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Photo of Changi Jewel, one of the most well known Singaporean landmarks, attracting international audiences

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Introduction on the globalization within Singapore

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Introduction on the globalization within Singapore

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Due to the globe's rapid advancements in technology and connectivity, globalization is becoming increasingly common in countries across the globe, allowing them to communicate and interconnect with each other. This makes cultural homogenization and cultural hybridization an increasingly common phenomenon within these countries, as their cultures will start to intertwine with one another after prolonged exposure. The same can be said with Singapore. Singapore is considered by many to be an international country, with multiple different countries and cultures existing within Singapore. Before all the globalization, Singapore was a simple country, with only a few different cultures existing within it. These cultures mainly include Chinese, Malay, and Indian, with them all intertwining together in order to form Singaporean culture. However, recently, globalization has swept through Singapore as it did to the rest of the world, integrating many new cultures into Singapore. Due to this globalization, many people believe that globalization is causing cultures to diffuse into one another, causing integration in all the cultures in the world into one culture, creating new cultural norms that are a mixture of the homogenized cultures previous norms. Some people believe that cultural homogenization and hybridization is a revolutionary process that brings the world closer one step at a time. However, others believe that this strips away a culture’s individuality and identity. Although Singapore is considered a global hub due to the multiple different international cuisines and architectural styles, the country is still preserving its own culture, negating cultural diffusion and allowing Singaporean culture to remain as it has throughout history.

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Bayfront Avenue, Marina Bay Sands Singapore, Singapore

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A picture of a Din Tai Fung restaurant in Singapore, showing how globalization has influenced Singapore's food and beverage sectors.

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The various effects that globalization has had on Singapore's food and beverage industries

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The various effects that globalization has had on Singapore's food and beverage industries

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Singapore is a country that has a variety of cuisines, which includes both local dishes such as chicken rice, laksa, etc. as well as international dishes that are mainly sourced via globalization. One piece of evidence that supports this can be seen through the food industry that exists within Singapore. Singapore’s food industry used to mainly consist of street foods, hawker stalls, and kopitiams (Coffee Shops). In the 1970s many western fast food chains entered Singapore’s food industry, with these chains gaining significant momentum in the 1980s and the 1990s. This was mainly due to the fact that fast food allows customers to have a quick and convenient meal, increasing the popularity of this culinary style. This allowed for fast food in Singapore to grow increasingly popular. However, this glocalization has also made the fast food industry within Singapore extremely competitive. This is due to the sheer number of major fast food chains that have entered Singapore. Thus, many major fast food chains such as A&W, Taco Bell, and many other fast food chains were forced to shut down in Singapore due to this fierce competition. Another aspect within the food industry that has been impacted through globalization are the international restaurants within Singapore. Currently, there are 1.56 million international students and dependents residing in Singapore in 2022 (Government of Singapore). Due to this substantial number of international people, there is a demand for international cuisines in order to fit the demands of the international people. This has significantly influenced the food scene within Singapore, and in 1998, approximately 40% of all restaurants served international cuisine (Kong), with this percentage, as well as the number of restaurants serving international food continuing to grow consistently. The growth of international cuisine within Singapore is further exemplified by the fact that the expected GDP of the food and drink industry in 2023 is $13.5 billion, more than twice that of the previous year's $5.26 billion revenue (IndSights Research). The numerous international cultures are not only limited to South East Asia, but also includes cuisines from other regions such as Europe, Central and South America, and The United States. Some examples of international cuisine within Singapore include Din Tai Fung, Ichibanboshi, P.S Cafe, etc. The majority of high end restaurants serve international cuisines as well, with almost all of the high end restaurants in Singapore being international, with very minimal amounts of high end authentic Singaporean food options. This demonstrates the magnitude of how much globalization has affected the food industry within Singapore, and how the food available to Singaporean consumers are tailored to fit their individual tastes. The final way in which globalization has affected Singapore into culturally hybridizing can be seen through the medium of bubble tea. The bubble tea market within Southeast Asia is massive, with approximately US$3.66 billion being spent by consumers every year. Although Singapore has a small population of 5.64 million as of June 2022 (Government of Singapore), they have the 4th largest consumers of bubble tea within Southeast Asia, spending approximately US$342 million a year solely on bubble tea (CNA). This shows that globalization had initiated bubble tea, and that glocalization propelled it even further, to the point that consumers living in Singapore spend $342 million on bubble tea. This was mainly done through allowing customers to choose their sugar levels of the drinks, which allowed consumers to alter the healthiness of the drink, further appealing to the consumers. Additionally, bubble tea in Singapore is said to be almost double the price of other countries. This shows how the popularity of bubble tea has increased the demand significantly, to the point where even if the price of bubble tea is substantially higher than the rest of the region, consumers will still buy it, further embedding Taiwan’s culture into Singapore’s.

