Urbanism, Architecture, and the Use of Space
Singapore is a green city, but it has a very groomed greenness. There are two small national parks. Only at the fringes of the island and on the islets is there rural life, and it is disappearing fast. Highways crisscrossing the island, the huge port on the southern tip, vast industrial areas to the west, and the airport to the east create an air of swift efficiency.
The most striking features of the landscape are the high-rise buildings. This is a distinctly modern architecture with roots in the functionalism of the 1960s. In the 1980s and 1990s, there was more diversity in building styles. The typical domicile is a small apartment off the ground. Ethnicity is not an issue in the public use of space; communal differences are clearly discernible in the layout of the interiors of homes and certain town areas.
Food and Economy
Food in Daily Life. Rice, fish, chicken, and vegetables are the staples. When these ingredients are mixed with a rich variety of spices, chilis, coconuts, lime, and tamarind, the variations are endless. Food is often eaten outside the home in food centers where food is cheap, tasty, and freshly made. There are many cafés, coffeehouses and teahouses, and formal restaurants. Forks and spoons are used, but Chinese food is eaten with chopsticks, and Indian and Malay food may be eaten with the hand. The three main meals are breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Most meals are eaten hot. Malays do not eat pork, Indians do not eat beef, and many Buddhist Chinese are part-time vegetarians. Many people do not drink alcohol.
Food Customs at Ceremonial Occasions. Special dishes are eaten during the major ceremonial occasions of all three ethnic groups, but none are connected to national celebrations.
Basic Economy. Singapore has a fully developed industrial international economy. The country depends heavily on imports, as there are few natural resources on the island. There has been a consistent surplus in the overall balance of payments. There is a large degree of state control of the economy.
Land Tenure and Property. There is a large degree of private ownership of houses and apartments. Land tenure is firmly regulated by the government and there are government plans for the use of every inch of the island's territory. Foreigners usually are allowed only to lease land, but they may buy apartments.
Commercial Activities, Major Industries, and Trade. Manufacturing is the most important economic sector, followed by financial and business services, commerce, transportation, and communications. Production is mainly for export. The main exports are electronics, refined petroleum products, natural rubber, and palm oil. The main trading partners are Malaysia, the European Union (EU), the United States, Hong Kong, and Japan.
Division of Labor. About two-thirds of the resident population is employed. Only 0.2 percent of the members of the workforce are employed in the primary sector, and about 37 percent of employed persons work in commerce and finance and the business sector. Twenty-three percent work in manufacturing, 21 percent in other services, and 18 percent in transportation and communications and construction. The unemployment rate has long been below 3 percent but increased during the recent economic downturn. Chinese are over-represented in professional, technical, administrative, and managerial jobs, whereas Malays are the most underrepresented in highly skilled jobs, with Indians in the middle. The substantial numbers of foreign workers are overrepresented in production and related work.
Social Stratification
Classes and Castes. There are wide income and wealth differences, but the country is more differentiated by ethnicity than by class. All the ethnic groups have experienced upward occupational mobility. There is an intense focus on education. Good marks are a sure path to good positions with good wages. In this respect, Singapore is a meritocracy.
Shutters open out onto clotheslines in downtown colonial-style housing in Singapore.
Shutters open out onto clotheslines in downtown colonial-style housing in Singapore.
Symbols of Social Stratification. Singaporeans jokingly refer to their desire for the "five C's": car, condominium, credit card, club membership, and career. These are important symbols of wealth and status regardless of ethnicity. There is no national costume, but the orchid is used as a national symbol, and textiles with orchid patterns may be employed as a national symbol on formal occasions.
Boats and buildings in Inner Harbor. High-rises are a striking feature of Singapore's landscape.
Boats and buildings in Inner Harbor. High-rises are a striking feature of Singapore's landscape.
Political Life
Government. Singapore is a republic with a parliamentary system. The head of state is the president, who is elected for a fixed term of six years. The parliament is elected in a general compulsory election every five years. There are also six nominated members of the parliament. The cabinet is the executive organ of the state, and execution of government policies is carried out by ministries and statutory boards.
Leadership and Political Officials. The People's Action Party (PAP) has maintained a large majority in the parliament since 1965, with only a few seats held by politicians from opposition parties. The road to a political position through the cadre system of the PAP lies in educational and professional merit as well as loyalty. The other parties are led by politicians with strong personalities.
