• Home
  • About RSIS
    • Introduction
    • Building the Foundations
    • Welcome Message
    • Board of Governors
    • Staff Profiles
      • Executive Deputy Chairman’s Office
      • Dean’s Office
      • Management
      • Distinguished Fellows
      • Faculty and Research
      • Associate Research Fellows, Senior Analysts and Research Analysts
      • Visiting Fellows
      • Adjunct Fellows
      • Administrative Staff
    • Honours and Awards for RSIS Staff and Students
    • RSIS Endowment Fund
    • Endowed Professorships
    • Career Opportunities
    • Getting to RSIS
  • Research
    • Research Centres
      • Centre for Multilateralism Studies (CMS)
      • Centre for Non-Traditional Security Studies (NTS Centre)
      • Centre of Excellence for National Security (CENS)
      • Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies (IDSS)
      • International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research (ICPVTR)
    • Research Programmes
      • National Security Studies Programme (NSSP)
      • Studies in Inter-Religious Relations in Plural Societies (SRP) Programme
    • Future Issues and Technology Cluster
    • [email protected] Newsletter
    • Other Research
      • Science and Technology Studies Programme (STSP) (2017-2020)
  • Graduate Education
    • Graduate Programmes Office
    • Overview
    • MSc (Asian Studies)
    • MSc (International Political Economy)
    • MSc (International Relations)
    • MSc (Strategic Studies)
    • NTU-Warwick Double Masters Programme
    • PhD Programme
    • Exchange Partners and Programmes
    • How to Apply
    • Financial Assistance
    • Meet the Admissions Team: Information Sessions and other events
    • RSIS Alumni
  • Alumni & Networks
    • Alumni
    • Asia-Pacific Programme for Senior Military Officers (APPSMO)
    • Asia-Pacific Programme for Senior National Security Officers (APPSNO)
    • International Strategy Forum-Asia (ISF-Asia)
    • SRP Executive Programme
    • Terrorism Analyst Training Course (TATC)
  • Publications
    • RSIS Publications
      • Annual Reviews
      • Books
      • Bulletins and Newsletters
      • Commentaries
      • Counter Terrorist Trends and Analyses
      • Commemorative / Event Reports
      • IDSS Paper
      • Interreligious Relations
      • Monographs
      • NTS Insight
      • Policy Reports
      • Working Papers
      • RSIS Publications for the Year
    • Glossary of Abbreviations
    • External Publications
      • Authored Books
      • Journal Articles
      • Edited Books
      • Chapters in Edited Books
      • Policy Reports
      • Working Papers
      • Op-Eds
      • External Publications for the Year
    • Policy-relevant Articles Given RSIS Award
  • Media
    • Great Powers
    • Sustainable Security
    • Other Resource Pages
    • Media Highlights
    • News Releases
    • Speeches
    • Vidcast Channel
    • Audio/Video Forums
  • Events
  • Giving
  • Contact Us
Facebook
Twitter
YouTube
RSISVideoCast RSISVideoCast rsis.sg
Linkedin
instagram instagram rsis.sg
RSS
  • Home
  • About RSIS
      • Introduction
      • Building the Foundations
      • Welcome Message
      • Board of Governors
      • Staff Profiles
        • Executive Deputy Chairman’s Office
        • Dean’s Office
        • Management
        • Distinguished Fellows
        • Faculty and Research
        • Associate Research Fellows, Senior Analysts and Research Analysts
        • Visiting Fellows
        • Adjunct Fellows
        • Administrative Staff
      • Honours and Awards for RSIS Staff and Students
      • RSIS Endowment Fund
      • Endowed Professorships
      • Career Opportunities
      • Getting to RSIS
  • Research
      • Research Centres
        • Centre for Multilateralism Studies (CMS)
        • Centre for Non-Traditional Security Studies (NTS Centre)
        • Centre of Excellence for National Security (CENS)
        • Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies (IDSS)
        • International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research (ICPVTR)
      • Research Programmes
        • National Security Studies Programme (NSSP)
        • Studies in Inter-Religious Relations in Plural Societies (SRP) Programme
      • Future Issues and Technology Cluster
      • [email protected] Newsletter
      • Other Research
        • Science and Technology Studies Programme (STSP) (2017-2020)
  • Graduate Education
      • Graduate Programmes Office
      • Overview
      • MSc (Asian Studies)
      • MSc (International Political Economy)
      • MSc (International Relations)
      • MSc (Strategic Studies)
      • NTU-Warwick Double Masters Programme
      • PhD Programme
      • Exchange Partners and Programmes
      • How to Apply
      • Financial Assistance
      • Meet the Admissions Team: Information Sessions and other events
      • RSIS Alumni
  • Alumni & Networks
      • Alumni
      • Asia-Pacific Programme for Senior Military Officers (APPSMO)
      • Asia-Pacific Programme for Senior National Security Officers (APPSNO)
      • International Strategy Forum-Asia (ISF-Asia)
      • SRP Executive Programme
      • Terrorism Analyst Training Course (TATC)
  • Publications
      • RSIS Publications
        • Annual Reviews
        • Books
        • Bulletins and Newsletters
        • Commentaries
        • Counter Terrorist Trends and Analyses
        • Commemorative / Event Reports
        • IDSS Paper
        • Interreligious Relations
        • Monographs
        • NTS Insight
        • Policy Reports
        • Working Papers
        • RSIS Publications for the Year
      • Glossary of Abbreviations
      • External Publications
        • Authored Books
        • Journal Articles
        • Edited Books
        • Chapters in Edited Books
        • Policy Reports
        • Working Papers
        • Op-Eds
        • External Publications for the Year
      • Policy-relevant Articles Given RSIS Award
  • Media
      • Great Powers
      • Sustainable Security
      • Other Resource Pages
      • Media Highlights
      • News Releases
      • Speeches
      • Vidcast Channel
      • Audio/Video Forums
  • Events
  • Giving
  • Contact Us
  • instagram instagram rsis.sg
Connect

