Lee Kuan Yew - book

Lee Kuan Yew is a leaf non-fiction book on China and geopolitics that captures the thoughts of Lee Kuan Yew in a Question and Answer format.

Yew is skeptical about individual-based democracy and a free press. He does not view this as the only way to prosperity and development, pointing to failed examples in the Philippines. He is technocratic, arguing that good leaders in a bad system is better than bad leaders in a good system.

On Immigration

He holds views about multiculturalism that would make current day liberals blanche. However, he views immigration, and being welcoming to immigrants, as essential to the growth of nations, particularly developing nations. Taken in aggregate I’m left feeling that he wants immigrants, but only the best and brightest, to spur entrepreneurship and innovation.

On America

America’s debt is what worries me most, because it will absolutely strike at the heart of America’s global leadership.50 (Location 761)

Lee Kuan Yew (Location 667)

The ideas of individual supremacy…when carried to excess, have not worked. They have made it difficult to keep American society cohesive.

Lee Kuan Yew Location 838)

Americans believe their ideas are universal—the supremacy of the individual and free, unfettered expression. But they are not—never were. In fact, American society was so successful for so long not because of these ideas and principles, but because of a certain geopolitical good fortune, an abundance of resources and immigrant energy, a generous flow of capital and technology from Europe, and two wide oceans that kept conflicts of the world away from American shores.

On India

Yew viewsindia as hampered by bureaucracy which retards it’s growth. Further India is many fragmeneted states nitted togetehr through British colonialism. While India growth and size begin to rival China, it lacks the unity that marks a country that is 80% Han Chinese. Further, language fragementation is a problem. Finally, infrastructure constrains growth and India must push into manufacturing and not just services.

On the positive side, India has a robust legal system that should be more welcoming to foreign business. Further, a strong banking system and capital markets which can spur growth.

Quote

India needs to, first of all, cut down on red tapeism; second, provide greater incentives for the private sector; third, address the challenge of infrastructure shortages; and, finally, liberalize foreign direct investment norms in the country.

Yew feels that foreseeable future, China will continue to out-compete India through carrot rather than stick (China will just be able to offer trading partners more). India can serve as a counter balance to China, given that they have a lasting intrest in Asia (as opposed to the US which may lose interest or power). China’s authoritarian policies give it a growth advantage in the short run, while India’s democracy may be more flexible and advantegous in the long run.

Onleadership

Lee believes in the supremacy of the judgement of the people he governs. At the same time, he is not overly concerned with the day-to-day popularity. “My idea of popular government is that you do not have to be popular all the time when you are governing”. The goal is to do enough good on net during your term that you sway the populace. # Notes

• Unlike other emergent countries, China wants to be China and accepted as such, not as an honorary member of the West. (Location 323)
• The Chinese have concluded that their best strategy is to build a strong and prosperous future, and use their huge and increasingly highly skilled and educated workers to out-sell and out-build all others. (Location 343)
• The Chinese have calculated that they need 30 to 40, maybe 50, years of peace and quiet to catch up, build up their system, change it from the communist system to the market system. (Location 353)
• Internally, the chief challenges are culture, language, an inability to attract and integrate talent from other countries, and, in time, governance. (Location 385)

Cite

Allison, G., Blackwill, R. D., Wyne, A. & Kissinger, H. A. Lee Kuan Yew: The Grand Master’s Insights on China, the United States, and the World. (The MIT Press, 2013).

Metadata

Title:: Lee Kuan Yew: The Grand Master’s Insights on China, the United States, and the World Year:: 2013 Publisher:: The MIT Press

Abstract

The grand strategist and founder of modern Singapore offers key insights and opinions on globalization, geopolitics, economic growth, and democracy in a series of interviews with the author of Destined for War, and others“If you are interested in the future of Asia, which means the future of the world, you’ve got to read this book.” —Fareed Zakaria, CNN When Lee Kuan Yew speaks, presidents, prime ministers, diplomats, and CEOs listen. Lee, the founding father of modern Singapore and its prime minister from 1959 to 1990, has honed his wisdom during more than fifty years on the world stage. Almost single-handedly responsible for transforming Singapore into a Western-style economic success, he offers a unique perspective on the geopolitics of East and West. American presidents from Richard Nixon to Barack Obama have welcomed him to the White House; British prime ministers from Margaret Thatcher to Tony Blair have recognized his wisdom; and business leaders from Rupert Murdoch to Rex Tillerson, CEO of Exxon Mobil, have praised his accomplishments. This book gathers key insights from interviews, speeches, and Lee’s voluminous published writings and presents them in an engaging question and answer format.Lee offers his assessment of China’s future, asserting, among other things, that “China will want to share this century as co-equals with the U.S.” He affirms the United States’ position as the world’s sole superpower but expresses dismay at the vagaries of its political system. He offers strategic advice for dealing with China and goes on to discuss India’s future, Islamic terrorism, economic growth, geopolitics and globalization, and democracy. Lee does not pull his punches, offering his unvarnished opinions on multiculturalism, the welfare state, education, and the free market. This little book belongs on the reading list of every world leader. .