Singapore's Authoritarian Capitalism, Asian Values, Free Market Illusions and Political Dependency,Used

Product DescriptionLeaders in Singapore's PAP regime see themselves as a permanent fixture. Yet despite their grip on all organs of political power, the record clearly shows a continual decline in the margins of victory at the polls. These results suggest that Singaporeans are suffering from PAP fatigue. Apparently, an increasing number of people believe that the material gains do not constitute adequate compensation for the nannystate nagging of an arrogant political leadership.Some of the regime's most prominent spokespersons have gone on the offensive by promoting a contrived set of Asian values to legitimize their exercise of unchallenged authority. Simultaneously, they also identify certain values as a threat to stability, usually equated with oneparty rule. The PAP's position on these issues remains unchallenged at home due to an obsessive control over the media and the vigorous suppression of dissent.From a perspective gained from his service as a former Senior Fellow at the National University of Singapore, Dr. Lingle identifies Singapore's authoritarian capitalism as combining a selective degree of economic freedom and private property rights with strongarmed control over political life. According to him, political loyalty is the ultimate determinant of success rather than the efficient utilization of resources, and sycophantic business relations replace the growthinducing actions of true entrepreneurs. Singapore's Authoritarian Capitalism questions the longterm survival of the PAP and its capacity to sustain Singapore's miracle growth record due to internal contradictions arising from the imposed institutional arrangements.Review'... Mr. Lingle describes an unwritten social contract under which citizens tolerate political repression in exchange for material rewards. After visiting the country for 25 years, I think he underestimates the appeal of the package of rising living standards and clean administration that the governing People's Action Party delivers in return for a fairly free hand in running the country.' Barry Wain, Asian Wall Street Journal, May 10, 1996'... repeated attempts to silence critics and to penalize writers such as Lingle draw attention to this work, and as a result, this account gains credibility. Lingle's book will be read in light of the court actions and its critical views, which tarnish the glow of Asian economic miracles.' Stephen J. Anderson, International University of Japan, June 17, 1996'His book is an indictment of the 'suffocating, authoritarian intervention in most aspects of life there.' Although he does not deny that Singapore has become one of the great economic success stories of modern times, he argues that its political repression has exacted significant economic and political costs. He questions the longterm survival of the ruling part, the People's Action Party, and its capacity to sustain Singapore's economic growth.' Donald Zagoria, Foreign Affairs, Vol. 75, No. 4, page 160, July/August 1996'In terms of industrial policy and as a general suggestion, I recommend Chris Lingle's new book, ... I have always hailed Singapore as an outpost of capitalism based on these silly international studies and indexes of freedom. Never again! This insiders account is very Austrian and very shocking. The book is a case against the future of Singapore and the use of Singapore and Asian Values as a model of economic development. It also provides a good factual and theoretical explanation for the success and failures of industrial policy in the modern mercantilist regimes like Singapore and Japan.' Roy E. Cordato, Campbell University, April 3, 1996'Lingle identifies Singapore's authoritarian capitalism as combining a selective degree of economic freedom and private property rights with strongarmed control over political life.Christopher Lingle's account can be read on many levels as a mystery and adventure story, as an analysis of modern Asia's economic pr