Norming "Moderation" in an "Iconic Target": Public Policy and the Regulation of Religious Anxieties in Singapore

The maintenance of a "moderate mainstream" Muslim community as a bulwark against the fraying of harmonious ethnic relations has become a key governance concern post-September 11. In light of the global concern-and often paranoia-with diasporic Islam, Islamic religious institutions and civi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inTerrorism and political violence Vol. 19; no. 4; pp. 443 - 462
Main Author Tan, Eugene K. B.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Abingdon Taylor & Francis Group 01.12.2007
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Subjects
Anxiety
Civil Society
Governance
Interfaith relationships
Islam
Muslims
Public Policy
Regulation
Religion
Singapore
Terrorism
Singapore
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Summary:The maintenance of a "moderate mainstream" Muslim community as a bulwark against the fraying of harmonious ethnic relations has become a key governance concern post-September 11. In light of the global concern-and often paranoia-with diasporic Islam, Islamic religious institutions and civil society have been portrayed in the popular media as hotbeds of radicalism, promoters of hatred, and recruiters for a "conflict of civilization" between the Muslim world and the modern world. Having declared itself a terrorist's "iconic target," Singapore has taken a broad-based community approach in advancing inter-religious tolerance, including a subtle initiative to include the "Muslim civil society" in advancing the understanding and the promotion of a moderate brand of Islam in Singapore. This tacit process of regulation (top-down, intra-community and inter-community), while effective, is constrained by the unique governance context in Singapore.
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ISSN:0954-6553
1556-1836
DOI:10.1080/09546550701590610