Singapore's Leadership Transition: Erosion or Refinement of Authoritarian Rule?

Critical Asian Studies

Volumn 24, Issue 1, 1992, Pages 3-17

  Rodan, Garry ^a  

^a NONE

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

AUTHORITARIAN RULE; LEADERSHIP TRANSITION; POLITICAL PROCESS;

SINGAPORE;

EID: 0027086099     PISSN: 14672715     EISSN: 14726033     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1080/14672715.1992.10412991     Document Type: Article

References (121)

1. Frederic C. Deyo, Dependent Development and the Industrial Order: An Asian Case Study (New York: Praeger, 1981).
2. Chan Heng Chee, The Dynamics of One Party Dominance: The PAP at the Grassroots (Singapore: Singapore University Pressw, 1976).
3. Thomas J. Bellows, The People's Action Party of Singapore: The Emergence of a Dominant Party System, Southeast Asian Studies, Yale University, Monograph Series no. 14 (New Haven, CT, 1973).
4. Malcolm Caldwell, Lee Kuan Yew: The Man, His Mayorality and His Mafia (London: FUEMSSO, 1979).
5. John Clammer, Singapore: Ideology, Society and Culture (Singapore: Chopmen Publications, 1985).
6. T.S. George, Lee Kuan Yew's Singapore (London: Andre Deutsch, 1975).
7. Shee Poon Kim, “The People's Action Party of Singapore, 1954-1970: A Study of Survivalism of a Single-Dominant Party” (Ph.D. thesis, Department of Political Science, Indiana University, 1973).
8. James Minchin, No Man Is an Island (Sydney: Allen and Unwin, 1986).
9. Chan Heng Chee, “Politics in an Administrative State: Where has the Politics Gone?” in Trends in Singapore, ed. Seah Chee Meow (Singapore: Singapore University Press for the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, 1975), pp. 51-68
10. Harold Crouch, Domestic Political Structures and Regional Economic Co-operation (Singapore: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, 1984).
11. Garry Rodan, The Political Economy of Singapore's Industrialization: National State and International Capital (London: Macmillan. 1989).
12. Prime Minister Lee warned that constituents of electorates that vote opposition candidates to office could not expect to receive the same level of services from the government as those in other electorates. See “Alone Against the Odds,” Asiaweek, 13 August 1982, p. 22.
13. Patrick Smith, “Ignoring an Opponent,” Far Eastern Economic-Review, 15 Oct. 1982, p. 32.
14. As quoted in “Each Generation Must Learn Its Own Lessons,” Straits Times, 15 December 1981, p. 16.
15. As quoted in Rodney Tasker, “Searching for a Soul,” Far Eastern Economic Review, 7 May 1982, p. 21.
16. As quoted in “Time Limit for Old Guards: Young Leaders Need Sparring Partners,” Asia Research Bulletin (Monthly Political Development), January 1983, p. 1005.
17. As quoted in Ibid., p. 1005.
18. As quoted in Stephen Duthie, “Singapore's Leaders Bitter After Gain by Opposition,” Asian Wall Street Journal, 27 Dec. 1984, p. 10.
19. As quoted in Ibid., p. 10.
20. V.G. Kulkarni, “Designer genes,” Far Eastern Economic Review, 8 Sept. 1983, p. 23.
21. For the full text of Lee's speech, see “Talent for the future.” Straits Times, 15 Aug. 1983, pp. 10-11.
22. “Breeding the Brightest,” Asiaweek, 2 Mar. 1983, p. 23.
23. See, for example: Goh Chok Tong, “A Nation of Excellence,” text of a lecture at the Alumni International Singapore on 1 December 1986 (Singapore: Information Division, Ministry of Communication and Information).
