摘要
新加坡在建国之初,移民人口众多且民族结构复杂,各民族分块居住且隔阂较深,民族认同与国家认同之间张力明显。但新加坡通过政治、经济、文化、社会等综合措施,有效地协调了各单元民族之间的关系、各单元民族与国家的关系,逐渐探索出推进民族交往交流交融的模式,这一模式具有鲜明的特色,主要表现为:一是政党统领、政府推进;二是存异求同、多元一体;三是明确底线、厉行法治;四是因地制宜、注重实效;五是经济为先、多维并举。对新加坡推进民族交往交流交融的模式进行考察与分析,能够为多民族国家处理民族问题提供借鉴,对新时代加强中华民族共同体建设亦有启发。
In the years just after Singapore was founded,it had a large immigrant population and a complex structure of ethnicities and nationalities.The ethnic groups lived separately and there were deep spaces between them.The tension between ethnic identity and national identity was very clear.However,by taking a comprehensive set of measures from the aspect of politics,economy,culture and society,the government effectively coordinated the relationships among the ethnic groups,and the relationship between the ethnic groups and the state.The Singapore model for promoting exchange and interaction among different ethnic groups gradually was formed.An investigation and analysis of the Singapore model for promoting exchange and interaction among different ethnic groups can provide a reference for multi-ethnic countries on how to deal with ethnic issues.Ⅰ.The main characteristics of the ethnic issues in the early years after the founding of Singapore Singapore was faced with complex ethnic issues at the beginning of its founding,including a large immigrant population and complex ethnic structure;a long history of colonization and deep gaps between ethnic groups;and obvious tension between ethnic identity and national identity.1)The large immigrant population and the complex ethnic structure Singapore is located in the world s main maritime shipping route.Its seaport conditions are superior,and accordingly,it became an important international port for trans-shipment.Many civilizations of the world converged here,something which caused the Singapore s population to be dominated by immigrants and their descendants,and in the process created a multi-ethnic population.2)Ethnic groups lived in separate blocks with deep estrangement When Singapore was first founded,the ethnic groups were isolated from each other.This influenced the trust between them,and created a lot of contradictions among them.As soon as the British colonists came to Singapore,they stipulated that the ethnic groups live separately,adopting a strategy of divide and rule.Accordingly,different ethnic groups conducted their activities mainly within their respective residential areas.This helped to sustain each group s distinctive cultural features,but it resulted in a lack of communication and fusion among the different ethnic groups,even leading to serious misunderstandings among them.In February 1942,the Japanese army began its occupation of and rule in Singapore for three and a half years.During this time,due to the British colonists“divide and rule”strategy,the Japanese aggressors created serious historical problems with regard to the ethnic relations in Singapore.3)The tension between ethnic identity and national identity Singapore is a typical emigrant country,which means that immigrants have profound feelings for their motherlands.However,at the same time,during the past hundred years of colonial history,there were no severe conflicts between Singapore and the colonial mother country.Therefore,there was a lack of external pressure for the ethnic groups to strive for common goals or any internal motivation for the independence.Under the dark rule of Japan,the jealousy between the ethnic groups was very serious,and the common foundation for founding of the nation was weak.The independence of Singapore was not a result of the common struggle among all ethnic groups in the region,but a choice they could do nothing about.So,the sense of national identity and belonging for the ethnic groups was weak.Ⅱ.The main content of the Singapore model for“promoting the exchange and interaction among the different ethnic groups”The Singapore government has always attached strong importance to ethnic relations,and it created a set of comprehensive political,economic,cultural and social measures to promote the exchange and interaction among ethnic groups.These effectively harmonized the relationships between ethnic groups,and the relationship between the ethnic groups and the state.1)Consolidating the material basis of the exchanges and interactions among the different ethnic groups.Firstly,the government takes development of economy and strengthening the economic power of the country as its primary task.The Singapore government clearly realizes that the prosperity and strength of a nation is the foundation of people s sense of national identity.Therefore,in the process of dealing with ethnic issues,the government has always put economic construction first.It has made remarkable achievements in economic development,through which the sense of peoples self-confidence and national identity has been enhanced.The economic development also provided strong financial support for the implementation of all ethnic policies.Secondly,the Singapore government advocates co-construction and sharing in order to strengthen economic ties of national unity.The government encourages people of all ethnic groups to live on their own and take part in the national economic construction.At the same time,the government is committed to improving the living conditions of the people,and gradually establishing a strong social security system.In the past fifty years since its founding,the degree of people s participation in the economic construction has been high,and their living conditions have fundamentally improved.During this process,a solid economic link between ethnic groups and nations has been established.Thirdly,the government provides policy support for the development of disadvantaged groups to avoid the contradictions caused by imbalanced development.In order to promote the development of the Malay people,the government made positive efforts,and adopting an ongoing support policy.Through this policy the psychological disparity and sense of alienation of the Malay in the process of rapid economic development was alleviated,and the jealousy and contradictions among all ethnic groups have also been avoided.2)Providing political guarantees for the exchange and interaction among the different ethnic groups.Firstly,the equal status of all ethnic groups in the law was made clear.At the beginning when Singapore was founded,the principle of ethnic equality was determined in the form of law,and the disadvantaged ethnic groups were given preferential treatment.It fundamentally guaranteed the equal status of all ethnic groups,and set the overall tone of“unity in diversity”for ethnic relations in Singapore.Secondly,the government guaranteed equal political rights for all ethnic groups.The ruling party paid much attention to its multi ethnic flavor,and played the role of spokesperson for all the people of Singapore.The ruling party carried out the policy of taking care of the interests of the minority nationalities,and actively promoted the diversity of ethnic groups