Założenia i praktyka polityki etnicznej na przykładzie Malezji i Singapuru

The theory and practice of ethnic policy – the cases of Malaysia and Singapore

Malaysia and Singapore are the two most developed countries in Southeast Asia. They share a similar history with decolonization as a turning point. However, due to the postwar history of these countries their growth proceeded in different ways. In spite of a similar ethnic composition, the two nation-building processes were different.
In this paper ways of ethnic policy implementation are described on the example of Singapore and Malaysia. Firstly, the nation-building policies of Singapore and Malaysia and their evolution from independence to modern times are presented.
The main part of the paper shows the contemporary situation of minorities in Singapore and Malaysia. The article presents the economic circumstances of their life, their socio-cultural and political position as well as legal regulations concerning minorities’ rights. In the last part of the paper, the reader will find conclusions and probable prospects for the future.