24. “Chok Tong: My Govt Will Be People-Oriented,” Straits Times (Weekly Overseas Edition), 27 January 1990, p. 8
25. “Chok Tong Wants Govt To Have Reduced Role,” Straits Times, 24 April 1990, p. 1
26. “Democracy in S'pore Changing,” Business Times, (Malaysia), 2 May 1990, p. 3
27. Kevin Sinclair, “Reins To Be Loosened: Chok Tong,” Straits Times (Weekly Overseas Edition), 30 June 1990, pp. 13-14
28. “1 DPM Wants Govt To Have a Reduced Role,” Straits Times, (Weekly Overseas Edition), 28 Apr. 1990, p. 3
29. Goh Chok Tong, “Participatory Democracy,” Speeches '90, Vol. 14, no. 3 (1990), pp. 34-36.
30. Economic Committee, Ministry of Trade and Industry, The Singapore Economy: New Directions (Singapore: Singapore National Printers, 1986).
31. For a full discussion of the policies comprising the Second Industrial Revolution, see Rodan, The Political Economy of Singapore's Industrialization, pp. 142-88.
32. “Feedback Unit Will Need Unedited Views to Government,” Straits Times (Weekly Overseas Edition), 8 Apr. 1989, p. 5.
33. As quoted in Ibid., p. 5.
34. Chan Heng Chee, “The PAP and the Structuring of the Political System,” in Management of Success: The Moulding of Modern Singapore, ed. Kernial Singh Sandhu and Paul Wheatley (Singapore: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies), p. 83.
35. “Goh on When Town Councils Will Not Work,” Business Times (Singapore), 17 Jan. 1987, p. 1.
36. Cheng Shong Tat, “PM Outlines Two Major Tasks for Councilors,” Sunday Times (Singapore), 2 July 1989, p. 18.
37. As quoted in Patrick Daniel, “PAP Reaches Out for Consensus,” Straits Times, 19 February 1987, p. 1.
38. ‘“Nothing Improper, Its a National Document,’” Straits Times, 19 Feb. 1987, p. 14.
39. For instance, “Do we have adequate safeguards to protect our accumulated foreign reserves?” (when the PAP had already signaled that it was contemplating the introduction of enhanced presidential powers to control the use of these reserves)
40. “What can go wrong with our system of democracy?” (clearly a loaded question).
41. “How can we ensure that dissenting views are aired and discussed, even in the absence of an effective opposition?” (as opposed to asking why an effective opposition has not emerged).
42. See “Questions for, the People,” Straits Times, 19 February 1987, p. 14.
43. “Professionals and Govt Agree on Fundamentals,” Straits Times, 18 Sept. 1987, p. 1.
44. Bertha Henson, “GPCs To Hold Public Hearing on Teaching of Religious Knowledge,” Straits Times, 1 July 1989, p. 25.
45. As quoted in “PAP MPs To Have More Say,” Straits Times, 14 February 1987, p. 1.
46. As quoted in Ibid., p. 1.
47. “Quality of Debate” (editorial), Straits Times, 14 Feb. 1987, p. 18.
48. Bertha Henson and Zuraidah Ibrahim, “GPCs Trying Hard To Fulfil Roles,” Straits Times, 26 June 1989, p. 20.
49. Bertha Henson, “Think Tank Set Up in Singapore,” Straits Times, 16 Jan. 1988, p. 1.
50. As quoted in Ibid., p. 1.
51. Genevieve Cua, “Goh Gives Details of First Think Tank,” Business Times, 16 Jan. 1988, p. 1.
52. Bertha Henson, “Think Tank Hopes To Have Impact on Public Policy-making,” Straits Times, 20 Jan. 1988, p. 16.
53. Parliamentary Debates, Singapore, Vol. 52, no. 1 (9 Jan. 1989), column 15
54. Ibid., Vol. 52, no. 6 (20 Jan. 1989), column 433.
55. Ibid., Vol. 54, no. 8 (29 Nov. 1989), columns 695-705.
