Builders of Our New Society?: Volunteering and Other Forms of Civic Participation in Singapore under the Impact of COVID-19

Abstract

Civic participation of concerned citizens for the common good of others and the environment is essential for societal development. Different theoretical approaches have identified various personal antecedents and structural influences on individual and social levels. However, there is a lack of systematic discussion within the major theoretical approaches linking the personal antecedents of CP and structural influences.

The aim of this thesis is two-fold. It first investigates the mechanisms behind the phenomenon of civic participation (CP). The second aim is to understand the impact of the recent COVID-19 pandemic on CP. The study seeks to explain how COVID-19 shaped both the social milieu and individual dispositions for CP.

A critical realist grounded theory methodology was employed. Thirty-nine in-depth interviews were conducted with Singapore residents with engagement in a diverse range of CP from before COVID-19 and during COVID-19 itself.

The emergent theory, the dual civic participation trajectory posits that engagement in CP is sustained through two personal integration processes with different aspects of the CP, Fulfilling Personal Functions and Personalising the Problem. Agentic dispositions are the social-psychological elements that lead to these dual processes by forming the intention to engage. They are latent until effectuated under the right conditions. This effectuation is dependent on the perceived accessibility of the CP, a subjective mental state about one’s potential to engage. Finding Significance is the agentic disposition that effects the personal integration process of Fulfilling Personal Functions. Empathetic Interfacing and Recognition of Personal Privilege led to Personalising the Problem.

The structural relations that shaped CP activities (CP milieu) can be clustered under two structures: (1) Individualist social norms and (2) Hierarchical relationship between the state and the civil sphere. The findings demonstrate how these structural relations have a dual nature in shaping CP activities. On one hand, they order actions and are hence reproduced as identifiable structures. On the other hand, they are intended targets for transformation through CP.

The impact of the pandemic on the social organisation did not change these structures but affected the components of the dual CP trajectory. It increased the agentic dispositions in both personal integration processes, and the perceived accessibility of CP. The first effect of COVID-19 was intensifying social concern about disproportionately affected social groups, manifested in the two facets of experiencing a new emotional connection with social issues and similar-but-better fate. Both contributed to the interviewees’ personal integration process of Personalising the Problem. The second effect of COVID-19 was disruption of normal life. This increased the agentic dispositions, but more so the perceived accessibility for those who had latent agentic dispositions to engage.

The dual CP trajectory contributes to a theoretical integration of social identity by highlighting the contribution of both personal and relational identity in CP. Further, identified structural relations in the CP milieu reflect the social praxis in structuration theory, presenting a dynamic perspective of how social structure influences CP activities. The substantive theory can inform the state, civil society organisations, and other organisations that shape the CP opportunity structures in society. Strategies on fostering sustained CP through personal identity integration are given. The study also underscores the importance of factoring emergent CP into disaster response plans to leverage on the potential of civil society.

Date of Award	16 Feb 2024
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	City University of Hong Kong
Supervisor	Chi Kin KWAN (Supervisor) & Tit Wing LO (Supervisor)