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A picture of a hawker stall within Chinatown Complex Hawker centre, the largest hawker centre in Singapore with over 700 stalls.

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The preservation of Singapore's unique hawker culture 

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The preservation of Singapore's unique hawker culture 

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Even though globalization has started to cause Singapore to culturally homogenize with other countries within the food and beverage industry, there are still numerous ways within the food and beverage industry in which Singapore is preserving their cultural heritage, negating cultural diffusion as well as cultural imperialism. One key example of this can be seen through the numerous hawker centers that are scattered across Singapore. There are over 110 hawker centers across Singapore, with most of these hawker centers being located near either public housing or neighborhood centers, as well as business districts and recreational districts (Roots). Although similar food courts can be found in neighboring countries within Southeast Asia, they are all distinct, having their own cultural influences as well as their own socio-economic functions, with Singapore’s hawker centers being no exception. The size of a hawker center varies, with some centers having several hundred stalls while smaller ones around a dozen stalls. However, these hawker centers all have something in common, and that is the fact that they are all key stepping stones in preserving Singaporean food culture. This is because the food that is sold within hawker centers are all traditional Singaporean foods or are foods that are comprised of the multiple original cultures residing within Singapore which include Chinese, Malay, and Indian cultures. This is then paired with the fact that hawker centers are a location to socialize, allowing citizens to create deeper bonds with one another, which has created Singapore’s unique hawker culture. Hawker culture is shared by both the people who create the food, as well as the people who dine at the hawker centers, creating a deep emotional bond between them as they corroborate while enjoying something that they all enjoy. Through this deep emotional bond, paired with the constant positive experiences from hawker centers as well as the affordable prices, many Singaporean citizens continue to dine at hawker centers, allowing Singapore to preserve their hawker centers as there will be a constant stream of Singaporean citizens dining at these hawker centers, widening the horizon for hawker culture within Singapore. Another way that hawker centers are being preserved is through heritage. Although there is a struggle to find new hawkers due to the diverse job opportunities that Singapore offers, there are many third and fourth generation hawkers who are taking over their family business. There are also a significant number of apprentices and acquaintances who learn from previous stall owners, learning all of the various culinary techniques in order to recreate their signature dishes. Hawkers generally have a signature dish, which they usually showcase using multiple different cooking methods. Some of these signature dishes include laksa, chicken rice, fried rice, and many more. By learning from previous stall owners, the new generation of hawkers are able to continue the legacy, preserving hawker culture, and cementing it as one of Singaporean cultures defining characteristics. The final way in which hawker culture is being preserved and negating the effects of globalization is through the organizations that assist in preserving hawker culture. There are many different measures implemented from many different groups and organizations that are attempting to preserve and revitalize hawker culture to how it once was. These groups include community groups, government agencies, private sector organizations, non-government organizations (NGO) as well as individuals (Roots). From these multiple different groups, there are various efforts to sustain hawker culture within Singapore. For example, Slow Food Singapore, an NGO valuing local food heritage, has been involved in several workshops and programmes in order to promote hawker culture. Other examples include the “Incubation Stall Programme” which was created by the NEA (National Environmental Agency) in order to promote younger hawkers, as well as supporting aspiring new hawkers, preparing them for the business. These are both prime examples of some of the numerous different campaigns that have been organized by various groups that aim to preserve hawker culture. By doing this, they are able to effectively preserve hawker culture as they continuously raise awareness about hawker culture as well as support upcoming hawkers, preparing them for the hawker business, and hopefully allowing them to pass on their culinary techniques to future generations. These programs all assist in negating cultural imperialism as they help preserve the hawker culture in Singapore, allowing hawker culture to be sustained for generations to come.

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Stamford Road, National Museum of Singapore, Singapore

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A picture of the National Museum of Singapore taken by Conde Nest Traveler

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The preservation of Singaporean buildings and architecture even throughout the surge in globalization.

