Case Study → Cultural Unity inside Iceland vs Singapore (Edexcel A-Level Geography): Revision Notes

Case Study → Cultural Unity inside Iceland vs Singapore

Iceland

● Until the mid 1900s, the physical isolation of Iceland ensured that is population experienced a strong sense of common identity & cultural homogeneity ● Due to the tough life that early Icelanders experienced in the Volcanic & glacial island that they lived on, it is believed that manu cultural traditions were born of hardship in the earlier times that they had survived ○ Such traditions breed cohesion within the community ○ 📝 Eg. Icelandic people share rotten shark at parties • lack of food available so they used to eat shark. But the sharks contained fluids that allowed it to be in cold without freezing but it is naturally poisonous. ∴ Icelandics used to have to bury the meat for months before eating it ● In 2008, McDs closed its restaurants in Iceland as its high prices had deterred customers ○ Premises were taken over by a local group • sign that global culture is being made to retreat ● However, many young Icelanders are avid consumers of global culture ○ 99% of Icelanders are connected to the Internet ○ 2 million tourists each year (approx 5.5x their population) • the ratio of tourists to inhabitants is amongst the highest in the world ■ Often leads to more visitors wanting to settle there permanently ∴ leading to ↑ in cultural diversity

Singapore

● Singapore, however is very culturally varied w/ Malay, Chinese, Indian and European influences • produced 'Singlish' ● The coexistence of so many origins is mainly down to: ○ From 1926-1946 Singapore played a major strategic role as a military and trading hub under British administration ○ The decision to make it a free port (no taxes collected) encouraged migration from China, India, Indonesia, Malay and the Middle East ● After independence, Singapore became a fast growing 'Asian Tiger' economy and as of 2019 has a per capita income GDP of $65,000 ○ This prosperity has made it a magnet for new waves of migrants who bring their customs, religions and festivals with them

•                                                     Cultural Unity inside Iceland*
  

•                                                    Cultural Unity inside Singapore*