"Lead Singapore, If I Can't Serve in Malaysia": Lee Kuan Yew and the Singapore "Model"
Abstract
Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore's Prime Minister for the first 31 years following independence from Great Britain, led his city-state through one of the most incredible transformations of the 20th century. In the midst of the Cold War competition between superpowers, retrenching colonial powers, and rising nationalism within his region, Lee converted Singapore from a relatively minor colonial trading port to a global financial and industrial giant. In the process he built a dynamic, vibrant nation-state, a model of prosperity and stability. This paper examines Lee Kuan Yew's statecraft. It investigates the events and influences that shaped his actions and assumptions about the international and domestic environment. It also discusses Singapore's national security interests and objectives following independence and the threats to those interests. Finally, the paper analyzes the major foreign and domestic policies Lee used to satisfy national security interests and economic development. The author concludes with an assessment of Lee's performance from a Singaporean and an American perspective.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1997
- Accession Number
- ADA442088
Entities
People
- Darphaus L. Mitchell
Organizations
- National War College