Books From University Presses

If you have a keen interest in understanding the academic evolution within Singapore's humanities and social sciences, this compilement of critical essays will serve as a valuable resource. Reflecting on a decade of scholarly work, it provides a nuanced perspective on the theoretical advancements and research gaps, particularly for those with an intellectual curiosity about the region's contribution to academia in a global context.

People within the Malay world hold strong but diverse opinions about the meaning of the word Melayu, which can be loosely translated as Malayness. Questions of whether the Filipinos are properly called "Malay", or the Mon-Khmer speaking Orang Asli in Malaysia, can generate heated debates. So too can the question of whether it is appropriate to speak of a kebangsaan Melayu (Malay as nationality) as the basis of membership within an aspiring postcolonial nation-state, a political rather than a cultural community embracing all residents of the Malay states, including the immigrant Chinese and Indian population.In Melayu: The Politics, Poetics and Paradoxes of Malayness, the contributors examine the checkered, wavering and changeable understanding of the word Melayu by considering hitherto unexplored case studies dealing with use of the term in connection with origins, nations, minority-majority politics, Filipino Malays, Riau Malays, Orang Asli, Straits Chinese literature, women's veiling, vernacular television, social dissent, literary women, and modern Sufism. Taken as a whole, this volume offers a creative approach to the study of Malayness while providing new perspectives to the studies of identity formation and politics of ethnicity that have wider implications beyond the Southeast Asian region.

If you're intrigued by the complex tapestry of cultures in modern societies, this book provides a deep dive into Singapore's multiethnic landscape. Ah Eng Lai's meticulous study offers insights not just into how a diverse nation builds its collective identity, but also into the personal significance of ethnicity for individuals. Taking you from intimate, detailed ethnography to broader socio-political discussions, it carves out an understanding of ethnic relations that's both nuanced and highly relevant in today's world.

Changing Landscapes of Singapore illuminates both the social and the physical terrains of modern Singapore. Geographers use the term landscape to refer to visible surfaces and to the spatial dimension of social relations. Landscapes arise from particular historical circumstances, and in turn help shape social arrangements and possible courses of future development. The authors describe how the settings inhabited by various social groups in Singapore affect life experiences, and explore the impact of broader regional and international forces on Singapore. Written for non-specialists, the volume reflects fresh perspectives from the scholarship of Singaporean academics. Their work is sensitive to historical and geographical trends in the region, and also engages with broader theoretical themes.