Publication Type

Journal Article

Version

publishedVersion

Publication Date

12-2002

Abstract

The objective of this paper is to map the sociological context in which the cultural economy of technology of Singapore exists. Taking a socio-histori cal perspective, this paper argues that the development of Singapore as a technological 'intelligent island' must take centre stage in relation to the soci ological analysis of modern Singapore's political, economic, and socio-cultural structure. This involves a critique of theories of the information society and empirical research on East Asian developmental states. The aim is to chart the development of technology in Singapore, from its founding as a colonial port-city to its current status as an 'intelligent island', and to situate this development in its social context. In addressing the issue of the global expan sion of localized technological knowledge hubs, I argue that while these technological 'hubs' are increasingly linked in complex political, economic and social networks, one must also account for the developmental trajectory of each particular 'hub' and to explain the socio-cultural complex of societies, which promote themselves as such. This paper intends to demonstrate how this construction of a technological nation state is neither a context-free pro ject nor one that is free of complex historical antagonisms and contrad

Keywords

Information technology, Southeast Asian culture, Technology policy, Emerging technology, Technology, Economic development, International economics, Appropriate technology, Utopian fiction

Discipline

Asian Studies | Technology and Innovation

Research Areas

Political Science

Publication

Asian Journal of Social Science

Volume

30

Issue

2

First Page

271

Last Page

286

ISSN

1568-4849

Identifier

10.1163/156853102320405852

Publisher

Brill Academic Publishers

Additional URL

https://doi.org/10.1163/156853102320405852

Download

Share

COinS