Question

Read this speech by Deputy Prime Minister, Lawrence Wong:

Your task is to sociologically analyze the speech in deciphering if it fits within the boundaries of the Singapore Story. In your analysis:

• Illustrate and explain how the speech relates to the Singapore Story or existing narratives of nation-building or state-building that you have learned in this class.

• Decipher if the speech contains any new themes or narratives that is NOT part of the existing ways the Singapore Story is structured, and the significance of such new themes.

• Make a case for whether this speech is OR is not a familiar iteration of state and nation-building efforts, putting together your analysis of the themes that have or have not changed.

Drawing upon the relevant course materials from Weeks 1 and 2 about national histories, the construction of nation-states, and nation-state building processes, sociologically discuss how the concepts and themes you have learned apply to our understanding of the significance of national narratives in shaping Singapore’s past, present and future as a nation-state and modern city-state.

Your essay should comprise a sociological analysis that is clearly observable and illustrated with relevant examples.