Clash of cultures: the influence of the American culture wars on Westernisation in Singapore

• Main Author: Ho, Jian Kai
• Other Authors: Michael Yeo
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: Nanyang Technological University 2024
• Subjects: Arts and Humanities
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/174267
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

This paper explores the relationship between the American culture wars of the late 20th century and the Singaporean state’s reaction to Westernisation. As the culture wars between progressives and conservatives were profoundly influential on both the political and cultural developments of America, countries that have closely engaged with American ideologies and cultural exports in the process of globalisation must inevitably encapsulate these struggles as well. Therefore, this paper argues that the Singaporean state drew from the discourse of the American culture wars of the late 20th century to construct a kind of Westernisation that it could safely tackle without compromising their bilateral relationship. It analyses the administrations of Singapore’s first two prime ministers, Lee Kuan Yew and Goh Chok Tong, to track and analyse any distinctions between the leadership styles of the nation-state’s first two prime ministers. Ultimately, this paper reveals the irony at the heart of the state’s construction of and reaction to Westernisation—in its attempt to distinguish Singapore as inherently different from the Western cultures they condemned whilst ensuring good relations with Western powers such as America, the state inadvertently echoed American conservative discourses.