Goh, Nathan Jia Shen;
(2024)
Contrasting Visions: Singapore’s Urban Development
in Reality and the Colonial Imagination, 1710-1864.
Doctoral thesis (Ph.D), UCL (University College London).
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Abstract
This dissertation critically re-evaluates the malleability of the imperial imagination in the context of Singapore’s colonial history, challenging the conventional starting point of 1819 and the portrayal of Sir Stamford Raffles as the sole visionary behind the settlement’s early urban development. It argues for the inclusion of cartographic sources in the analysis of the imperial imagination, drawing on the historiography of imperial cartography to demonstrate that maps are laden with information that can reveal new dimensions of colonial perceptions and intentions. The research provides a nuanced, contextual and analytical examination of Singapore’s early years, often overlooked or simplified in traditional literature. It highlights the lack of structured development and the challenging conditions under the British administration, emphasising the significant role played by non-European communities. This critical re-examination uncovers the deliberate construction of the colony’s image in the 1820s and challenges the traditional triumphant ideological narratives with a more pragmatic view of Singapore’s development. This work contributes to the broader discourse on colonial and urban history by challenging entrenched narratives and highlights the complexity of factors that shaped Singapore’s development. It underscores the importance of a more inclusive and nuanced approach to historical analysis, recognising the contributions of diverse communities and the dynamic nature of colonial knowledge and urban development.
| Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Qualification: | Ph.D |
| Title: | Contrasting Visions: Singapore’s Urban Development in Reality and the Colonial Imagination, 1710-1864 |
| Open access status: | An open access version is available from UCL Discovery |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | Copyright © The Author 2024. Original content in this thesis is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) Licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/). Any third-party copyright material present remains the property of its respective owner(s) and is licensed under its existing terms. Access may initially be restricted at the author’s request. |
| UCL classification: | UCL UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL SLASH UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL SLASH > Faculty of S&HS UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL SLASH > Faculty of S&HS > Dept of History |
| URI: | https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10198370 |
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