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The preservation of Singaporean buildings and architecture even throughout the surge in globalization.

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Although there are multiple aspects of Singapore’s architecture that proves globalization is taking effect, there are still various ways in which architecture and buildings within Singapore have not globalized, staying separate from cultural hybridization and homogenization, retaining its individuality. This can be observed through Singapore’s traditional housing being preserved. Prior to Singapore’s architectural surge in modernity, Singaporean infrastructure primarily consisted of Kampongs (Village dock houses), which then progressed into Peranakan Shophouses. These Peranakan shophouses acted as both a residency as well as a commercial business, allowing merchants to sell products to consumers, whilst not having to be anxious about residency and transportation to and from work. These Peranakan shophouses are very distinct and distinguished, having a vibrant color scheme, elaborate doors, wooden shutters and gold Chinese characters on the black sign boards (InsightGuides). Although these shophouses are no longer utilized for their numerous benefits for merchants, they are still being preserved, which is primarily done through the repurposing of these Peranakan shophouses. The plentiful number of Peranakan shophouses scattered throughout Singapore have been remodeled and renovated into shops, boutique hotels, and high-end restaurants (VisitSoutheastAsia). Through these repurposes, Peranakan shophouses are able to be preserved, retaining Singapore’s architectural culture, whilst also serving a multitude of different benefits that allow Peranakan shophouses to stay relevant even throughout this surge of cultural homogenization. Another way in which Singapore is able to preserve their architectural cultural heritage is through the preservation and rehabilitation of historic sites and monuments. Throughout Singapore’s vast history, numerous events have shaped the way and paved a path for Singapore to follow, with some of these events leaving behind historic landmarks that are preserved to this day. Some of these landmarks include Raffles Institution, Silat Road Temple, Elgin Bridge, and many more (BiblioAsia). These landmarks have all been preserved by the URA (Urban Redevelopment Agency), who introduced guidelines in order to allow developers to safely conserve their properties whilst also preserving historic sites within Singapore. These guidelines vary based on three main categories. The historic districts, the residential historic districts, and the secondary settlements. The historic districts include Boat Quay, Chinatown, Kampong Glam and Little India, the residential historic districts include Blair Plain, Cairnhill and Emerald Hill, and the secondary settlements include Balestier, Beach Road, Geylang, Jalan Besar, Jalan Jurong Kechil, Joo Chiat, Mount Sophia, River Valley, Tanjong Katong,Upper Circular Road and Tiong Bahru (URA). The guidelines were also very thorough and detailed, providing different guidelines for the different categories, based on the cultural significance that the buildings had. This extensiveness in guidelines demonstrate the lengths in which the URA is taking in order to efficiently preserve historic heritage sites within Singapore. These guidelines were enacted in 1987, when the URA initiated a project that aimed to restore 32 dilapidated shophouses in Tanjong Pagar. This shophouse rejuvenation was a segment of a larger programme aimed to restore 220 state-owned shophouses within the vicinity. This project also sought to educate the general public on the importance of cultural heritage preservation. This project was also the introduction into the restoration of heritage sites, proving that restorations were both possible as well as commercially viable.The URA also launched their master plan in 1989, creating Singapore’s first historic districts that were mentioned above. The planning act was subsequently amended and that was the birth of the URA’s development guidelines (BiblioAsia). This continuity of the URA’s numerous successful attempts at conserving heritage sites shows how Singapore has not been negating cultural homogenization and hybridization that is a product of globalization. This also shows the valiant lengths and effort that Singapore initiates in order to retain their cultural heritage. Thus, it can be assumed that they will continue this practice, not allowing cultural diffusion to allow Singapore to homogenize with other cultures into one massive culture. The final way in which Singapore is preserving their cultural heritage in the architectural sector is through museums. The National Museum of Singapore was built in 1849, and has continuously upheld its position as a medium to communicate Singaporean culture to the new generation (National Museum of Singapore). Although countless museums overseas have renovated themselves in order to form uniformity with other countries such as the Medieval Mile Museum (Architizer), the National Museum of Singapore has conserved its design, ensuring it pairs well with the various artifacts of Singaporean heritage that are placed within the museum. The museum is also an important piece of Singaporean architecture that has shaped its culture, being an effective medium in communicating Singaporean culture to newer generations, whilst retaining its traditionality and authenticity, allowing it to flourish even throughout this surge of globalization. The points mentioned above effectively demonstrate how Singapore is constantly preserving its culture, negating cultural diffusion, and allowing it to thrive individually even throughout this surge in cultural homogenization across the world. The points mentioned above effectively demonstrate how Singapore is constantly preserving its culture, negating cultural diffusion, and allowing it to thrive individually even throughout this surge in cultural homogenization across the world.