56. “Nothing To Lose from Having Nominated MPs, Says BG Lee,” Straits Times (Weekly Overseas Edition), 9 Dec. 1989, p. 6.
57. “Backbenchers clearly divided over the Bill,” Straits Times (Weekly Overseas Edition), 2 Dec. 1989, p. 4.
58. Also see N. Balakrishnan, “Muted Protest,” Far Eastern Economic Review, 28 December 1989, p. 20.
59. Parliamentary Debates, Singapore, Vol. 54, no. 8 (29 Nov. 1989), column 725.
60. Sumiko Tan, “Overwhelming ‘Aye’ for NMP Bill,” Straits Times, 30 Mar. 1990, p. 1.
61. Leslie Fong, “PAP Landslide,” Straits Times (Weekly Overseas Edition), 4 Sept. 1988, pp. 1-3.
62. For a critical evaluation of this dichotomy, see Chua Beng-Huat, “Pragmatism of the People's Action Party in Singapore: A Critical Assessment,” Southeast Asian Journal of Social Sciences, Vol. 13, no. 2 (1985), pp. 29-46.
63. John Clammer, Singapore: Ideology, Society, Culture (Singapore: Chopmen Publishers, 1985), pp. 22-32
64. Ho Wing Meng, “Asian Values and Modernization,” in Asian Values and Modernization, ed. Seah Chee Meow (Singapore: Singapore University Press, 1977) pp. 1-20
65. Barry Wilkinson, “Social Engineering in Singapore,” Journal of Contemporary Asia, Vol. 14, no. 2 (1988), pp. 171-74.
66. “Danger of Becoming a Pseudo-Western Society,” Straits Times (Weekly Overseas Edition), 20 Aug. 1988, p. 13.
67. Goh Chok Tong, “Our National Ethic,” Speeches, Vol. 12, no. 5 (1988), p. 13.
68. Ibid., pp. 14-15.
69. Parliamentary Debates, Singapore, Vol. 52, no. 1 (9 Jan. 1989), cols. 12-20.
70. Ibid., Vol. 52, no. 5 (19 Jan. 1989), col. 326.
71. Ibid., Vol. 52, no. 6 (20 Jan. 1989), col. 402.
72. “Muslims Accept 4 Core Values,” Straits Times, 19 July 1989, p. 20.
73. Parliamentary Debates, Singapore, Vol. 52, no. 2 (16 Jan. 1989), column 57
74. and Vol. 52, no. 6 (20 Jan. 1989), cols. 388 and 418.
75. In this final document, the essential values were extended from four to five with the addition of “regard and community support for the individual.” See White Paper, Shared Values (Singapore: Singapore National Printers, 1991).
76. Yang Razali Kassim, “Govt Won't Make Core Values Law: BG Yeo,” Straits Times, 26 July 1989, p. 1.
77. Alan Chong, Goh Chok Tong: Singapore's New Premier (Petalying Jaya: Pelanduk Publications, 1991), pp. 14-15.
78. “Hot Words Over a New Press haw,” Asiaweek, 15 June 1986, p. 20.
79. As quoted in V.G. Kulkarni, “Democracy's Fatal Flaw,” Far Eastern Economic Review, 15 August 1985, p. 10.
80. As quoted in “Media's Role ‘To Inform People of Govt Policies,’” Straits Times (Weekly Overseas Edition), 16 June 1990, p. 2.
81. As quoted in “Lee States His Case,” Far Eastern Economic Review, 12 October 1989, p. 15.
82. Also see Bertha Henson, “Chok Tong To Take Over in November,” Straits Times (Weekly Overseas Edition), 16 June 1990, pp. 1, 7.
83. “Singapore To License Foreign Publications,” Far Eastern Economic Review, 26 July 1990, p. 12.
84. As quoted in Stephen Duthie, “Singapore's Press Proposal Generates Unusual Debate,” Asian Wall Street Journal, 2 June 1986, p. 7.
85. As quoted in “Lee States His Case,” p. 15.
86. As quoted in Ibid., p. 15.
87. Goh Chok Tong, “The Manipulators,” Straits Times, 14 June 1986, p. 18.
88. Also see “Law Society on Collision Course,” Straits Times, 14 June 1986, p. 1.
89. “Who Should Speak Up in Singapore,” Asian Wall Street Journal, 13-14 June 1986, p. 6.
