Chapter 10: CIVIC EDUCATION AND DELIBERATIVE DEMOCRACY IN SINGAPORE

Singapore’s hegemonic dominant-party system has been credited for the country’s successful development into one of the wealthiest global cities today. The system, described as meritocratic, has focused on creating and sustaining administrative capacity, enabling the Government to act expertly, strategically and effectively to bring tangible benefits to an increasingly affluent people. As problems become more complicated and citizens become more sophisticated with higher expectations of their government, this elite, technocratic and paternalistic model of governance that has worked well in the past will need to adapt in time.