Book Cover; Title; Contents; Preface; Acknowledgements; Introduction; Ideological trajectory: from authoritarianism to communitarianism; Reopening ideological discussion; Pragmatism of the PAP government: a critical assessment; The business of living: transformation of everyday life; The making of a new nation: cultural construction and national identity; Not depoliticised but ideologically successful: the public housing programme; Confucianisation abandoned; Building the political middle ground; Towards a non-liberal communitarian democracy; Conclusion; References; Index
Summary
Annotation The economic success of Singapore has established the country as a model for other nations. Yet until now the ideas behind this accomplishment have not been critically examined.Communitarian Ideology and Democracy in Singaporefills this gap. The book outlines the policies the ruling party has adopted over the past three decades. It charts the government's move away from Western concepts towards the evolution of 'Asian democracy'. The author analyses this anti-liberal democracy and the government's motives for repackaging cultural heritage into a national ideology of Asian communitarianism. This book avoids the polarization that has tended to characterise texts on Asian governments. It neither concentrates on a history of authoritarian repression nor unequivocally praises the regime but critically examines its political success. As such it provides a new and balanced account to the student of Singapore politics
Analysis
Politics
Singapore
Bibliography
Includes bibliographical references (pages 214-223) and index