90. “What Is at Stake?” Far Eastern Economic Review, 21 Feb. 1963, pp. 349-50.
91. Ho Kwon Ping, “Countering the Communist ‘Sinister Plot,’” Far Eastern Economic Review, 14 May 1976, pp. 21-22.
92. As quoted in Michael Haas, “The Politics of Singapore in the 1980s,” Journal of Contemporary Asia, Vol. 19, no. 1 (1989), p. 59.
93. Michael Malik, “The Conspiracy Theory,” Far Eastern Economic Review, 22 Oct. 1987, pp. 22-25
94. Michael Malik, “International Verdict,” Far Eastern Economic Review, 19 Nov. 1987, p. 24
95. “Art Meets Politics in Third Stage,” Far Eastern Economic Review, 24 Sept. 1987, p. 52
96. “New Light on Detentions,” Far Eastern Economic Review, 17 Dec. 1987, p. 28.
97. Michael Malik, “No Politics Please,” Far Eastern Economic-Review, 14 Jan. 1988, p. 22.
98. “Lee States His Case,” pp. 15-16 (see n. 60 above).
99. Ibid., p. 16.
100. “Religious Trends Need Careful Handling, Warns Govt Study Panel,” Straits Times (Weekly Overseas Edition), 25 Feb. 1989, p. 8.
101. “Main Concern Is Wide-ranging Powers of Minister,” Straits Times, 8 Feb. 1990, p. 18.
102. As quoted in “Archbishop and Mufti Call for a Clearer Definition of ‘Politics’,” Straits Times (Weekly Overseas Edition), 13 January 1990, p. 7.
103. Also see Bertha Henson and Zuraidah Ibrahim, “Christian Groups To Express Reservations to Select Panel,” Straits Times, 8 February 1990, p. 18.
104. ‘“Fundamental Change’ in Framework of Govt,” Straits Times, 24 Feb. 1990, p. 18.
105. “Two Trends in Religion Some Years Ago Led to Idea For Bill,” Straits Times, 24 Feb. 1990, p. 20
106. “BG Lee: Restraints in the Way Religious Groups Practice Their Faith Needed,” Straits Times, 31 Jan. 1990, p. 1.
107. “Battle Against Leftism,” Asiaweek, 13 Sept. 1987, pp. 20-21.
108. Ibid., p. 21.
109. As quoted in N. Balakrishnan, “Now You See It…,” Far Eastern Economic Review, 22 Dec. 1988, p. 11.
110. “S'pore Still Needs ISA Despite End to CPM War, House Told,” Straits Times (Weekly Overseas Edition), 2 Dec. 1989, p. 7.
111. George Yeo, “Civic Society-Between the Family and the State,” National University Student Society Inaugural Lecture, 20 June 1991, Singapore Government Press Release, p. 4.
112. “Dominant Party System Gets Backing of Most Pap MPs, Activists,” Straits Times (Weekly Overseas Edition), 18 Nov. 1989, p. 2
113. Paul Jacob, “Leadership Change Will Only Be in Style and Tone: BG Lee,” Straits Times (Weekly Overseas Edition), 11 Nov. 1989, pp. 1, 24.
114. As quoted in “Chok Tong: My Govt Will Be People-Oriented,” p. 8 (see n. 14 above).
115. Government of Singapore, Singapore: The Next Lap (Singapore: Times Editions, 1991).
116. Department of Statistics, Census of Populations, 1990: Advance Data Release (Singapore: Department of Statistics, 1991), chart 7, p. 22.
117. Simon Elegant, “Singapore's Emigration Rate Stirs Debate,” Asian Wall Street Journal, 9 Oct. 1989, p. 1.
118. Chiew Seen Kong, “National Identity, Ethnicity and National Issues,” in Search of Singapore's National Values, ed. Jon S.T. Quah, (Singapore: Times Academic Press, 1990), pp. 66-79.
119. Cheng Tun-jen, “Is The Dog Barking? The Middle Class and Democratic Movements in the East Asian NICs,” International Studies Notes, Vol. 15, no. 1 (Winter 1990), p. 15.
120. Agnes Chen, “The Message from the Voters,”
121. Russell Heng, “Bread and Butter Issues Need Open-Style Politics,” in Straits Times, 14 Sept. 1991, p. 13.