Terri-Anne Teo - Civic Multiculturalism in Singapore: Revisiting Citizenship, Rights and Recognition

The politics of identity and citizenship has assumed increasing importance as our polities have become significantly more culturally, ethnically and religiously diverse. Different types of scholars, including philosophers, sociologists, political scientists and historians make contributions to this field and this series showcases a variety of innovative contributions to it. Focusing on a range of different countries, and utilizing the insights of different disciplines, the series helps to illuminate an increasingly controversial area of research and titles in it will be of interest to a number of audiences including scholars, students and other interested individuals.

More information about this series at http://www.palgrave.com/gp/series/14670

Cover image (c) Bhavesh1988 / Getty Images

This Palgrave Macmillan imprint is published by the registered company Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

The registered company address is: Gewerbestrasse 11, 6330 Cham, Switzerland

I thank Terrell Carver and Tariq Modood for their insight and belief in this project. Our exchanges compose some of the most extraordinary, illuminating moments of my academic life. I have learned great theories and kindness from you in equal measure, and for that I am grateful.

To those who have always been close while afar, thank you for your enduring friendship. Jules Lau and Lee Wei Fen, time and continents are not our foe! I am thankful for your wisdom, wit and constant presence throughout the years.

My time in Bristol will always be remembered alongside Sabine Qian and the inimitable cocktails: Nia Rowena Hall, Marte Solberg, Lumi Young and Andrea Weso. Thank you for showing me the true meaning of ploughing through and for continuing to bring relief and delight on my darkest days. Special thanks go to the Halls for providing a home away from home. Also: Rupert Alcock, Oscar Berglund, Laura Lyddon, Audrey Reeves, Elisa Wynne-Hughes, Gilberto Algar-Faria, Alexandra Dimmock, Ben Grove-white, Ben Hudson, Natalie Jester-Carter, Moran Mandelbaum, Jill Soh, Tom Tooth, Carina van Wetering, Gabriela Vazquez and Yuan Yung-Chen. Thank you for all your laughter, advice and solace.

I am grateful to friends and colleagues in Singapore: Sui Lai Kang, for feeding me physically and intellectually, and Mun Wei Jun, for your feline trivia. Norman Vasu, for your grudging forbearance during my theoretical and existential dilemmas. Shashi Jayakumar, for your unflappable support and confidence. Also: Pravin Prakash, Cameron Sumpter, Joe Franco and Jia Ye for being excellent companions during the daily grind. Amirah Amirrudin and Conor Dunne, thank you for being absolutely integral to TWC2 research and your friendship along the way. John Gee, Nick Harrigan and various reviewers at TWC2 whose guidance and feedback are much appreciated. Finally, Eduard Jordaan, I would not be on this bizarre path of academia had it not begun with your encouragement and friendship. Thank you.

Thank you to the editorial team at Palgrave Macmillan for their patience and support, as well as the anonymous reviewers for their feedback.

I am also thankful to Anne Phillips and Jonathan Floyd for their comments early on.

Finally, my family. Mum, Dad and Rong, your belief carried me through every day of this journey. Ric, thank you for giving me hope and fortitude over the last eleven years, without which these words would not be possible.

This is an important critical contribution to the political theory of multiculturalism, and in particular, the state multiculturalism of Singapore. While Terri-Anne Teo finds that western multiculturalism can be a resource for Singapore, the formers silence on the cultural rights of migrants is both a limitation of the political theory and in addressing a crucial rights deficit in Singapore. Drawing on critical social theory, Teo believes the idea of multicultural denizenship is the remedy to both.

Tariq Modood, FBA, University of Bristol, UK