Emigrants of Singapore: state-society dynamics in a developing nation (1970s – 1990s)

• Main Author: Wee, Jason Tian Sern
• Other Authors: Florence Mok
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: Nanyang Technological University 2024
• Subjects: Arts and Humanities
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/174382
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

This thesis examines the impact of the Singapore government policies from the 1970s to the 1990s on emigration trends, confronting the dominant narrative of the notions of Singapore as an immigrant-friendly nation. While ‘The Singapore Story’ noted the successes of Singapore and stories of inward migration, this study reveals the underexplored emigration trend during its development. The study’s historical and policy analysis investigates the role of the Singapore government’s governance strategies, educational reforms, and economic policies in influencing Singaporeans’ decisions to emigrate temporarily or permanently. The research investigates three main categories of Singaporeans: political dissidents, students, and professionals, to understand their diverse motivations and the socio-political and economic circumstances driving their movements abroad. These groups are pivotal for understanding the broader dynamics of emigration and illuminate the complexities of individual migration narratives against the backdrop of developmental policies. This exploration also reveals the gap between national development goals and personal aspirations or freedoms of Singaporeans. Employing a dualistic methodological approach that combines institutional analysis with social history, this thesis contributes significant qualitative insights. It offers a nuanced and longitudinal perspective on the interplay between state policies and individual life choices in Singaporean society.