Race and Ethnicity (SOC269)

SOC269 Race and Ethnicity examines how race and ethnicity are socially constructed and how they shape everyday interactions, institutions, and policy across Singapore/Malaysia, Southeast Asia, and comparative global contexts. Students will engage classic and contemporary theories of inter-group relations, explore nation-building, citizenship, and multiculturalism, and analyse identity, boundary-making, media representation, crime and justice, migration, and workplace diversity. Emphasis is placed on applying concepts to real-world cases and professional settings, using evidence from research, official statistics, and lived experience to make sense of cooperation and conflict and to evaluate what works in building inclusion.

• Historical and contemporary definitions of race and ethnicity
• Classic & contemporary theories of race and ethnicity
• Colonialism, state formation, and historical legacies in Southeast Asia
• Nation-building, citizenship, and multiculturalism
• Identity, boundary-making, and belonging
• Intersectionality
• Media, culture, and algorithms
• Race/ethnicity and institutions
• Crime, policing, and justice
• Labour markets and workplaces
• Migration, diasporas, and transnational lives
• Cooperation and conflict

• Define and discuss key concepts in race and ethnicity studies
• Compare major theories/models of inter-group relations and evaluate their relevance in Singapore/Malaysia, Southeast Asia, and beyond
• Explain how states, laws, and institutions shape ethnic stratification, citizenship, and everyday life, including historical legacies of colonialism and migration
• Analyse empirical evidence to assess claims about race/ethnicity and communicate findings clearly in writing and discussion
• Apply course frameworks to diagnose problems and propose practical, ethical responses in workplaces, communities, and policy domains
• Practice intercultural communication to engage respectfully with diverse perspectives and lived experiences