Malaysian Foreign Policy Toward Singapore From Mahathir to Badawi and Najib: A Role Theory Assessment

Abstract

By employing role theory, this article shall argue that changes in Malaysia's national role conceptions from Mahathir to Abdullah Badawi and Najib Razak have contributed to the improvement of Malaysia‐Singapore relations in recent years. Under Mahathir, Malaysia's national role conception as a “close and important neighbor” to Singapore accentuated a “senior‐junior” distinction between Malaysia and Singapore. This led to a clash of national roles between Malaysia and Singapore and resulted in bilateral contentions. For Badawi and Najib, Malaysia is also a close and important neighbor to Singapore. However, both leaders have reconceptualized Malaysia's national role conception into an “important and symbiotic partner” to de‐emphasize Singapore as a negative “historical and significant other,” and promote cooperation to improve bilateral relations. Malaysia's additional role as an ASEAN member complements its symbiotic partnership with Singapore.