Getting to RSIS

Map

Address

Nanyang Technological University
Block S4, Level B3,
50 Nanyang Avenue,
Singapore 639798

View location on Google maps Click here for directions to RSIS

Get in Touch

    Connect with Us

      rsis.ntu
      rsis_ntu
      rsisntu
    RSISVideoCast RSISVideoCast rsisvideocast
      school/rsis-ntu
    instagram instagram rsis.sg
      RSS
    Subscribe to RSIS Publications
    Subscribe to RSIS Events

    RSIS Intranet

    S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies Think Tank and Graduate School Ponder The Improbable Since 1966
    Nanyang Technological University Nanyang Technological University

    Skip to content

     
    • RSIS
    • Publication
    • RSIS Publications
    • ICCS 2022 Post-Conference Commentary – Identities and Inclusiveness: Rethinking Social Cohesion
    • Annual Reviews
    • Books
    • Bulletins and Newsletters
    • Commentaries
    • Counter Terrorist Trends and Analyses
    • Commemorative / Event Reports
    • IDSS Paper
    • Interreligious Relations
    • Monographs
    • NTS Insight
    • Policy Reports
    • Working Papers
    • RSIS Publications for the Year

    CO22108 | ICCS 2022 Post-Conference Commentary – Identities and Inclusiveness: Rethinking Social Cohesion
    Yasmine Wong

    31 October 2022

    download pdf
    RSIS Commentary is a platform to provide timely and, where appropriate, policy-relevant commentary and analysis of topical and contemporary issues. The authors’ views are their own and do not represent the official position of the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), NTU. These commentaries may be reproduced with prior permission from RSIS and due credit to the author(s) and RSIS. Please email to Editor RSIS Commentary at [email protected].

    SYNOPSIS

    Identity politics has made salient the link between identities and social cohesion. Real solutions can emerge when a multi-pronged approach is taken to provide diverse communities with equal access, due recognition, and the opportunity to participate in creating a shared vision of inclusiveness and justice.

    image002
    Source: Internal file

    COMMENTARY

    The International Conference on Cohesive Societies (ICCS) 2022 was organised amid unprecedented times. The event is a testament to various societies’ commitment to social cohesion at a time when the COVID-19 pandemic has arguably failed to rally humanity against a common threat.

    In Singapore, ICCS 2022 stands against the backdrop of evolution in the way society engages with topics like identity and discrimination in its endeavours towards more equitable understanding of the grievances of the various identities that exist within the small city state. In seeking to overcome fissures along diverse identity lines, it is essential to relook at the relationship between identity and the forging of inclusive social cohesion.