Social Problems and Control. The crime rate is low. The judiciary system is based on the British legal system. The death penalty is imposed for drug smuggling, and caning is still used as a punishment. In addition, there are fines or other penalties for a wide range of transgressions, such as throwing litter on the floor, urinating in the elevator, and engaging in politics outside registered political parties.
Military Activity. Both military and civil defense are well developed, and the armed forces are equipped. Two and a half years of compulsory military service are required for males.
Social Welfare and Change Programs
Social welfare is financed through the Central Provident Fund (CPF), a public savings scheme. Employees under age 55 and their employers contribute a fixed amount of a worker's salary into an individual account administered by the CPF. This account provides financial security for old age and can be drawn on for housing and medical and educational costs. Charity is an important aspect of the financing of social welfare. Care of the old, sick, and disabled is in the hands of families and relatives. Three different agencies provide some social services for members of the three ethnic groups. Independent social work units also carry out some social work.
Nongovernmental Organizations and Other Associations
Many of the nearly five thousand registered societies are directly or indirectly linked to the government. Among the rest, very few can be defined as
Workers riding bicycles to Sembahong Shipyard, one of the two repair facilities in Singapore. Cars are a symbol of wealth and status.
Workers riding bicycles to Sembahong Shipyard, one of the two repair facilities in Singapore. Cars are a symbol of wealth and status.
nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in a strict sense, but they form the basis of the civil society. A pattern of division according to ethnic distinction exists, but there are many nonethnic associations and societies.
Gender Roles and Statuses
Nearly 80 percent of men and about 50 percent of women are employed. Women have joined the workforce in large numbers but are underrepresented in leadership positions in all areas and institutions.
Marriage, Family, and Kinship
Marriage. Polygamy is allowed among Muslim Malays, but otherwise monogamy is the rule. Interethnic marriages are not common. Divorce is becoming more common. The average age at first marriage has increased, and it is customary for young people to live with their parents until they marry.
Domestic Unit. The basic household unit is the nuclear family, which constituted 85 percent of resident households in 1990. Close links with relatives on both the husband's and the wife's sides are usually maintained. The proportion of households without a family nucleus shrank from 26 percent in 1957 to 8 percent in 1980, reflecting the changes from an immigrant to a settled population. Males dominate as heads of households.
Inheritance. Traditionally, sons inherited family assets, while daughters were expected to marry out of the family. This pattern is less common today.
Kin Groups. Kin groups play a significant role in all ethnic groups, and people often move within wide networks of relatives. Privately, kin groups are important, but politically and economically, they play a marginal role.
Socialization
Infant Care. Children are brought along in most situations except business and very formal events. Small children are showered with affection. Generally, children are expected to be quiet and obedient and may be physically punished for misbehaving. There is very little free space where children can play and few areas designed specially for children.
Child Rearing and Education. Children are thought to hold the key not only to their own future but also to the future of their families, and education is regarded as extremely important. There is a range of private and public nurseries, kindergartens, and play schools. Children start school at age six.
Higher Education. There is a great emphasis on higher education. Children spend six years in primary school and four years in secondary school and then go on to a vocational school or university, depending on their grades (a sure way to higher education in Singapore) or money (a university education abroad). Competition for entrance to the best schools is fierce.