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Photograph of the Helix Bridge, demonstrating the modernity of recent Singaporean architecture

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Globalizations effect on Singapore's building and architectural sectors

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Globalizations effect on Singapore's building and architectural sectors

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Singapore’s food and beverage industry is not the only industry that has been affected by globalization. Singapore’s architecture and building sectors have also been a significant part in Singapore’s culture and history. Similar to the food and beverage business, the building and architecture sector of Singapore has also been significantly impacted due to globalization. This can be seen within the increase in modern buildings. In Singapore, there are a variety of modern landmarks that are admired internationally. Some of these architectural demonstrations include the Helix Bridge, Gardens by the Bay, and Marina Bay Sands. These milestones are all prime examples of globalization. This is because as countries start to interconnect with one another, they tend to urbanize, modernizing their architectural styles. This is mainly due to the fact that the less economically developed countries acquire characteristics from western countries (Mainly European), making countries feel inferior and incomplete if they do not encompass the modernity of the western countries (Saneda). The same can be said in Singapore’s case, where globalization has established a cultural norm of modernization within Singaporean architecture, causing Singapore’s traditional building styles to slowly diminish, transforming into a modern and simplistic architectural style that is beloved by many. In the past, Singapore’s architectural style primarily consisted of vernacular Malay houses, shophouses, as well as black and white bungalows (Wikiwand). However, recently Singapore’s architectural style has shifted and morphed into a modern style, accompanying the various western architectural styles that exist. An example of this is the Helix Bridge. The Helix Bridge is a pedestrian bridge that was collaboratively created by Cox Architecture and Architects 61. The Helix Bridge mimics the construction of a double helix DNA, using stainless steel in order to create the frame, and uses fitted glass as well as perforated steel mesh in order to create a shelter for those walking across the bridge (Han). This modernity of the Helix Bridge has cemented itself as one of Singapore’s important landmarks, with many tourists coming to observe the beauty of this architectural milestone within Singapore’s infrastructure. There are many other modernized structures in Singapore such as Gardens by the Bay, Marina Bay Sands, Theaters on the Bay, and many more. This shows how the cultural homogenization of other urbanized countries has shaped the architectural style for Singapore, causing it to slowly mold into the cultural norms put in place from globalization. Another piece of evidence that supports how globalization has affected the architecture within Singapore can be seen through the numerous international educational centers. Due to Singapore’s globalization, numerous international citizens have come to Singapore to settle and work. This has caused an increase in international schools to meet the needs of these international Singaporean citizens. Although Singapore’s landmass is miniscule, it still has a substantial number of international schools, with approximately 90 international schools. These international schools provide a considerable number of curriculums to choose from, such as IB, UK, US, French, German, and Singaporean curricula (Allan). This shows how Singaporean architecture has shifted to include even the educational aspect of Singapore, incorporating the creation of various international schools to satisfy the demands of the growing international population within Singapore, which was caused due to globalization. The final way in which globalization has affected the architecture within Singapore is through the various highrise buildings and condominiums clustered within Singapore. As stated before, globalization has significantly diversified the international population of Singapore, as well as increasing the population of Singapore in general. In order to cater to this increasing population, Singapore has built a vast number of condominiums, with approximately 338,000 condominium and private apartment units in 2022, which is substantially higher than the 214,000 in 2013 (Statista). This demonstrates the sheer number of apartments that Singapore has had to build in order to sustain their growing international population, showing how globalization has forced Singapore’s architecture to mold into an architectural style that mostly focuses on catering to the international population, incrementally diminishing the prevalence of traditional Singaporean architecture.

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Saint Andrew's Road, Former City Hall, Singapore

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Picture of Marina Bay Sands, one of the most popular landmarks within Singapore, which was primarily built due to globalization

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To conclude, although Singapore has been evidently affected by numerous diverse international influences that have all imperialized multiple other cultures. However, Singapore has effectively negated this cultural imperialism through the use of various preservation methods which allow Singaporean culture to thrive individually, being extremely apparent and distinct, while also being able to coexist harmoniously within these international circumstances.