A sense of identity is how someone understands who they are and where they belong. Shared experiences and relationships can connect people to a country.
A person may see a country as home because of relationships, memories, common experiences or a commitment to its future. This connection can give citizenship a personal meaning beyond a legal category. For example, someone who identifies with a community may take a concern affecting unfamiliar neighbours seriously because they see those neighbours as part of a shared society.
A common national identity does not require identical lives, cultures or opinions. People can feel connected to the same country through different experiences. They can also hold several identities at once, such as being a Singaporean, a student and a member of a particular community.
Use evidence of the person's own attachment where it is available. A favourite dish, a photograph at a celebration or a familiar accent alone cannot establish someone's legal status or the strength of their belonging. A lack of attendance at one event also cannot establish that a person feels no connection.
Worked example: Different experiences, a shared home
After returning from overseas, one resident says, 'I missed the neighbours who helped raise me.' Another says, 'I moved here more recently, but working on local projects made this place feel like home.'
- The first resident connects belonging to long-standing relationships. The second connects it to newer shared experiences.
- An inference is a conclusion drawn from evidence. The newer resident's comment suggests that contributing to a shared project helped build belonging: working with neighbours gave this place a personal meaning.
- Both describe attachment through different experiences. Those comments support a conclusion about identity, but do not establish either person's legal citizenship.
Watch out for this
People with the same national identity must share the same culture and opinions.
Explain the connection they share without erasing their differences. Shared belonging can coexist with different practices and views.
Check your understanding
Two citizens disagree about a public project, but both say they care about Singapore's future. What does this show?
- A shared sense of belonging can coexist with disagreement about what should be done.
- At least one person cannot really belong to Singapore.
- The disagreement changes their legal citizenship status.