Racial boundaries and social cohesion in Singapore youth football

• Main Author: De Silva, Nicholas
• Other Authors: Premchand Varma Dommaraju
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2019
• Subjects: Social sciences::Sociology
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/78703
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Singapore state ideology centres on the twin ideologies of multiracialism and meritocracy. Statist views on the value of sport reflect this ideological position, perceiving it as a race-neutral space for fostering social cohesion and nation-building. This study questions the state's rhetoric by positing that certain sports in Singapore are racialized. Drawing upon the works of major social theorists, this study utilizes an integrated framework to explore the connections between race and Singapore youth football, examining its impact on social cohesion. Findings from 10 in-depth interviews with former youth football players suggest that racial boundaries do exist in the sport, undermining social cohesion.