Singapore miracle. What is the essence of the economic Singapore miracle? Cars are only for millionaires

Singapore's incredible economic breakthrough in the second half of the 20th century is often called the "Singapore Miracle". On September 16, the man who can rightfully be called the author of the “Singapore miracle” would have turned 95 years old. Lee Kuan Yew led the “Lion City” (that is how the word “Singapore” is translated) for more than thirty years, but even after leaving the post of Prime Minister of the city-state, he retained the largest influence on political and economic processes in the country.

The twentieth century knows many examples of the incredible success of states that, in just a few decades, transformed from backward and poor countries into the richest, with a very high standard of living of the population. But Singapore's example is unique in that, unlike Qatar or Kuwait, the UAE or Saudi Arabia, Singapore has no mineral reserves. The success of Singapore is largely the work of Lee Kuan Yew personally, and it is this circumstance that places the politician, who died just three years ago, among the most extraordinary and significant statesmen of the twentieth century.

In fact, the roots of the “Singapore miracle” go back to the colonial era. On January 28, 1819, a British expedition headed by the famous diplomat and expert on the countries of the Malay Archipelago, Sir Stamford Bingley Raffles, landed on the small island of Singapore, which then belonged to the Malay Sultanate of Johor. Being an experienced and knowledgeable man, Raffles quickly appreciated the advantages of Singapore's geographical location and managed, for relatively little money, to obtain permission from the Sultan of Johor to build a British trading post on the island. By this time, there were only about a thousand local Malays living on the island, but after the British built a stronghold here, the Chinese gradually began to arrive in Singapore, concentrating on trade and the nascent industry.

Since 1826, Singapore became the administrative center of the British colony of the Straits Settlements on the Malacca Peninsula. By the beginning of the twentieth century, Chinese immigrants already made up the majority of the population of the “Lion City”. Following the Chinese, Indians, primarily Tamils, also came to Singapore from British India.

The future father of the “Singapore miracle” Lee Kuan Yew was born into a Chinese family in Singapore. The politician's father was Chinese - Hakka, and his mother came from the Peranakans - this is how the Malayized Chinese are called on the islands of the Malay Archipelago, who have lived in the region for a very long time and have largely adopted the Malay language, culture and customs (with the exception of religion). Lee Kuan Yew's parents did not belong to the elite of colonial Singaporean society, although they were not poor people. Both the father and mother of the future politician were Anglophiles and even spoke English at home, not speaking their native languages. Subsequently, this circumstance had a very significant impact not only on Lee Kuan Yew’s career, but also on his worldview - until the end of his days he remained a staunch supporter of the English language and believed that the most important thing for a Singaporean is to speak English, and only then his native language.

After receiving his primary education at Telok Kurau School, Lee Kuan Yew entered Raffles College in Singapore, graduating in 1945, and left for the UK. In the metropolis, he received two degrees - economics at the London School of Economics and law at the University of Cambridge. The capable young man received two excellent diplomas, which guaranteed him rapid advancement in the colony. Returning to Singapore in 1949, he began practicing law and advised Singapore trade unions.

By the time Lee Kuan Yew was a young lawyer, the communists had a very strong position in Singapore. The success of the Chinese Communist Party and its victory in the civil war, and then the victory of the communists in Vietnam, contributed to the growing popularity of the communist movement in the countries of Southeast Asia. Ethnic Chinese became the main support of the communist parties in the countries of Indochina and the Malay Archipelago, and since they made up the majority of the population in Singapore, communist ideas also spread there. But Lee Kuan Yew, unlike many of his fellow tribesmen, never sympathized with the communists, although in 1954 he founded the social democratic People's Action Party (PAP). Among Singaporean social democrats, Lee Kuan Yew took a right-wing position and leaned towards the concept of a free market.

In the late 1950s, although Singapore was a strategically important British port and transshipment base, it had a very weak level of economic development. Most of the population lived in poverty, agriculture was in poor condition, there were very big problems with infrastructure, and even fresh water had to be brought to the island from neighboring regions. In addition, Chinese mafia structures felt at ease on the island, and the local authorities of the colonial administration were riddled with corruption. It was in such a city that Lee Kuan Yew became prime minister in 1959.

The young and ambitious lawyer set himself, as it seemed then, an almost unattainable goal. He decided to turn Singapore into a real economic center of Southeast Asia, but this required attracting numerous investments, which was very difficult to do. Western businessmen did not want to work with the corrupt and underdeveloped Singapore and Lee Kuan Yew had to make a lot of efforts before impressive investments began to flow into the Singaporean economy.

To ensure the influx of investment, Lee Kuan Yew developed a strategy for the development of Singapore, quite simple in theory, but complex in practice. Her first point was to fight corruption as harshly as possible. Lee Kuan Yew appointed a new judicial corps from among young and honest lawyers like himself, increased their salaries, and then carried out a total reform of law enforcement agencies. The entire Singapore police force was disbanded and re-recruited from young people. It must be said that the old police were very opposed to the “loss of the trough” - some police stations had to be literally stormed, attracting units of British troops stationed in Singapore. But in the end, Lee Kuan Yew completed this task - he created a new police force, which was no longer so corrupt. At the same time, police personnel were replaced from the Malays, who had served in law enforcement since colonial times, to the Chinese, who were considered more loyal and law-abiding.