in government agencies.It also took measures to ensure the seats of the minorities in Congress.Thirdly,in the process of formulating foreign policy,the national feelings of the nation were fully taken into account.The government actively sought relationships with its neighbors,and the establishment of ASEAN.The government always focused on improving relations with Malaysia and Indonesia while dealing cautiously with their relationship with China.3)Consolidating the cultural foundation of the exchange and interaction among the different ethnic groups.Firstly,the Singapore Government respects the different traditional cultures and religions of all ethnic groups.The government attaches great importance to the cultural heritage of all ethnic groups,and,therefore,all ethnic groups have maintained their distinctive cultural features.The government adopted an equal and inclusive religious policy,which does not set up a state religion.It strictly implements the policy of the separation of religion from politics;strictly prohibits all words and deeds that incite religious conflicts,and advocates common moral concepts among all religious believers.Secondly,the government pursues bilingual policies vigorously,and deals with the language issues carefully.At the beginning of the founding of Singapore,the government explicitly declared Malay,Chinese,Tamil and English as the official languages of the state,and established English as the working language of the government.This multi-lingual system has been formally implemented since 1966,and it requires all people to be proficient in the use of English,as well as to learn the language of the ethnic groups.Thirdly,the government advocates common values,and firmly establishes national identity.At the beginning of its founding,in order to make members of different ethnic groups realize that they are not only a member of the ethnic group,but also a member of the state,the government formulated a national convention and carried out various activities to cultivate national consciousness.In 1991,the Singapore Congress approved the White Paper on Common Values,which established the common values of the Singaporean people.4)Improving the social environment of the exchange and interaction among the different ethnic groups.Firstly,the government actively constructs the concept of the embedded community,and created a distribution pattern of mixed ethnic groups.The government began to build public,rental housing on a large scale in order to realize the commitment of“everyone has housing”.The government also stipulated that residential areas must be allocated proportionately to the residents of different ethnic groups.So,in this way,all ethnic groups began to live together.Secondly,the government strictly restricted social groups and weakens their“ethnic color”.There is a special law to restrict all social groups in Singapore,and the major organizations are under the control of the government.At the same time,the government of Singapore also intends to weaken the“ethnic color”of the associations.For those ethnic groups which were formed historically,the government weakens them by various means until they disappear.Thirdly,the government strengthens the supervision of the media,and creates a good environment for public opinion.Ⅲ.The main characteristics of the Singapore model for promoting the exchange and interaction among the different ethnic groups.1)Led by the ruling party and promoted by the government It is a distinctive feature of Singapore s politics that a strong government is led by a strong party.The formulation of various ethnic policies in Singapore reflects the will of the People s Action Party.The implementation of various ethnic policies is the result of the government s vigorous promotion.The ruling party and the government are the leading forces in dealing with the ethnic problems in Singapore,and cannot be dealt with by any other forces.2)seeking common ground for differences,and diversity in unity The government has never tried to assimilate ethnic groups within a certain ethnic culture,but fully recognizes and respects the differences of languages,cultures,religions and customs of all ethnic groups.They further retain the model of the coexistence of multi-ethnic groups,multi-religions,multiple languages and multiculturalism.The Singapore government is trying to shape Singapore as a new nation,and actively nurtures all ethnic groups national identity in Singapore,so as to enhance the overall cohesion within the country and maintain national unity and social stability.3)making a clear baseline and strictly enforces the legal rule In Singapore,ethnic issues are extremely sensitive,and it is a forbidden area that no one can touch.Singapore is known to have severe laws,the relevant departments in the enforcement process are very strict,and any violations of the law will be severely punished.Once someone approaches the bottom line of ethnic issues,he/she will bear serious consequences.4)adapting to local conditions,and focusing on actual results Singaporean leaders have always opposed blindly imitating foreign models.Instead,they have taken full account of their history and reality,domestic affairs and diplomacy,and promulgated various ethnic policies according to their own local conditions.To deal with ethnic relations practically,a strategy of ethnic integration suited to their national conditions has been gradually explored.5)puting the economy first while paying attention to other aspects as well.The government of Singapore has always taken economic construction as the top priority,and regards economic development as a fundamental solution to the problem of ethnic issues.By vigorously developing the economy,improving the living conditions of the people,and reducing the economic gaps between all of the ethnic groups,the people s sense of national identity has improved significantly.At the same time,the government has made efforts in the political,cultural and social fields to reduce the various problems which derived from the rapid economic development.An investigation and analysis of the successful Singapore model can provide experience for multi-ethnic countries to promote the exchanges and interactions among different ethnic groups,and,as such,it has relevance for the construction of the Chinese national community.However,it is worth emphasizing here that in promoting the exchange and interaction among different ethnic groups one cannot directly copy the Singapore model.We must explore a way of promoting the exchange and interaction among different ethnic groups with Chinese characteristics based on Chinese history and reality.
作者
陶砥
Tao Di(School of Marxism,Wuhan University,Wuhan,430072,Hubei,China)
出处
《民族学刊》
CSSCI
北大核心
2018年第4期50-57,112-115,共9页
Journal of Ethnology
基金
国家社会科学基金项目"中国共产党治藏方略与西藏南亚大通道建设研究"(项目编号:6XDJ013)阶段性成果
关键词
新加坡
民族
交往交流交融
民族政策
民族工作
Singapore
ethnic groups
exchange and interaction
policies concerning ethnic groups
ethnic work
作者简介
陶砥,女,汉族,河南新乡人,武汉大学马克思主义学院博士研究生,研究方向:马克思主义中国化。
