Contemporary issues of integrating new Indian immigrants in Singapore

Abstract

Singapore’s multicultural landscape is increasingly diversifying as it sees an influx of immigrants from all over the globe. The latter stems from Singapore’s position both as a budding global hub, where opportunities to succeed are plentiful, as well as the relatively higher standards of living it offers. A steady rise of immigrants from mainland China and India has been evident over the last few decades. In the immigration discourse, one of the most prominent and relevant topics that has emerged is that of immigrant integration. Singapore has experienced a relative lack of any ethnic conflict since its rigorous embodiment and implementation of hard multiculturalism entailing a top-down state-sanc-tioned model recognising four races: Chinese, Malay, Indian and an “Others” category to encompass those that do not fit within the former three — though this was originally a referent for Caucasian races.