HIST2370 History of Singapore

This course introduces and examines the historical development of Singapore since the British trade settlement in 1819, through the time of British colonialism, Japanese occupation, decolonization, self-government, merger with Malaysia, and finally nation-building after the independence in 1965 and up to the present. Apart from the political aspect of modern Singapore history, this course also examines the social, economic and cultural aspects of the historical development of modern Singapore over the past two centuries.

1. Introduction to Modern Singapore (10 Jan)

No Readings

2. Stamford Raffles and Modern Singapore (17 Jan)

Tay, J. “The Attempts of Raffles to Establish a British Base in South-East Asia, 1818-1819.” Journal of Southeast Asian History, 1 (2), 1960, pp. 30-46.

Wright, H. “The Anglo-Dutch Dispute in the East, 1814-1824.” The Economic History Review, New Series, 3 (2), 1950, pp. 229-239.

3. Singapore as an Economic Hub in the 19th Century (24 Jan)

Wong, L. “The Strategic Significance of Singapore in Modern History.” The Great Circle, 4 (1), 1982, pp. 25-40.

Wong, L. “Singapore: Its Growth as an Entrepot Port, 1819-1941.” Journal of Southeast Asian Studies, 9 (1), 1978, pp. 50-84.

4. (Straits) Chinese Society in Singapore (7 Feb)

Ee, J. “Chinese Migration to Singapore, 1896-1941.” Journal of Southeast Asian History, 2 (1), 1961, pp. 39-51.

Yen, C. “Class Structure and Social Mobility in the Chinese Community in Singapore and Malaya.” Modern Asian Studies, 21 (3), 1987, pp. 417-445.

5. 15 February 1942 (14 Feb)

279. Murfett, J. Miksic, B. Farrell & M. Chiang, Between Two Oceans: A Military History of Singapore from First Settlement to Final British Withdrawal. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1999, pp. 248-279.

Blackburn, K. & Hack, K. War Memory and the Making of Modern Malaysia and Singapore. Singapore: NUS Press, pp. 292-333.

6. 1965 (21 Feb)

Lau, A. A Moment of Anguish: Singapore in Malaysia and the Politics of Disengagement. Singapore: Eastern University Press, 1998, pp. 1-20.

Leifer, M. “Singapore in Malaysia: The Politics of Federation.” Journal of Southeast Asian History, 6 (2), 1965, pp. 54-70.

7. From Lee Kuan Yew (LKY) to Post-LKY Era (28 Feb)

Barr, M. “Lee Kuan Yew: Race, Culture and Genes.” Journal of Contemporary Asia, 29 (2), 1999, pp. 145-166.

Zakaria, F. “Culture is Destiny: A Conversation with Lee Kuan Yew.” Foreign Affairs, 73 (2), 1994, pp. 109-126.

8. From Third World to First: Economic Miracle in Singapore (7 Mar)

Huff, W. “Patterns in the Economic Development of Singapore.” Journal of Developing Areas, 21 (3), 1987, pp. 305-326.

Martin-Jones, D. “Economic Development, Asian Values and The Political Ordering of Contemporary Singapore.” Humboldt Journal of Social Relations, 23 (1/2), 1997, pp. 121-145.

9. Pragmatic Social Policies for Political Hegemony (14 Mar)

Chua, B. Political Legitimacy and Housing: Stakeholding in Singapore. London: Routledge, 1997, pp. 124-151.

Lian, K. “Is There a Social Policy in Singapore?” In K. Lian & C. Tong (Eds). Social Policy in Post-Industrial Singapore. Leiden: Brill, 2008, pp. 21-43.

10. Education for Elitism and Meritocracy (21 Mar)

Tan, K. “Meritocracy and Elitism in a Global City: Ideological Shifts in Singapore.” International Political Science Review, 29 (1), 2008, pp. 7-27.

Tan, J. “Managing Diversity: The Singapore Experience.” In G. Wan (Ed.) The Education of Diverse Student Populations: A Global Perspective. Dordrecht: Springer, 2008, pp. 159-181.

11. The Rise of the People’s Action Party (28 Mar)
12. Chua (Ed.), Communitarian Ideology and Democracy in Singapore. London: Routledge, 2002, pp. 184-202.

Tan, E. “Singapore: Transitioning to a ‘New Normal’ in a Post-Lee Kuan Yew Era.” Southeast Asian Affairs, 2012, pp. 263-282.

12. Mass and Singapore Society (11 Apr)

George, C. “Consolidating Authoritarian Rule: Calibrated Coercion in Singapore.” The Pacific Review, 20 (2), 2007, pp. 127-145.

Liew, K. et al. “New Media and New Politics with Old Cemeteries and Disused Railways: Advocacy Goes Digital in Singapore.” Asian Journal of Communication, 23(6), 2013, pp.

Tutorial: 25 Marks

Students will be divided into groups to make a presentation on critically reviewing assigned tutorial readings for the four tutorial sessions conducted by the tutor. The mark distribution of this component is: Presentation Performance: 17 Marks & Participation (including Comments and Discussion): 8 Marks. Please note that 6 Marks will be deducted for being absent from one tutorial session (i.e. 12 Marks to be deducted for being absent from two tutorial sessions, and so on).

Tutorial 1: Chinese in Singapore Colony (Lecture 4 Readings)

Tutorial 2: Independence of Singapore (Lecture 6 Readings)

Tutorial 3: Lee Kuan Yew and Singapore (Lecture 7 Readings)

Tutorial 4: Singapore – A First World Country? (Lecture 8 Readings)

Mid-Term Review Essay: 25 Marks

Submit a 2,000-word review article based on the readings assigned for tutorial presentation. The submission deadline is two weeks after tutorial presentation.

Take-Home Exam: 50 Marks

Students will be allowed around two weeks to write an essay in English with 4,000 words in response to one of a few questions to be announced in the session on 28 Mar, when more details (including submission date and requirements) about this assignment will be given.

請注意大學有關學術著作誠信的政策和規則，及適用於犯規事例的紀律指引和程序。詳情可瀏覽網址：http://www.cuhk.edu.hk/policy/academichonesty/。

學生遞交作業時，必須連同已簽署的聲明一併提交，表示他們知道有關政策、規則、指引及程序。

• 如屬小組習作，則所有組員均須簽署聲明；所有組員（不論有否簽署聲明及不論有否直接或間接撰寫有問題的內容）均須負上集體責任及受到懲處。
• 如作業以電腦製作、內容以文字為主，並經由大學「維誠」系統 (VeriGuide) 提交者，學生將作業的電子檔案上載到系統後，便會獲得收據，收據上已列明有關聲明。

未有夾附簽署妥當的聲明的作業，老師將不予批閱。

學生只須提交作業的最終版本。

學生將作業或作業的一部份用於超過一個用途（例如：同時符合兩科的要求）而沒有作出聲明會被視為未有聲明重覆使用作業。學生重覆使用其著作的措辭或某一、二句句子很常見，並可以接受，惟重覆使用全部內容則構成問題。在任何情況下，須先獲得相關老師同意方可提交作業。