His “Singapore model,” sometimes criticized as soft authoritarianism, included centralized power, clean government and economic liberalism along with suppression of political opposition and strict limits on free speech and public assembly, which created a climate of caution and self-censorship. The model has been admired and studied by leaders in Asia, including in China, and beyond as well as being the subject of countless academic case studies.
Singapore is a city state built by a cultural authoritarian pushing his people to act in a civilized manner and an economic Libertarian setting the scene for the premier economy of the world. It's Bill Clinton's maxim "Its the economy stupid!" taken to the nth degree. Its economic success guarantees the free speech practiced in business will permeate into politics with the self censorship of prosperity keeping the state from radicalizing. Lee Kuan Yew, a Beautiful Authoritarian whose work has all the earmarks of long life and prosperity, rest in peace.
The blog posting "Cash and Nation Building Required" argued for funding the Syrian refugees in northern Jordan camps to a level of prosperity where the expectation of self started governments form to start city states in southern Syria. Its too much to hope for that they would be as successful Singapore, but wouldn't just an approximation be wonderful?
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