    Maintaining Balance

    At ICCS 2022, Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong spoke of the country’s approach to social cohesion as a “deliberate and consistent effort to understand one another, to accommodate one another, and to flourish together.” Central to this culture of accommodation is the delicate balance of interests amongst Singapore’s diverse communities built on consensus and compromise.

    Contact between different communities in any diverse society is cardinal. Yet, when different cultures, ideas, and beliefs congregate, there are bound to be disagreements. The challenge thus remains for societies in a globalised age to ensure that disagreement does not escalate to dissension. This is especially pressing in an age of observed pluralisation and polarisation of, and along, identity lines.

    Katherine Marshall, senior fellow at Georgetown University, told the ICCS 2022 audience that social mapping today is no longer a two-dimensional affair due to intersectionality. In the context of Singapore, class is fast becoming the most pronounced faultline, emerging amid traditional issues of race and religious harmony. Around the world, societies are also increasingly divided on issues surrounding gender and sexuality.

    In contemporary times, identity politics has made clear the link between identities and social cohesion. It presents both challenges and opportunities to establish more inclusive practices of social cohesion. A nuanced understanding of how identities feature in the lived experiences of individuals in a society, and the expectations of different groups vis-à-vis their identities is required to formulate appropriate policies.

    Receiving Less and Feeling Unrecognised

    Identity is intrinsically tied to access. The unequal distribution of resources across communities deepens divides along identity lines between the haves and have-nots. This presents challenges to social cohesion as a sense of unfairness is foundational to the escalation of violence. Inter-group strife is more likely when groups feel disadvantaged vis-à-vis other groups and when they feel that they have no access to the good life and means for peaceful expression of their grievances.

    The rise of Hindu nationalism in India has exacerbated the sense of vulnerability among its Muslim citizens. Despite constitutional protection, systemic prejudice is perceived as being legitimized in more domestic arenas. It has been found that 1 in 4 Indians faced discrimination while accessing health services due to their caste and religion, and, as of late, Muslim students donning the hijab are being shut out of schools.

    In the United States of America, racial disparities in policing and police violence are sustained by systemic exclusion and bias against people of colour, revealing discrepancies in access to safety and justice. The desperation felt by these communities amid racially differentiated surveillance has resulted in movements like Black Lives Matter and protests like those that trailed the death of George Floyd.

    Countering Misrecognition

    However, more equitable access and the redistribution of resources across identity groups in a society is an insufficient solution. Individuals and groups are affected when encountering demeaning representations of themselves, a concept that academic Nancy Fraser develops through her understanding of misrecognition. She explains that misrecognition is a form of institutionalised subordination, where individuals are categorised in laws and policies as less-than-full members of society. As such, receiving due recognition is a vital human need. Fraser argues that a socially just outcome requires not just redistribution, but also recognition.

    The misrecognition of the Muslim community in the United Kingdom sheds light on this phenomenon. The portrayal of the Muslim community as a “suspect community” for state securitisation attempts has contributed to the misrecognition of the community. This is reflected in state policies and has contributed to the proliferation of anti-Muslim sentiments amongst the population, worsening inter-group relations.

    As such, there ought to be a style of social cohesion that is cognisant of needs and requirements of diverse communities vis-à-vis their identities.

    Building Just and Fair Societies

    The fact that social cohesion is a continual work in progress is a recurring piece of wisdom at ICCS 2022. Balancing between different needs of diverse groups requires understanding and effort. This delicate balance endeavours to achieve a state of fairness – the building of a just and fair society, where, as Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong affirms, every community has the space to live their lives freely.

    This is no easy task. As many in ICCS 2022 have stated, social cohesion is an ongoing journey, one that is fraught with difficult conversations. An example of such a conversation in Singapore is the recent announcement of the repeal of Section 377A of the Penal Code which criminalises sex between men, and the constitutionalisation of marriage to maintain Singapore’s “current family-centric approach, and the prevailing norms and values of Singapore society.” The heart of the matter is in establishing a state of fairness, understood as the need to represent the middle ground and “reconcile and accommodate both the traditional mores of our society, and the aspiration of gay Singaporeans to be respected and accepted” in official discourse. This has prompted a plethora of reactions from celebration to dissatisfaction.

