TopThe course serves as an introduction to history in general and the history of modern Singapore in particular. It adopts a wide-angled approach to an understanding of national history, identity and heritage, with due attention to both international and internal developments which have together shaped present-day Singapore. The first section, a brief chronological exploration of the years before independence, includes the Second World War, the Japanese Occupation, the fight for political independence, the struggle for Malaysia and finally Separation in 1965. The second section, centering on the nation-building processes since 1965, analyses the evolution of the economy, culture, education, ethnicity, housing, gender, defense and diplomacy. Through the investigation of multiple sources and voices including official accounts, commercial and documentary films, this module hopes to encourage students to think critically about issues of nation-building, citizenship, identity, ownership and participation.