Introduction

What is NIMBY?

NIMBY stands for 'Not In My Backyard'. The NIMBY syndrome thus refers to the attitude in which a person objects to something perceived as unpleasant or potentially dangerous in their own neighborhood, such as a landfill or hazardous waste facility, especially while raising no such objections to similar developments elsewhere (adapted from Wikipedia). In the context of Singapore, it applies to residents who oppose plans for a certain development to be erected in their residential neighbourhood.

 

Pre-Reading

Before examining the NIMBY syndrome through Case Studies One and Two, read your textbook pp. 28 - 34. It will help you to understand the three challenges in deciding what is good for society, and why the NIMBY syndrome is increasingly widespread, especially in urban cities such as Singapore.