    Further negotiations on these issues are to be expected in the future, and for this, strong social ties and trust are required to weather debate and negotiations. There is also a need to recognise that striving for more inclusive social cohesion that accommodates the needs of more identity groups does not equate to the majority being lesser off, and, as Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong remarked, not every compromise should be construed as injustice.

    Working with Present Realities

    Today, social media places increasing pressure on societies to confront their own inequalities and injustices, and to work towards more equitable redistribution of resources, and better recognition of the minorities.

    In Singapore, the increase in racist incidents during the COVID-19 pandemic took place against a proliferation of conversations on race and racism online. The younger generation of Singaporeans has taken to online spaces to talk about the discrimination they faced due to their identities. These conversations bring to the fore new notions of justice that differ from established concepts of fairness that may serve to benefit one group over another.

    Justice in this context means addressing both political and socioeconomic inequalities, and the correction of deeply rooted biases and prejudices. They point to a necessity in urgently managing shifting perceptions among different identity groups to achieve greater inclusiveness and social cohesion.

    About the Author

    Yasmine Wong is Senior Analyst, Centre of Excellence for National Security (CENS), S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), in the Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore.

    Categories: Commentaries / Country and Region Studies / General / Non-Traditional Security / Regionalism and Multilateralism / Religion in Contemporary Society / Singapore and Homeland Security / East Asia and Asia Pacific / Global / South Asia / Southeast Asia and ASEAN

    Last updated on 01/11/2022

    comments powered by Disqus
    RSIS Commentary is a platform to provide timely and, where appropriate, policy-relevant commentary and analysis of topical and contemporary issues. The authors’ views are their own and do not represent the official position of the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), NTU. These commentaries may be reproduced with prior permission from RSIS and due credit to the author(s) and RSIS. Please email to Editor RSIS Commentary at [email protected].

    SYNOPSIS

    Identity politics has made salient the link between identities and social cohesion. Real solutions can emerge when a multi-pronged approach is taken to provide diverse communities with equal access, due recognition, and the opportunity to participate in creating a shared vision of inclusiveness and justice.

    image002
    Source: Internal file

    COMMENTARY

    The International Conference on Cohesive Societies (ICCS) 2022 was organised amid unprecedented times. The event is a testament to various societies’ commitment to social cohesion at a time when the COVID-19 pandemic has arguably failed to rally humanity against a common threat.

    In Singapore, ICCS 2022 stands against the backdrop of evolution in the way society engages with topics like identity and discrimination in its endeavours towards more equitable understanding of the grievances of the various identities that exist within the small city state. In seeking to overcome fissures along diverse identity lines, it is essential to relook at the relationship between identity and the forging of inclusive social cohesion.

    Maintaining Balance

    At ICCS 2022, Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong spoke of the country’s approach to social cohesion as a “deliberate and consistent effort to understand one another, to accommodate one another, and to flourish together.” Central to this culture of accommodation is the delicate balance of interests amongst Singapore’s diverse communities built on consensus and compromise.

    Contact between different communities in any diverse society is cardinal. Yet, when different cultures, ideas, and beliefs congregate, there are bound to be disagreements. The challenge thus remains for societies in a globalised age to ensure that disagreement does not escalate to dissension. This is especially pressing in an age of observed pluralisation and polarisation of, and along, identity lines.

    Katherine Marshall, senior fellow at Georgetown University, told the ICCS 2022 audience that social mapping today is no longer a two-dimensional affair due to intersectionality. In the context of Singapore, class is fast becoming the most pronounced faultline, emerging amid traditional issues of race and religious harmony. Around the world, societies are also increasingly divided on issues surrounding gender and sexuality.

    In contemporary times, identity politics has made clear the link between identities and social cohesion. It presents both challenges and opportunities to establish more inclusive practices of social cohesion. A nuanced understanding of how identities feature in the lived experiences of individuals in a society, and the expectations of different groups vis-à-vis their identities is required to formulate appropriate policies.

    Receiving Less and Feeling Unrecognised

    Identity is intrinsically tied to access. The unequal distribution of resources across communities deepens divides along identity lines between the haves and have-nots. This presents challenges to social cohesion as a sense of unfairness is foundational to the escalation of violence. Inter-group strife is more likely when groups feel disadvantaged vis-à-vis other groups and when they feel that they have no access to the good life and means for peaceful expression of their grievances.

