Asianism and the politics of regional consciousness in Singapore / Leong Yew.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Yew, Leong, 1969- author.

Series:

Routledge contemporary Asia series ; 43.

Routledge contemporary Asia series ; 43

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Regionalism--Political aspects--Singapore.

Regionalism.

Regionalism--Political aspects--Asia.

Relations.

Regionalism--Political aspects.

Singapore--Relations--Asia.

Singapore.

Asia--Relations--Singapore.

Asia.

Singapore--Politics and government.

Politics and government.

National characteristics, Singaporean.

Physical Description:

xviii, 241 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm.

Place of Publication:

New York, NY : Routledge, 2014.

Summary:

"Over the last two decades, Singapore has undergone a substantial degree of 'Asianization'. Apart from participating in the Asian values debate of the 1990s, re-visioning itself as 'New Asia' and a global-Asian hub, and establishing Asian identities for the commodities it consumes and produces, Singapore has also repurposed its modernity, cultures, and ethos along similar regionalist precepts. However, even in recent times, Singapore continues to vacillate ambivalently between identifying with and differentiating itself from Asia. Responding to the challenges Singapore faces in coming to terms with its Asian identity, this book examines the complex cultural, social, and political underpinnings that have shaped Singapore's mainstream discourse in Asia. Indeed, it argues that its legacy as a colonial port city, the exigencies of managing the post-independence nation state, and the larger forces of imperialism and capitalism all contribute to its politics of Asianism. Taking a thoroughly interdisciplinary approach, that spans history, cultural studies, postcolonialism, and cultural geography, Leong Yew reveals how Asia has been used to narrate Singapore's beginnings, revalidate Singaporean ethnic culture and to consolidate its practices of consumption and commodification"-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

On Asianism

Singapore, Asia and their beginnings

In search of the Asian soul : shifting culture, reframing history

Consuming Asia : commodification in the context of Singapore's Asianism

Asia as knowledge

Asianized landscapes and the transculturation of Singapore

Toward alter-Asianisms.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9780415821483

0415821487

OCLC:

843228795