The Role of Nationalism

In the article ‘Culture Is Destiny’ (Foreign Affairs, 73(2), 1994) Lee kuan Yew discusses ideas about Singapore and the importance of ‘culture’ to its people. Lee suggests the implementation of a Western styled democracy inapplicable to Asian societies due to cultural differences. I will discuss the adoption of ‘cultural nationalism’ and ‘Asian values’ and its use by elites in Singapore to justify the current regime’s stance against democracy. I will argue the implementation of a Western …

…of the Xiushen qijia zhiguo pingtianxia the Confucian value system where it was used in an attempt to gain stability in the lead up to the 1988 elections. Finally I’ve concluded that the idea of a Western styled democracy can work in Asian society and that the implementation of such a system would ideally represent the will of the people, therefore also accommodate Confucian values and ‘Asian values’ contrary to Lee kuan Yew’s opinion.