Forging National Identity: Journey from Economic Struggles to Cultural Harmony

Abstract

After gaining independence from colonial rule, faced a complex domestic situation. To avoid religious and cultural conflicts among its diverse ethnic groups, the government adopted a multicultural governance approach for multi-ethnic management, supplemented by a supranational identity governance strategy, which maintained social harmony and stability. In this process, the political system ensured a basic balance of power among ethnic groups, a pragmatic economic development model met the survival needs of various ethnicities, and a liberal cultural environment preserved the historical heritage of each group. However, harmonious Singapore still falls short of becoming a true nation-state. To achieve the goal of nation-building, the Singaporean government has begun to emphasize cultural identity and seeks to foster a sense of being "Singaporean." With English as the lingua franca, Singaporeans can communicate in a common language, the preservation of historical buildings retains a shared cultural memory, and efforts to promote "shared values" are gradually fostering national identity among citizens.