Etiquette
Older people ideally are treate
Urbanism สถาปัตยกรรม และใช้พื้นที่สิงคโปร์คือ เมืองสีเขียว แต่มันมี greenness groomed มาก มีอุทยานแห่งชาติสองขนาดเล็ก ที่อยู่ ของเกาะ และเกาะมีชีวิตในชนบท และมันจะหายไปอย่างรวดเร็ว ทางหลวง crisscrossing เกาะ พอร์ตขนาดใหญ่ทางตอนใต้ พื้นที่อุตสาหกรรมใหญ่ทางตะวันตก และสนามบินฝั่งตะวันออกสร้างอากาศมีประสิทธิภาพรวดเร็วคุณสมบัติที่โดดเด่นที่สุดของภูมิทัศน์อาคารสูงได้ นี่คือสถาปัตยกรรมอย่างเห็นได้ชัด มีรากใน functionalism ของปี 1960 ในทศวรรษ 1980 และทศวรรษที่ 1990 มีความหลากหลายมากขึ้นในการสร้างรูปแบบ ตั้งถิ่นฐานทั่วไปเป็นอพาร์ทเมนท์ขนาดเล็กจากพื้นดิน เชื้อชาติจะไม่เป็นปัญหาในการใช้สาธารณะพื้นที่ ความแตกต่างของชุมชน discernible ชัดเจนในแบบของการตกแต่งภายในบ้านและบางพื้นที่ของเมืองได้อาหารและเศรษฐกิจอาหารในชีวิตประจำวัน ข้าว ปลา ไก่ ผัก และมีคำ เมื่อส่วนผสมเหล่านี้ผสมกับความรวย ของเครื่องเทศ chilis มะพร้าว มะนาว มะขาม รูปแบบไม่มีสิ้นสุด มักจะรับประทานอาหารนอกบ้านในศูนย์อาหารอาหารราคาถูก อร่อย และทำสดใหม่ มีหลายคาเฟ่ coffeehouses และ teahouses และทางร้านอาหาร ส้อมและช้อนที่จะ ใช้ แต่รับประทานอาหารจีนตะเกียบ และอาจรับประทานอาหารอินเดียและมาเลย์กับมือ อาหารหลักสามมื้อมีอาหารเช้า กลางวัน และอาหารค่ำ อาหารส่วนใหญ่จะกินร้อน เชื้อสายมลายูไม่กินหมู อินเดียไม่กินเนื้อ และจีนหลายพุทธ มังสวิรัติชั่วคราว หลายคนไม่ดื่มแอลกอฮอล์อาหารการศุลกากรในโอกาสพิธี อาหารที่กินในโอกาสพิธีสำคัญของชนชาติทั้งหมด 3 แต่ไม่ได้เชื่อมต่อกับการเฉลิมฉลองแห่งชาติเศรษฐกิจพื้นฐาน สิงคโปร์มีเศรษฐกิจอุตสาหกรรมระหว่างประเทศพัฒนาเต็ม ประเทศนั้นอย่างมากในการนำเข้า มีทรัพยากรธรรมชาติน้อยบนเกาะ ได้มีส่วนเกินที่สอดคล้องกันในการชำระเงินของยอดดุลรวม มีการควบคุมสถานะของเศรษฐกิจในระดับขนาดใหญ่อายุงานที่ดินและทรัพย์สิน มีตัวขนาดใหญ่ของเอกชนเป็นเจ้าของบ้าน อายุงานที่ดินมั่นกำหนด โดยรัฐบาล และมีแผนรัฐบาลใช้ทุกตารางนิ้วของเขตของเกาะ ชาวต่างชาติมักจะได้รับอนุญาตเท่านั้นให้เช่าที่ดิน แต่พวกเขาอาจซื้ออพาร์ทเมนท์Commercial Activities, Major Industries, and Trade. Manufacturing is the most important economic sector, followed by financial and business services, commerce, transportation, and communications. Production is mainly for export. The main exports are electronics, refined petroleum products, natural rubber, and palm oil. The main trading partners are Malaysia, the European Union (EU), the United States, Hong Kong, and Japan.Division of Labor. About two-thirds of the resident population is employed. Only 0.2 percent of the members of the workforce are employed in the primary sector, and about 37 percent of employed persons work in commerce and finance and the business sector. Twenty-three percent work in manufacturing, 21 percent in other services, and 18 percent in transportation and communications and construction. The unemployment rate has long been below 3 percent but increased during the recent economic downturn. Chinese are over-represented in professional, technical, administrative, and managerial jobs, whereas Malays are the most underrepresented in highly skilled jobs, with Indians in the middle. The substantial numbers of foreign workers are overrepresented in production and related work.Social StratificationClasses and Castes. There are wide income and wealth differences, but the country is more differentiated by ethnicity than by class. All the ethnic groups have experienced upward occupational mobility. There is an intense focus on education. Good marks are a sure path to good positions with good wages. In this respect, Singapore is a meritocracy.Shutters open out onto clotheslines in downtown colonial-style housing in Singapore.Shutters open out onto clotheslines in downtown colonial-style housing in Singapore.Symbols of Social Stratification. Singaporeans jokingly refer to their desire for the "five C's": car, condominium, credit card, club membership, and career. These are important symbols of wealth and status regardless of ethnicity. There is no national costume, but the orchid is used as a national symbol, and textiles with orchid patterns may be employed as a national symbol on formal occasions.Boats and buildings in Inner Harbor. High-rises are a striking feature of Singapore's landscape.Boats and buildings in Inner Harbor. High-rises are a striking feature of Singapore's landscape.Political LifeGovernment. Singapore is a republic with a parliamentary system. The head of state is the president, who is elected for a fixed term of six years. The parliament is elected in a general compulsory election every five years. There are also six nominated members of the parliament. The cabinet is the executive organ of the state, and execution of government policies is carried out by ministries and statutory boards.Leadership and Political Officials. The People's Action Party (PAP) has maintained a large majority in the parliament since 1965, with only a few seats held by politicians from opposition parties. The road to a political position through the cadre system of the PAP lies in educational and professional merit as well as loyalty. The other parties are led by politicians with strong personalities.
