What this lesson teaches
I can explain what an integration policy is and the tensions it can cause.
Syllabus K336, Issue 2, Guiding Question 3, Citizens and government responding to socio-cultural diversity. Integration policy and its tensions
Make a guess
Since 1989, HDB has limited how many people of each ethnic group can live in a block. Why do you think it does this?
- To keep people of different races living side by side.
- To make families in each block adopt one shared culture.
- To keep each ethnic group in its own separate estate.
Show the answer
To keep people of different races living side by side.
The Ethnic Integration Policy prevents enclaves. Daily contact in shared estates supports integration, though some owners find selling harder.
Integration builds a shared sense of belonging while letting people keep their own cultures.
Integration means people from different groups take part in society together while keeping their distinct identities. Singapore follows this approach.
Government can support a common language, shared institutions, fair access and chances to cooperate. Examples include bilingual education, where students learn English as a common language plus their mother tongue. Another is the Ethnic Integration Policy, introduced by HDB in 1989, which keeps a mix of ethnic groups in each HDB block and neighbourhood.
Integration needs effort from everyone. Individuals and groups build daily contact and joint activities. Newcomers learn about the wider society, while existing communities listen, include others and adapt where appropriate.
Keeping cultural differences is only half of integration. If groups stay apart without sharing in common life, integration has not happened. Common civic rules can sit alongside different languages, beliefs and practices. Inclusion also does not mean accepting every request without thinking of others.
Tensions can remain. People may disagree about shared rules, how space is used and what is fair. Accommodation means adjusting arrangements for different needs, such as meal choices or meeting times. Some residents may fear losing a familiar way of life. Others may feel left out or pushed to fit in. These worries need evidence and open talk. Calling a policy integration does not guarantee harmony.
- Integration
- Shared participation and belonging, while keeping distinct cultures.
- Bilingual education
- English as the common language, plus mother tongue.
- Ethnic Integration Policy
- HDB rule (1989) keeping ethnic mixes in blocks and neighbourhoods.
Real examples to use
Ethnic Integration Policy
Since 1989, HDB has limited the share of each ethnic group in a block and neighbourhood. This way, people of all races live side by side. A tension: some owners find it harder to sell their flat.
Bilingual policy
Students learn English as a common language and their Mother Tongue to keep their heritage.
Worked example: A mixed volunteer team
A government-supported programme puts residents of different backgrounds in mixed teams. They share a working language and safety rules but keep their own customs. They disagree about meeting times because of work and religious commitments, and agree on a rotating schedule.
- Shared rules and language build common ground.
- Members keep their own practices.
- Disagreements are worked out together: integration in action. Still, check who can actually take part before concluding that everyone feels included.
Watch out for this
Integration means making everyone the same, or leaving groups completely separate.
Integration is in between: shared participation and belonging, with cultural differences respected.
Check your understanding
How is integration different from assimilation?
- Integration is voluntary, while assimilation is what a government requires by law.
- Integration lets groups keep their cultures; assimilation asks them to drop them.
- Integration mixes groups in housing; assimilation mixes them in schools and at work.
Show the answer
Integration lets groups keep their cultures; assimilation asks them to drop them.
Right. That is the key difference.
Check your understanding
What is one tension created by the Ethnic Integration Policy?
- Ethnic groups end up in separate blocks because of the limits on each block.
- Residents are expected to give up some of their own customs to fit in with neighbours.
- Some owners find it harder to sell their flat to buyers from some ethnic groups, which limits their choice.
Show the answer
Some owners find it harder to sell their flat to buyers from some ethnic groups, which limits their choice.
The policy mixes neighbours, but limits some owners' choices.