The Singapore Armed Forces: A Narrative Analysis of Perceptions and Expectations
Oh, Lionel
2020
- The civil-military landscape in every country has its own unique form and contour, and Singapore’s is no different. Amidst the immutable constants that shape Singapore’s strategic culture, vulnerability has been one of the main underlying themes informing the threat perceptions of the country’s political establishment. The securitization of this vulnerability by the state has allowed it to introduce ... read moremany far-reaching policies over the years, with wide-ranging impacts on everyday life in Singapore. Some of these policies have led to the emergence of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) as a highly visible and prominent entity in Singapore society today, involved in numerous national functions beyond its primary responsibility as the agent of war for the state.In this vein, this thesis argues that a misalignment exists between the public and the state regarding the conception of the SAF’s role in Singapore society. This misalignment is due to a breakdown in the securitization process, stemming both from the agency of the public in that process and disparate understandings of vulnerability. As such, the misalignment occurs along differing narratives of the SAF as a warfighting instrument, a military-administrative apparatus, and a nation building element – all weighted differently by the public and the state. The findings of this thesis hint at potential political limitations in the way the state is able to effectively mobilize and deploy the SAF in future operations or times of war.read less
- ID:
- gq67k5552
- To Cite:
- TARC Citation Guide EndNote
- Usage:
- Detailed Rights
