Title: Civil Society and Cultural Identity in SingaporeSubmitted by:David Birch, Deakin University, AustraliaSingapore has a worldwide reputation as a country short on encouraging civil society and the tensions and oppositions that go with that. In recent years, however, there 'appears' to have been a relaxation, in some areas, of former Government hard line attitudes, and with the establishment of the Singapore 21 Committee, aimed at moving Singapore forward into the 21st century, there might well be some substance to the appearance. The issue of that substance lies at the heart of this paper, especially the distinction between 'civic' and 'civil' society. Examples will be drawn from the cultural politics of gay identity, in particular, and from those still sharply drawn images in Singapore as to what constitutes the identity of the 'ideal citizen'. Return to Abstracts menuCarol Burnett Phone: 61 - 3 - 9349 1899 Email: c.burnett@asialink.unimelb.edu.au
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