    The rise of Hindu nationalism in India has exacerbated the sense of vulnerability among its Muslim citizens. Despite constitutional protection, systemic prejudice is perceived as being legitimized in more domestic arenas. It has been found that 1 in 4 Indians faced discrimination while accessing health services due to their caste and religion, and, as of late, Muslim students donning the hijab are being shut out of schools.

    In the United States of America, racial disparities in policing and police violence are sustained by systemic exclusion and bias against people of colour, revealing discrepancies in access to safety and justice. The desperation felt by these communities amid racially differentiated surveillance has resulted in movements like Black Lives Matter and protests like those that trailed the death of George Floyd.

    Countering Misrecognition

    However, more equitable access and the redistribution of resources across identity groups in a society is an insufficient solution. Individuals and groups are affected when encountering demeaning representations of themselves, a concept that academic Nancy Fraser develops through her understanding of misrecognition. She explains that misrecognition is a form of institutionalised subordination, where individuals are categorised in laws and policies as less-than-full members of society. As such, receiving due recognition is a vital human need. Fraser argues that a socially just outcome requires not just redistribution, but also recognition.

    The misrecognition of the Muslim community in the United Kingdom sheds light on this phenomenon. The portrayal of the Muslim community as a “suspect community” for state securitisation attempts has contributed to the misrecognition of the community. This is reflected in state policies and has contributed to the proliferation of anti-Muslim sentiments amongst the population, worsening inter-group relations.

    As such, there ought to be a style of social cohesion that is cognisant of needs and requirements of diverse communities vis-à-vis their identities.

    Building Just and Fair Societies

    The fact that social cohesion is a continual work in progress is a recurring piece of wisdom at ICCS 2022. Balancing between different needs of diverse groups requires understanding and effort. This delicate balance endeavours to achieve a state of fairness – the building of a just and fair society, where, as Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong affirms, every community has the space to live their lives freely.

    This is no easy task. As many in ICCS 2022 have stated, social cohesion is an ongoing journey, one that is fraught with difficult conversations. An example of such a conversation in Singapore is the recent announcement of the repeal of Section 377A of the Penal Code which criminalises sex between men, and the constitutionalisation of marriage to maintain Singapore’s “current family-centric approach, and the prevailing norms and values of Singapore society.” The heart of the matter is in establishing a state of fairness, understood as the need to represent the middle ground and “reconcile and accommodate both the traditional mores of our society, and the aspiration of gay Singaporeans to be respected and accepted” in official discourse. This has prompted a plethora of reactions from celebration to dissatisfaction.

    Further negotiations on these issues are to be expected in the future, and for this, strong social ties and trust are required to weather debate and negotiations. There is also a need to recognise that striving for more inclusive social cohesion that accommodates the needs of more identity groups does not equate to the majority being lesser off, and, as Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong remarked, not every compromise should be construed as injustice.

    Working with Present Realities

    Today, social media places increasing pressure on societies to confront their own inequalities and injustices, and to work towards more equitable redistribution of resources, and better recognition of the minorities.

    In Singapore, the increase in racist incidents during the COVID-19 pandemic took place against a proliferation of conversations on race and racism online. The younger generation of Singaporeans has taken to online spaces to talk about the discrimination they faced due to their identities. These conversations bring to the fore new notions of justice that differ from established concepts of fairness that may serve to benefit one group over another.

    Justice in this context means addressing both political and socioeconomic inequalities, and the correction of deeply rooted biases and prejudices. They point to a necessity in urgently managing shifting perceptions among different identity groups to achieve greater inclusiveness and social cohesion.

    About the Author

    Yasmine Wong is Senior Analyst, Centre of Excellence for National Security (CENS), S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), in the Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore.

    Categories: Commentaries / Country and Region Studies / General / Non-Traditional Security / Regionalism and Multilateralism / Religion in Contemporary Society / Singapore and Homeland Security

    Last updated on 01/11/2022

    Back to top

    Terms of Use | Privacy Statement
    Copyright © S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies. All rights reserved.
    This site uses cookies to offer you a better browsing experience. By continuing, you are agreeing to the use of cookies on your device as described in our privacy policy. Learn more
    OK
    Latest Book
    more info