Singapore (1819-present)
A Singapore (1819-present) is a Southeast Asian island city-state located at 1.3521° N and 103.8198° E.
- Context:
- It can (typically) have a Singapore Population (with official languages including English, Malay, Mandarin, and Tamil).
- It can (typically) be influenced by the Straits of Malacca system.
- It can (often) maintain Colonial Architecture in its historic districts, civic buildings, and other heritage structures.
- It can (often) showcase Multicultural Heritage through its institutions and policies.
- ...
- It can serve as a Sovereign City-State since independence from Malaysia (after 1965).
- It can feature Modern Urban Development including public housing, port facilities, and urban infrastructure (after 1960).
- It can include Singapore Regions such as Singapore Island, satellite islands, and reclaimed land.
- It can function as a Global Hub with financial services, shipping, and aviation (after 1970).
- It can experience Development Challenges including land scarcity, aging population, and external dependence.
- It can serve as a regional center for finance, trade, education, and technology.
- ...
- Example(s):
- Singapore (1819), established as British trading post by Stamford Raffles.
- Singapore (1867), becoming British crown colony under Straits Settlements.
- Singapore (1942-1945), under Japanese occupation.
- Singapore (1959), achieving self-governance.
- Singapore (1963-1965), joining and separation from Malaysia.
- Singapore (1965), gaining independence.
- Singapore (1990), transition of leadership to Goh Chok Tong.
- Singapore (2015), celebrating 50 years of independence.
- ...
- Counter-Example(s):
- Hong Kong, a Special Administrative Region without sovereignty.
- Dubai, a city-state with different governance model.
- Monaco, a European microstate with different economic base.
- Brunei, a Southeast Asian state with different resource wealth.
- Macau, an Asian city with different political status.
- See: Commonwealth of Nations, Majulah Singapura, Singapore Government, Port of Singapore, Singaporean Culture, Public Housing, Economic Development.
References
- ...
- QUOTE: ... The city-state’s informal motto is to avoid dangers, seize opportunities and maximise the space for manoeuvre. One diplomat sums up this mantra more earthily: “Either get out of harm’s way or hitch a ride.” ...
2022
- (Wikipedia, 2022) ⇒ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singapore Retrieved:2022-3-6.
- Singapore, officially the Republic of Singapore, is a sovereign island city-state in maritime Southeast Asia. It lies about one degree of latitude () north of the equator, off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, bordering the Straits of Malacca to the west, the Riau Islands (Indonesia) to the south, and the South China Sea to the east. The country's territory is composed of one main island, 63 satellite islands and islets, and one outlying islet, the combined area of which has increased by 25% since the country's independence as a result of extensive land reclamation projects. It has the third greatest population density in the world. With a multicultural population and recognising the need to respect cultural identities, Singapore has four official languages; English, Malay, Mandarin, and Tamil. English is the lingua franca. Multiracialism is enshrined in the constitution and continues to shape national policies in education, housing, and politics.
Modern Singapore was founded in 1819 by Sir Stamford Raffles as a trading post of the British Empire. In 1867, the colonies in Southeast Asia were reorganised and Singapore came under the direct control of Britain as part of the Straits Settlements. During the Second World War, Singapore was occupied by Japan in 1942, and returned to British control as a separate crown colony following Japan's surrender in 1945. Singapore gained self-governance in 1959 and in 1963 became part of the new federation of Malaysia, alongside Malaya, North Borneo, and Sarawak. Ideological differences led to Singapore being expelled from the federation two years later and it became an independent country.
After early years of turbulence and despite lacking natural resources and a hinterland, the nation rapidly developed to become one of the Four Asian Tigers based on external trade, becoming a highly developed country; it is ranked ninth on the UN Human Development Index and has the second-highest GDP per capita (PPP) in the world. Singapore is the only country in Asia with a AAA sovereign rating from all major rating agencies. It is a major financial and shipping hub, has consistently ranked the most expensive city to live in since 2013, and has been identified as a tax haven. Singapore is placed highly in key social indicators: education, healthcare, quality of life, personal safety, and housing, with a home-ownership rate of 91 percent. Singaporeans enjoy one of the world's longest life expectancies, fastest Internet connection speeds, one of the lowest infant mortality rates in the world and low levels of corruption.
Singapore is a unitary parliamentary republic with a Westminster system of unicameral parliamentary government. While elections are considered generally free, the government exercises significant control over politics and society, and the People's Action Party has ruled continuously since independence. One of the five founding members of ASEAN, Singapore is also the headquarters of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Secretariat and Pacific Economic Cooperation Council (PECC) Secretariat, as well as many international conferences and events. Singapore is also a member of the United Nations, World Trade Organization, East Asia Summit, Non-Aligned Movement, and the Commonwealth of Nations.
- Singapore, officially the Republic of Singapore, is a sovereign island city-state in maritime Southeast Asia. It lies about one degree of latitude () north of the equator, off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, bordering the Straits of Malacca to the west, the Riau Islands (Indonesia) to the south, and the South China Sea to the east. The country's territory is composed of one main island, 63 satellite islands and islets, and one outlying islet, the combined area of which has increased by 25% since the country's independence as a result of extensive land reclamation projects. It has the third greatest population density in the world. With a multicultural population and recognising the need to respect cultural identities, Singapore has four official languages; English, Malay, Mandarin, and Tamil. English is the lingua franca. Multiracialism is enshrined in the constitution and continues to shape national policies in education, housing, and politics.