Sam,
<<. Examining Singapore closely, and comparing it with the roads that some of its neighbors have taken would be an instructive exercise. Anyone know of any decent, fairly recent books that attempt this? >>
One cannot begin to approach this subject without reading Lee's recently published book "The Singapore Story - Memoirs of Lee Kuan Yew"" IMO.
As to how this small Island/City/State has become what it is through the defining objective lenses of first hand experience with colonialism (and its ultimate betrayal), Japanese occupation, post war communism, and Islamic communalism this book is a must read IMO. One must carefully read between the lines to appreciate the rationale for draconian methodology that exists to this day. The price? Depends on your perspective. As Stephen put it so well, "However, if you ask me [or you] if I [or you] would trade places, I'd have to think twice. Having lived in six different countries including real [as real as possible] democracies like Oz and the US, I would place totally different values on social and political freedoms vs material benefits, compared to many in Asia.>> This is a question that, in the end, each must answer for themselves. I already know my answer. But that does not prevent me from grasping the rational of the opposing view.
Best,
Stitch |
