Who Belongs to the Nation?

The questions of if and how migrants can belong to the nation underpin studies of migrant integration including this one. This chapter introduces its study of migrant integration in Singapore by framing it through two debates. The first is the debate between nationalism and multiculturalism which asks: ‘Can and should we create a unifying identity without erasing particular ethnic identities?’ The second is between the top-down and bottom-up approaches to studying migration, ethnic diversity and nationalism regarding their accuracy in representing empirical realities. Instead of taking sides in these debates, this chapter suggests that a middle ground can be found through studying the practice of migrant integration through a meso-level approach. Integration is thus neither simply a state-directed or individualised process but one that involves intermediate actors who negotiate difficult questions of belonging. To support this argument, this book studies citizen volunteers in Singapore called Integration and Naturalisation Champions (INCs) who are tasked with supporting newly naturalised Singaporeans in their integration journey.