Capital and labour are both essential commodities to capital accumulation. However, while globali... more Capital and labour are both essential commodities to capital accumulation. However, while globalisation has conferred greater degree of freedom in capital movement, labour mobility continues to be subject to state control. This dissertation seeks to examine the selective behavior of the state in exercising their sovereignty in relations to these two ‘commodities’ in Malaysia and Singapore. By employing world-systems theory, I hope to demonstrate that the availability of cheap labour was instrumental in the economic development of Malaysia and Singapore, which served as the ‘periphery’ to the ‘core’ transnational corporations in 1960s. Yet, in an effort to transform themselves into ‘global cities’, both countries have engaged in a policy rationalisation process of pursuing preferential treatment towards high-skilled foreign workers and against low-skilled migrant labourers. I argue that over-reliance on foreign capital for development is misguided, and must be accompanied by more diligent state regulation. Further, I hypothesise that hostility towards migrant workers at the societal level is reinforced by state discriminatory policy and propose that migration should be seen from a historical lens and celebrated as an essentially human activity, instead of merely an economic transaction.
[this is an unpublished dissertation submission in partial fulfilment for a MA degree in International Studies and Diplomacy. For reference only, please do not quote without permission]
Capital and labour are both essential commodities to capital accumulation. However, while globali... more Capital and labour are both essential commodities to capital accumulation. However, while globalisation has conferred greater degree of freedom in capital movement, labour mobility continues to be subject to state control. This dissertation seeks to examine the selective behavior of the state in exercising their sovereignty in relations to these two ‘commodities’ in Malaysia and Singapore. By employing world-systems theory, I hope to demonstrate that the availability of cheap labour was instrumental in the economic development of Malaysia and Singapore, which served as the ‘periphery’ to the ‘core’ transnational corporations in 1960s. Yet, in an effort to transform themselves into ‘global cities’, both countries have engaged in a policy rationalisation process of pursuing preferential treatment towards high-skilled foreign workers and against low-skilled migrant labourers. I argue that over-reliance on foreign capital for development is misguided, and must be accompanied by more diligent state regulation. Further, I hypothesise that hostility towards migrant workers at the societal level is reinforced by state discriminatory policy and propose that migration should be seen from a historical lens and celebrated as an essentially human activity, instead of merely an economic transaction.
[this is an unpublished dissertation submission in partial fulfilment for a MA degree in International Studies and Diplomacy. For reference only, please do not quote without permission]
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[this is an unpublished dissertation submission in partial fulfilment for a MA degree in International Studies and Diplomacy. For reference only, please do not quote without permission]
[this is an unpublished dissertation submission in partial fulfilment for a MA degree in International Studies and Diplomacy. For reference only, please do not quote without permission]