Lee Kuan Yew and the Art of Statecraft
Abstract
In 1965 the new nation of Singapore was confronted with a unique and challenging strategic problem -- how to survive as a nation given that it possessed virtually none of the traditional elements of national power. Tiny, totally lacking in natural resources, made up of a multicultural hodgepodge of peoples with no unifying sense of nationhood, and enjoying, at best tenuous relations with its neighbors, Singapore's future was not enviable. That Singapore should not only survive but become remarkably prosperous despite such an inauspicious start can be attributed in large measure to the efforts of one man: Lee Kuan Yew. Lee's remarkable strategic vision and leadership is clearly at the center of Singapore's success over the last 30 years. The strategic environment that Lee Kuan Yew faced in 1965 was not totally bleak. Singapore possessed a number of assets to be exploited. She enjoyed a superb geographic location on the Straits of Malacca, one of the world's most important maritime thoroughfares. Her port was one of the world's busiest. Her population, while heterogeneous, was industrious with a mercantile flair. Additionally, Singapore benefited from a British-educated elite, of which Lee was one, which gave her a Western orientation with Western style political and economic institutions. Finally, at least until 1971, Singapore benefited from a major British military presence that served as a deterrent to would-be aggressors. It was within this context of a daunting environment that Lee Kuan Yew developed and executed his strategic vision.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1997
- Accession Number
- ADA442085
Entities
People
- Robin B. Sellers
Organizations
- National War College