previous studies of such cross-border marriages have emphasized either issues of choice and agency for women, or their poverty and victimhood. This chapter analyses this trend along the lines of the debate on the East Asian model of welfare and family policy, with case studies in Taiwan and South Korea. It views commercially arranged transnational marriages (CATM) as an institution that connects changing gendered regimes of social reproduction at the sending and receiving ends. Mediated by a combination of asymmetrical relations - gender, class, age, ethnicity, and national belonging - this institution operates in a transnational space through which material and symbolic resources are circulated. These in turn construct subjectivities and identities for participating actors. There is a dimension of trans-masculinity embodied in the practices of CATM and this requires further exploration regarding informed consent and the rights of its users. Beyond this, CATM should be further analysed in the context of changing family welfare and intergenerational care as gendered regimes, and such an analysis should also address how households adapt and devise new strategies to sustain and reproduce themselves economically, socially, and culturally. Such an understanding can help open the research agenda on social policy and rights and provide a regional perspective." (author's abstract)