A question of 'Chineseness' : the Chinese diaspora in Singapore 1819-1950s
This thesis is a study of the Chinese diaspora in Singapore from 1819 to the 1950s. It begins by situating the diasporic subject in a historical context, highlighting some of the key moments in the diaspora's development, such as the advent of colonialism during the nineteenth century, and the formation of an ethnic enclave in the settlement. The discussion then calls into question the construction of the Chinese subject in colonial discourses, and interrogates the ways in which the diasporic population was constituted within the framework of colonialism. The main purpose has been to examine how the diaspora in Singapore has evolved, and to explore the adequacies, or inadequacies, of existing diasporic theories in the ways they relate to the Chinese experience. This is achieved by recapitulating the theoretical implications of existing diaspora frameworks, and questioning the tensions and limitations generated by such discourses. Simultaneously, this study takes into consideration the construction of a &quot;Chinese identity&quot;, and does so by presenting possible ways of conceptualisng what it means to be &quot;Chinese&quot; for subjects of the diaspora. In discussing the extent to which the subject's sense
Ling-yin, Lynn Ang
Chinese Singapore Intellectual life 20th century ; China  History May Fourth movement, 1919 ; Singapore History
A question of 'Chineseness' : the Chinese diaspora in Singapore 1819-1950s. This thesis is a study of the Chinese diaspora in Singapore from 1819 to the 1950s. It begins by situating the diasporic subject in a historical context, highlighting some of the key moments in the diaspora's development, such as the advent of colonialism during the nineteenth century, and the formation of an ethnic enclave in the settlement. The discussion then calls into question the construction of the Chinese subject in colonial discourses, and interrogates the ways in which the diasporic population was constituted within the framework of colonialism. The main purpose has been to examine how the diaspora in Singapore has evolved, and to explore the adequacies, or inadequacies, of existing diasporic theories in the ways they relate to the Chinese experience. This is achieved by recapitulating the theoretical implications of existing diaspora frameworks, and questioning the tensions and limitations generated by such discourses. Simultaneously, this study takes into consideration the construction of a &quot;Chinese identity&quot;, and does so by presenting possible ways of conceptualisng what it means to be &quot;Chinese&quot; for subjects of the diaspora. In discussing the extent to which the subject's sense
question chineseness chinese diaspora singapore study chinese diaspora singapore begin situate diasporic subject historical_context highlight key_moment diaspora development advent colonialism formation ethnic settlement discussion call_question construction chinese subject colonial_discourse interrogates way diasporic population constitute within_framework colonialism main_purpose examine diaspora singapore evolve explore adequacy inadequacy exist diasporic theory way relate chinese experience achieve theoretical implication exist diaspora framework question tension limitation generate discourse simultaneously study take_consideration construction quot chinese identity quot present possible way mean quot chinese quot subject diaspora discuss extent subject sense