Keywords: Power relations, control, organisation, social backlash, shifting patterns, negotiations
Practical tools to clamp down on freelancers - use of security cameras at every corner, brighter lightings (?) to shy away illegal freelancers. Symbols of the state's power to observe and control? Foucault?
Clandestine prostitutes forced into bars, karaoke lounges, or under the control of a pimp to continue to sell. Turning prostitution into an organised activity that is easier to monitor and control.
New third party (bar owners, karaoke owners, new pimps) now involved between this once solo-operational freelancers to use as point of contact/ control. Also a figurehead to blame if issurs pertaining eg. moral, std, pop up.
Does this prove my previous point that the state is not inherently concerned with social issues, but more of social backlashes from people? Populism sentiments rising within the party-state?
What is the relationship between the state/police and these third party figureheads? Wary frienemies? Marriages of convenience?
What can we read about the state? Power seeping into every crook and nanny of society - confining a vice to a small area and impose newer ways to futher control it.
Double whammy of vice control in same time period? Anti-prostitution + anti-alcohol. Common area of confinememt also?
On the economic side - how will this affect Geylang's economy? More businesses at bars, karaokes and legal brothels going into accountable GDP? Or banning reducing the general crowd to geylang (together with alcohol ban).
Who does this benefit? If this diverts business to organised prostitution (both legal, illegal; and both direct and indirect), the people with the economic and social capability to control such organisations will definitely benefit. Secret societies rising in power? Why? Through negotiation of power with the state? How is the police/ state involved in all this? (Not implying corruption, simply negotiation and changing power relations).
[I don't have time to write these into proper arguments now. Will do so when I am free.]
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