POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT IN ASIA AND AFRICA

- ASIAN VALUE

Singapore is one of the most economically and politically developed country in the
world. It was a former British Colony that separated with Malaysia after the failed attempt to
gain development by forming a federation. Led by Lee Kuan Yew after the declaration of
independence from Malaysia, Singapore started to descend on becoming one of Asia’s valuable
players on the global economy.
From being a small British colony to becoming the home for International Companies,
Singapore is now considered a developed country. It is now a major financial hub in Asia, home
of the world’s busiest port and recognized globally as a center for stem cell research. But did it
come overnight? The answer is a resounding NO. Singapore as a new State struggled to exist.
With neighbouring countries ceased exports to Singapore, high rates of unemployment and a
questionable populace how did Singapore flourished?
The answer is in the leadership of then Prime Minister but now “Minister Mentor” Lee
Kwan Yew. So how did Lee Kuan Yew manage to achieve such feat? According to him, it was
largely due to the supreme Asian culture.
According to Lee Kuan Yew Singapore achieved its economic miracle largely by the
“Asian Values”. The success was achieved by the “Confucian Virtue” of excellence. Singapore
used a Meritocratic form of government mixed with authoritarian. It is a potent combination for
economic development by attaining a strong leadership built by highly qualified people with the
control of government. Lee Kuan Yew achieved economic greatness by having full control of the
people surrounded by highly competitive people. Lee Kuan Yew was controlling the state while
being helped in economic strategies by Goh Keng Swee. It provided the government expertise on
both political and economical aspect in developing the country.
Lee Kuan Yew believes that the driving force of a country is in the political culture of
competitiveness, a meritocratic environment. The political culture of the East is influenced by
Confucian ideologies of putting the welfare of all the people first before oneself. Lee Kuan Yew
also believed That for us to succeed we need a strong government. The Machiavellian Concept
of being feared rather than loved was employed by Lee Kuan Yew in his government. Political
scientists would often describe Lee Kuan Yews administration as highly authoritarian or