Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-2brh9 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-23T22:19:54.391Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Subcommunal Participation and Leadership Cohesiveness of the Chinese in Nineteenth-Century Singapore

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 November 2008

Mak Lau Fong
Mak Lau Fong
Affiliation:
National University of Singapore
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

Using reproduced inscription data the present study examines two social facets of the Chinese in nineteenth-century Singapore. The first facet pertains to group participation (economic and social) and it was found that the average amount of donations made by the Hokkiens to their subcommunal organizations was much higher than that given by the Cantonese and Hakkas.

On the other hand, more Cantonese and Hakka people contributed to their subcommunal organizations. The interplay of differential economic status and organizational objectives is heuristic in explaining this discrepancy.

The second facet is about leadership cohesiveness of the respective subcommunal leaders, and it is derived from percentage of deviant donors which comprises mean percentage of non donors and of cross line donors. The findings show that the Hakka subcommunal leaders were least cohesive, while those of the Chang-Ch'uan Hokkiens most among the four dialect groups being studied. Differential exposure to secret society influence is given as an important explanatory factor. Nepotism prevailing at the leadership hierarchy is also suggested as a crucial factor.

Type
Articles
Information
Modern Asian Studies , Volume 17 , Issue 3 , July 1983 , pp. 437 - 453
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1983

References

Blythe, W. (1969) Chinese Secret Societies in Malaya. London: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Buckley, C. R. [1902] (1965) An Anecdotal History of Old Times in Singapore 1819–1867. Kuala Lumpur: University of Malaya Press.Google Scholar
Ching-ho, Chen and Yeok-seong, Tan (1972) Hsin-chia-p'o hua-wen pei-ming chi lu (A Collection of Singapore Chinese Inscriptions). Hong Kong: Chinese University of Hong Kong Press.Google Scholar
Form, W. H. (1973) ‘Internal Stratification of the Working Class’, American Sociological Review, 38, 6: 697–711.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Seiji, Imahore [1972] (1974) Ma-lai-ya hua-jen she-hui (The Chinese Society in Malaya). Trans. Liu, K. Y.Penang, Malaysia: Penang Chiaying Association.Google Scholar
Tsung-i, Jao (1969) ‘Hsing Ma Hua-wen pei-ke hsi nien’ (A Chronological Survey on Chinese Inscriptions in Singapore and Malaya), Journal of the Chinese Society, University of Singapore, 10: 1–51. Also appeared in Shu Mu Chi K'an (Taipei), V, 2 and 3 (1972).Google Scholar
Li, Yih-yuan (1965) I ko Yi-chih ti shih-chen (An Immigrant Town). Institute of Ethnology, Monograph Series B, No. 1. Nankang, Taipei: Academia Sinica.Google Scholar
Lin, H. S.et al. (1975) Shih Le Ku Chi (Relics of Singapore). Singapore: South Seas Society.Google Scholar
Mak, L. F. (1980) ‘Rigidity of System Boundary among Major Chinese Dialect Groups in Nineteenth-Century Singapore’, Modern Asian Studies, 14, 3: 465–488.Google Scholar
Mak, L. F. (1981) The Sociology of Secret Societies. Kuala Lumpur: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Purcell, V. (1964) The Chinese in Southeast Asia. London: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Read, W. H. (1901) Play and Politics. London: Wells, Gardner, Darton & Co.Google Scholar
Settlements, Straits. Report on the Census of the Straits Settlements.Google Scholar
Ward, Barbara E. (1965) ‘Varieties of the Conscious Model’, Banton, M. (ed.), The Relevance of Models for Social Anthropology, ASA Monograph No. 1. London: Tavistock Publications.Google Scholar
Hua, Wu (Ngow Wah ) (1975) Hsin-chia-p'o hua-tzu hui-kuan chih (A Chronological Record of Chinese Dialect Associations in Singapore). Singapore: South Seas Society (3 volumes).Google Scholar
Yong, C. F. (1967) ‘Chinese Leadership in Nineteenth Century Singapore’, Hsin-she Hsueh-pao 1, 1.Google Scholar