Social Problems and Control. The crime rate is low. The judiciary system is based on the British legal system. The death penalty is imposed for drug smuggling, and caning is still used as a punishment. In addition, there are fines or other penalties for a wide range of transgressions, such as throwing litter on the floor, urinating in the elevator, and engaging in politics outside registered political parties.
Military Activity. Both military and civil defense are well developed, and the armed forces are equipped. Two and a half years of compulsory military service are required for males.
Social Welfare and Change Programs
Social welfare is financed through the Central Provident Fund (CPF), a public savings scheme. Employees under age 55 and their employers contribute a fixed amount of a worker's salary into an individual account administered by the CPF. This account provides financial security for old age and can be drawn on for housing and medical and educational costs. Charity is an important aspect of the financing of social welfare. Care of the old, sick, and disabled is in the hands of families and relatives. Three different agencies provide some social services for members of the three ethnic groups. Independent social work units also carry out some social work.
Nongovernmental Organizations and Other Associations
Many of the nearly five thousand registered societies are directly or indirectly linked to the government. Among the rest, very few can be defined as
Workers riding bicycles to Sembahong Shipyard, one of the two repair facilities in Singapore. Cars are a symbol of wealth and status.
Workers riding bicycles to Sembahong Shipyard, one of the two repair facilities in Singapore. Cars are a symbol of wealth and status.
nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in a strict sense, but they form the basis of the civil society. A pattern of division according to ethnic distinction exists, but there are many nonethnic associations and societies.
Gender Roles and Statuses
Nearly 80 percent of men and about 50 percent of women are employed. Women have joined the workforce in large numbers but are underrepresented in leadership positions in all areas and institutions.
Marriage, Family, and Kinship
Marriage. Polygamy is allowed among Muslim Malays, but otherwise monogamy is the rule. Interethnic marriages are not common. Divorce is becoming more common. The average age at first marriage has increased, and it is customary for young people to live with their parents until they marry.
Domestic Unit. The basic household unit is the nuclear family, which constituted 85 percent of resident households in 1990. Close links with relatives on both the husband's and the wife's sides are usually maintained. The proportion of households without a family nucleus shrank from 26 percent in 1957 to 8 percent in 1980, reflecting the changes from an immigrant to a settled population. Males dominate as heads of households.
Inheritance. Traditionally, sons inherited family assets, while daughters were expected to marry out of the family. This pattern is less common today.
Kin Groups. Kin groups play a significant role in all ethnic groups, and people often move within wide networks of relatives. Privately, kin groups are important, but politically and economically, they play a marginal role.
Socialization
Infant Care. Children are brought along in most situations except business and very formal events. Small children are showered with affection. Generally, children are expected to be quiet and obedient and may be physically punished for misbehaving. There is very little free space where children can play and few areas designed specially for children.
Child Rearing and Education. Children are thought to hold the key not only to their own future but also to the future of their families, and education is regarded as extremely important. There is a range of private and public nurseries, kindergartens, and play schools. Children start school at age six.
Higher Education. There is a great emphasis on higher education. Children spend six years in primary school and four years in secondary school and then go on to a vocational school or university, depending on their grades (a sure way to higher education in Singapore) or money (a university education abroad). Competition for entrance to the best schools is fierce.
Etiquette
Older people ideally are treate
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