IPS SURVEY ON RACE, RELIGION, AND LANGUAGE

Synopsis:

Singapore’s reputation as a successful city-state has been built on its ability to thrive amidst differences. With a multi-ethnic resident population, our society is one that is brimming with diversity in cultures and languages. Against this backdrop, the IPS Survey on Race, Religion and Language seeks to provide insights into the state of our society, uncover emerging faultlines, and provide policy recommendations related to race, religion, and language. This survey is supported by OnePeople.sg and the National Heritage Board.

Based on the results of the latest installment of the IPS Survey on Language, Race, and Religion in 2018 as well as that from the 2013 installment, our researchers have deep-dived into three areas: (1) indicators of racial and religious harmony, (2) language proficiency and identity management issues in our society, and (3) faultlines in Singapore.


Indicators of Racial and Religious Harmony

This paper provides an update of the state of racial and religious relations in Singapore in 2018, using a series of indicators created by IPS and OnePeople.sg in 2013. A set of 10 indicators (such as the absence of minority discrimination in using public services; the presence of close inter-racial friendships, and levels of inter-racial and inter-religious social trust) were used to provide a comprehensive gauge on inter-racial and religious harmony in Singapore. The indicators were derived from a series of questions posed to respondents in the large-scale IPS Race, Religion and Language (RRL) Survey in 2013.

You may find out more about the findings from this report here.


Language proficiency, identity & management
 
Diversity in languages is a cornerstone of Singaporean identity; it plays an integral role in shaping our uniquely multicultural identity. Considering the complex interaction of a diverse range of factors in shaping and reshaping the linguistic landscape of Singapore, this report attempts to document the linguistic landscape and provide empirical data on on-going changes in the scene. This was done by analysing and comparing data from the IPS Survey on Language, Race and Religion across two different waves of data. The first survey generated 4,131 responses in 2013, while the second generated 4,015 responses in 2018. This allowed for the tracking of linguistic trends and changes across a span of five years. 

You may find out more about the findings from this report here.


Faultlines in Singapore: Public Opinion on their Realities, Management, and Consequences

Amidst continued spotlight on social cohesion and divisions in Singapore, this Faultlines in Singapore (FiS) paper examines the views of the local population on the implications of mismanaging across five key issue-spheres including 1) race; 2) religion; 3) class; 4) immigration; and 5) LGBT. Overall, the report found that the majority of Singaporeans are cognizant of the gravity of managing societal faultlines. This awareness highlights that Singapore has nurtured a population that does not take social harmony for granted, recognising the potential for undesirable outcomes even amidst relative social harmony and stability. In addition, perennial issues of race and religion are perceived to be adequately managed by the state; while a sizeable proportion of the population indicated the need for more state involvement and public discourse on issues of immigration, class and LGBT. 

You may find out more about the findings from the report here.


Principal Investigators: Dr Mathew Mathews