National service has long been termed a “school for the nation” for its ability to transform identities en masse . Its effects are excerpted primarily through two mechanisms: socialization and contact . Socialization involves the transmission of norms and values . In the case of Singapore’s NS, these include loyalty to th e nation and an emphasis... See more

The NS experience is powerful when it is fully immersive. The evidence suggests, in fact, that on average , stay-out unit conscripts do not experience significant changes to their attitudes toward intra- and inter-ethnic interactions. While further research is necessary to determine the precise time frame and conditions necessary for NS to produce... See more

How do we interpret this analysis? First, we have strong evidence that NS has a profound effect on identity. Conscripts from stay-in units are roughly 17% less likely to advocate intra-ethnic cohesion than their colleagues from stay-out units.