Citizenship, as defined in a dictionary, is delimited by the rights and duties of a citizen.

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The nation to which a citizen belongs, in turn, owes a duty of protection to its people.

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This rather clinical detailing of mutual obligations fails to address the emotive aspects of citizenship.

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And it is this latter part of the equation that is becoming increasingly important.

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More children are being born overseas to Singaporean parents, with 1,576 citizenships granted to these newborns in 2018.

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This is 339 more than in 2008, a 27 per cent increase in the past decade or so. This is inevitable as more Singaporeans chase livelihoods and career dreams overseas.

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As of last June, some 217,200 Singaporeans were based overseas, up from 180,700 about a decade ago. In this globalised age, where major cities compete fiercely for top-tier talents, more Singaporeans armed with a world-class education and cultural sensitivities will head for work/life opportunities abroad.

Previous decades have seen a fair share of hand-wringing. In 2002, then Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong’s description of some Singaporeans as “quitters” for cutting ties and leaving when the country ran into difficult times generated significant debate.

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In a 2017 survey by the World Economic Forum’s Global Shapers Community, seven in 10 Singaporean youth aged 18 to 35 were looking to move overseas.

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That many who ventured forth are now looking back to their home country for the next generation is a good thing. They recognise their roots, and wish to cultivate this sense of belonging in the next generation.

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