Neoliberal visions, post-capitalist memories: Heritage politics and the counter-mapping of Singapore’s cityscape

Abstract

This paper argues that the move towards a neoliberal vision of the city-state in the postindustrial era in Singapore has not gone unchallenged. With alternative resources of collective memory, the innovations of the social media and openings within the state dominated press, the authors seek to illustrate the process of counter-mapping of Singapore’s cityscape by conservation groups. The relationship between technological affordances and citizen aspirations are discussed informed by the ethnomethodological approach, where the focus of analysis is to understand the methods by which social actors use, interpret and make sense of their own actions. In this context, we draw on a series of case studies where citizens have counter-mapped to reflect their urban aspirations, and in the process, construct meanings around the actions of counter-mapping. In the hygienic futuristic neoliberal vision of a globally connected Singapore, conservationists are pushing for a post-capitalist and localized geo-cultural topographical imagination.

Producing and Contesting Meanings of Participation in Planning: The Case of Singapore (1985–2020)

“…The case of Bukit Brown was seen as “a possible turning point in civil society activism” as well as that in state-society relations, where the connectivity of cyberspace led to a sudden burst of intense activity and large-scale protests (Huang 2014, 25). Social networking websites like Facebook, as well as alternative media including blogs and online forums, became key technologies of collective mobilization and participation, enabling citizens to openly express critical opinions and oppose official government stances (Lee 2015; Liew & Pang 2015; Strand 2018; Tan & Low 2019). These technologies were accompanied by more conventional instruments such as walks, guided tours, planning proposals, position papers, press statements, reports, and formal objections to the draft master plan.…”

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“…For example, Yue (), a Singaporean feminist and queer scholar, framed Singapore's “illiberal pragmatism” as the particular meaning of citizenry within the confines (and openings) of the authoritarian state, presenting a more nuanced view of Singaporean self (and sexual) identity in which alternative and transgressive pathways can take shape despite (and because of) the level of state control. Meanwhile, Liew and Pang () highlighted ways in which Singapore's neoliberal state vision has been increasingly challenged, as contextually specific grassroots groups such as nature conservationists seek post‐capitalist and more localized approaches and imaginations. Lim () explored the construction of “habitus” as Singaporean artists take part in international arts festivals and events and are thus torn between cosmopolitan/global themes and networks and more grassroots, regional identities.…”

Worlding cities through transportation infrastructure

“…However, it should be noted that the State Government only made an outdated version of the SRS Consortium's original 'Request For Proposal for the PTMP', rather than the most recent and official plan for the PTMP. 3 For a discussion on the use (and limitations) of emergent forms of internet ethnography in studying urban aspirations amongst 'everyday' actors, seeLiew and Pang (2015). Names cited here are pseudonyms, unless otherwise requested by the person quoted.…”

“… 3 For a discussion on the use (and limitations) of emergent forms of internet ethnography in studying urban aspirations among ‘everyday’ actors, see Liew and Pang (2015). Names cited here are pseudonyms, unless otherwise requested by the person quoted.…”