The living versus the dead in Singapore: contesting the authoritarian tourist city

Singapore Botanic Gardens, recognized as the first World Heritage Site among botanical gardens in Asia and only the third globally after Kew Gardens (London) and Padua (Italy), stands out for its blend of native and non-native tropical flora, including a celebrated national orchid garden. This study examines the dual significance of the gardens—both as a symbol of Singapore's authoritarian urban development and a contested space for protest and resistance. The research explores how the gardens' designation as a World Heritage Site in 2015 intersected with Singapore's 50th anniversary celebrations, highlighting tensions between state-controlled tourism narratives and grassroots movements. By analyzing archival materials, public discourse, and spatial practices, the study reveals how the gardens serve as a microcosm of broader socio-political dynamics in an authoritarian tourist city.

(Ed.). (2016). The living versus the dead in Singapore: contesting the authoritarian tourist city. Protest and Resistance in the Tourist City, 316–333. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315719306-23