Sacrificing Democracy in the Name of Prosperity: The Tradeoff Between Politics and Economics in Singaporean Development
Abstract
As a small city-state in Southeast Asia, Singapore has always been politically vulnerable. In order for it to have any international political significance, Singapore has had to capitalize on its status as a centrally located trade center, billing itself as a free market paradise to attract foreign investment and therefore assure its place in the world. However, this unwavering focus on a strong economy has led the regime, controlled for the last 40 years by the patriarchal People’s Action Party, to sacrifice democracy and political freedom in the name of economic growth. This paper examines the tradeoffs Singapore has faced between a strong economy and the development of democracy. Specific regime policies are analyzed as to their effects on politicalfreedom and democracy, and the prospects for the development of true democratic institutions, according to democratic theorist Robert Dahl, are evaluated.Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
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