Week 10 - Internet and Politics

Why are young Singaporean adults apathetic towards politics?

1. Lack of political understanding

Unlike youths in countries such as Thailand or Malaysia, Singaporean youths are seldom exposed to or involved in local political events. The fact that our education system does not include any political content also contributes to our lack of understanding of politics in Singapore. Although an education in political science is provided at tertiary level, only a small number enrol in the course, and even less actually put their degree to use in the political arena. With so little exposure, the youths in Singapore are unlikely to take part in politics because to them, it is unfamiliar ground.

2. Lack of opportunities for involvement

Singapore's political scene is dominated by a single party, and opposition activities are often clamped down. From Presidential elections to simple GRC elections, there are often walkovers. Despite being eligible to vote from the age of 21, many Singaporean youths simply do not have any opportunities to vote. Without the need to vote, there is also no incentive to find out what is going on in the political arena, leading to a vicious cycle of political apathy. Even if youths wish to take part in politics, there are very few official political youth groups that they can join-- one of which is the Youth PAP.

3. Upbringing

Singaporeans are always taught by parents to "study hard, get a good job". As our government has been efficient the past decades, it has led to Singaporeans being passive and reliant on the government. Knowing that the government will not fail, Singaporeans simply turn their attention to their own lives, without any participation in the political scene. Not forgetting the high cost of living in Singapore (and more recently, the difficulty of procuring a HDB unit), there is much more incentive to focus on getting a well-paying job than taking part in politics.

4. Alternative forms of preoccupation

This affects youths in particular. In an age when forms of entertainment are abundant, there is simply no incentive to engage in politics when there are so many alternatives available. Complacence in the effectiveness of our government also contributes to this, as youths feel that since the government will not fail, they might as well spend their time on more personal past-times.

5. Role of media

We can't deny that the media is very closely linked to the government. The media often emphasizes Singapore's good governance, and downplays opposition involvement in politics. This creates an impression in Singaporeans that the political scene is stable and does not need any active participation from them.