On 6 February 1972, then Minister for Foreign Affairs S. Rajaratnam delivered a speech titled “Singapore: Global City” at the Singapore Press Club. He had derived the idea of Singapore becoming a global city from British historian and classics scholar Arnold Toynbee.[1] In his speech, Rajaratnam outlined the strategy for transforming Singapore into a global city, and cautioned that the traditional role of Singapore as a key trading hub in Southeast Asia and as a marketplace of the region would gradually diminish in importance.[2] Singapore would, instead, become part of the world and its global economic system.[3]
Rajaratnam believed that the growth of Singapore as a global city had contributed to its economic success. The country managed to survive the separation from Malaysia, contrary to claims by naysayers that the country would collapse, as well as the withdrawal of British bases from Singapore. Rajaratnam supported his assertions with statistics, noting that while figures for entrepôt trade were on the decline, shipping and air statistics had increased – an indication that Singapore was closely and increasingly linked to other global cities. These links were enhanced by new communications technology.[4]
In his speech, Rajaratnam also touched on Singapore’s shipping industry, air transportation, telecommunications network, international financial network as well as the role of multinational corporations and the internationalisation of production. While all these were effective in speeding up Singapore’s economic development, Rajaratnam also warned of the possible political and economic risks the country would face as a part of the global economic system.[5]
Although his speech only addressed the economic aspects of Singapore as a global city, Rajaratnam also highlighted the political, social and cultural implications.[6] He believed that these were far more difficult to handle and may be the Achilles’ heel of emerging global cities. Rajaratnam ended the speech by urging the press to “equip our people intellectually and spiritually to make the global city now coming into being into the heavenly city that prophets and seers have dreamt about from time immemorial”.[7]
Forty years on, Rajaratnam’s speech was commemorated for its accuracy in presaging the rising global significance of cities, the emphasis on Singapore’s connectivity and hub status as well as the policy challenges that arose subsequently.[8]
References
1. Kwa, C. G. (Ed.). (2006). S Rajaratnam on Singapore: From ideas to reality (p. 270). Singapore: Singapore; Hackensack, N.J.: World Scientific: Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies. Call no.: RSING 327.5957 S.
2. Velayutham, S. (2007). Responding to globalization: Nation, culture and identity in Singapore (p. 83). Singapore: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. Call no.: RSING 305.80095957 VEL.
3. Velayutham, 2007, p. 92.
4. ‘Global city’ success for S’pore: Raja. (1972, February 7). The Straits Times, p. 1. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
5. The Straits Times, 7 Feb 1972, p. 1.
6. Why Singapore has not collapsed. (1972, February 7). The Straits Times, p. 11. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
7. The Straits Times, 7 Feb 1972, p. 11.
8. Heng, Y. K. (2012, February 6). Rajaratnam’s global city vision for S’pore vindicated 40 years on. The Straits Times. Retrieved from Factiva.
The information in this article is valid as at 2014 and correct as far as we are able to ascertain from our sources. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history of the subject. Please contact the Library for further reading materials on the topic.