Research@RSIS

Pro-social norms and practices that foster tolerance and acceptance of multiracial and multireligious diversities are important to maintaining a stable and cohesive society. To ensure Singapore's social fabric remains resilient to the increasingly polarised and uncertain global environment, the city-state assigns a premium to building a consensus on community behaviours that foster inclusion and harmonious living. While much has been shared and discussed on neighbourhood normative activities, not much has been researched on religious and racial practices, norms that promote or hinder multicultural understanding and empathy. Specifically, what are the community behaviours, rituals, and routines that foster interfaith contact and cohesion? What are the enabling conditions in the local environment that facilitate these activities? What social or built environmental features can mitigate or amplify tensions?

As societies become increasingly diverse, global events have the potential to drive societies apart. This is evident across ASEAN, where opinions have differed along religious and ethnic lines. To address these challenges, it is crucial to consistently track social cohesion among ASEAN states, which has been largely missing in the social cohesion literature. Using the adapted version of the Bertelsmann Stiftung Social Cohesion Framework, this study seeks to unveil the specific dimensions (i.e. social networks, connectedness, common good) that contribute to the degree of social cohesion in each ASEAN state. This study expands beyond previous research by examining individual-level factors (e.g., values) that influence social cohesion in ASEAN states, alongside country-level factors (e.g., GDP per capita, Human Development Index, Gini Coefficient, Gender Equality Index). The specificities of each society can thus be better elucidated, which may inform policy-making more effectively.