What social phenomena affect the pattern of intra- and inter-ethnic ties among Chinese, Malays, Indians, and Others in Singapore? I examine group size, ethnic solidarity, ethnic competition, and kinship as plausible explanations of inter-ethnic contact among 1,143 persons linked to 7,414 network members. I find a sizeable amount of inter-ethnic ties between Chinese and Malays. Group size is the major factor: As Chinese outnumber Malays 5.4 to 1 (76% to 14%), Malays have more opportunities for interethnic contact than do Chinese. Once the size of the two ethnic groups is accounted for, no other factor substantially affects Malay-Chinese inter-ethnic contact.
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