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British imperialism might be why Singapore has such high living standards today. The British were able to transplant their social norms and institutions more easily onto colonies like Singapore and Hong Kong. This, at least, is part of what Bryan Cheang argues in this episode of Caribbean Progress with Rasheed Griffith. But what made Singapore more receptive than others to British values, even within the British Empire itself?

Modern Singapore's status as a democracy is contested in every political theory classroom. But how much of that is warranted? Its technocratic government’s push for economic growth and prosperity for everyone has made some trade-offs for its citizens, namely social freedoms and any notable culture of entrepreneurship or even perhaps a strong cultural identity. However, culture, as an institution, is not a one-size-fits-all. Jamaica, for example, suffers no lack of a globally recognized and marketed culture, yet its development pales in comparison to Singapore.

Singapore's governance does not foster the same levels of innovation as larger countries with similar living standards, but has the bar been set unreasonably high?

Lee Kuan Yew, the founding Prime Minister of Singapore, is said to have visited Jamaica to gain insight into developing his own country. But there is no firm evidence of this. The only significant ties between Singapore and the Caribbean are their shared colonial histories, yet these countries have diverged drastically. While Singapore is a crowning jewel in Southeast Asia, Jamaica, and the Caribbean languish in harmful stagnation and risk irrelevance. Are there any policy prescriptions that Caribbean countries can learn from Singapore? The answer may not be so clear. Join Bryan and Rasheed to find out.

Resources:

Institutions and Economic Development Markets, Ideas, and Bottom Up Change by Bryan Cheang and Tom G. Palmer

Liberalism Unveiled: Forging a New Third Way in Singapore by Bryan Cheang and Donovan Choy

Anglo-Chinese Capitalism in Hong Kong and Singapore: Origins, Reproduction & Divergence by Bryan Cheang

Contacts:
Bryan Cheang on LinkedIn
Rasheed Griffith on X

This podcast is produced by the Caribbean Progress Studies Institute (CPSI).
Contact us at progress@cpsi.org

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