The Prime Minister has always believed that to ensure the effective functioning of the state and its economy, a strict system is needed that prevents any manifestations of corruption, crime, and immorality. Lee Kuan Yew was guided by the principle of the inevitability of punishment and believed that crime and even misdemeanor should be punished as harshly as possible in order to prevent other people from wanting to take the path of breaking the law.

Singapore has become one of the safest cities in the world, despite the fact that it is located in a very problematic region - in Southeast Asia, and in fact in the 1950s - 1980s. in Malaysia, Thailand, Burma, Indonesia, the Philippines and other countries in the region, there were protracted guerrilla wars, terrorist attacks were committed, and organized crime of all stripes flourished - from racketeering to drug trafficking. It was these tough methods that allowed Lee Kuan Yew to bring order to Singapore that other Asian states could only dream of. While fighting corruption, the Prime Minister did not pay attention to long-standing friendly and even family relationships - many of Lee Kuan Yew’s good friends and relatives were under investigation.

The second point of the “Singapore miracle” strategy was to ensure the most favorable conditions for foreign investors and business development in general. Lee Kuan Yew realized that investors could only be attracted by much freer and simpler business conditions compared to other countries. To achieve this, the conditions for registering a business in Singapore were simplified as much as possible, which could even then be completed in literally half an hour. Thus, on the initiative of Lee Kuan Yew, a maximum favorable regime for foreign and Singaporean businesses was created in Singapore, and soon a variety of enterprises began to open in the city. Investors were attracted by the ease of registration, low taxes and cheap labor for that period. The Singapore port received a new lease of life, and soon financial institutions began to develop rapidly in Singapore.

Following the rapid growth of the economy, the standard of living of the population began to rise rapidly. Singaporeans living by the early 1950s. in total poverty, turned into one of the richest nations in the world. Suffice it to say that Singapore's GNP from 1959 to 1990 increased from $400 to $12.2 thousand per capita. Rising living standards and incomes have led to more Singaporeans pursuing higher education and becoming an expensive and skilled workforce. Singaporean companies began to move their production to countries with cheaper labor, while financial institutions and high-tech industries that required the participation of very skilled workers began to concentrate in Singapore itself.

Understanding full well that in a state like Singapore, where there are no significant natural resources, the main national wealth is people, Lee Kuan Yew initiated the development of the Singapore system of higher and secondary education, which quickly became one of the strongest in Asia. First of all, this was facilitated by the fact that all Singaporeans study English from school and speak it almost fluently. Secondly, the Singaporean government invested heavily in paying for the education of Singaporean students at the best universities in the USA and Europe, which also contributed to the emergence of a large number of its own highly qualified specialists. On the other hand, Singaporeans themselves, knowing full well that only quality education can help in life, invest very large amounts of money in the education of their children. According to an Australian study, 60% of high school students and 80% of junior students in Singapore schools use tutoring.

Singapore's foreign policy deserves special attention. Throughout its independent history, Singapore remains in the orbit of Western influence and most of all cooperates with Great Britain and the United States, although economically, ties with its neighbors Indonesia and Malaysia are very important for the country. Realizing that Singapore is located in a very turbulent region, Lee Kuan Yew, and then his successors, invested heavily in strengthening the national security of the state. If at the time of the declaration of independence the country's armed forces consisted of two infantry regiments under the command of British officers, now the Singapore armed forces are very combat-ready by regional standards. Thus, about 72 thousand people serve in the country’s ground forces. Interestingly, Singapore is one of the few countries in which the famous Nepalese Gurkhas continue to serve. Currently, a Gurkha unit of 2 thousand troops is stationed in Singapore. There are also a number of American military bases located in Singapore.

Maneuvering between large neighboring countries, the Western world, and China, Singapore emphasizes its neutrality. For example, China is now Singapore's third-largest economic partner, but the city-state also maintains close ties with Taiwan. Realizing that in the event of a conflict, the tiny state would not be able to withstand a clash with its neighbors, Singaporean leaders always counted on the support and intercession of the Western powers - the USA and Great Britain, which ensured the need to maintain a special relationship with the Anglo-Saxon world.

Interestingly, Lee Kuan Yew treated Russia quite well. Of course, in Soviet times, relations between the USSR and Singapore were not friendly, but Lee Kuan Yew always emphasized the importance of the Russians as a great nation capable of making a huge contribution to the development of mankind. In the 1990s, when Russia switched to the capitalist path of development, attention to the “Singapore miracle” in our country grew greatly - many economists seriously talked about the fact that the Singaporean model could become a model for Russian modernization. Lee Kuan Yew himself became an honorary doctor of MGIMO and the Diplomatic Academy of Russia, was awarded the Order of Honor, and was a member of the International Board of Trustees of the Moscow School of Management Skolkovo.

Lee Kuan Yew died on March 23, 2015 at the age of 92. Having accepted Singapore as a backward British colony, he left it one of the ten richest countries in the world. One may not agree with the politician’s ideas and methods, but it is difficult not to recognize their effectiveness in relation to Singaporean realities.

On March 23, 2015, Lee Kuan Yew, a world-famous man, a great politician and practitioner who was able to radically change the standard of living in Singapore, died as a result of a serious lung disease.

Thanks to his political and economic strategies, the small, little-known island town quickly grew into one of the most industrialized countries in Southeast Asia and became an industrial and financial partner of many highly developed countries.

Let's remember what Lee Kuan Yew did during his lifetime, what political views and life positions the creator of the “Singapore miracle” is remembered by the world community.

Biography and early life

Lee Kuan Yew was born in Singapore on September 16, 1923 into an average Chinese family. His father was an avid gambler. And at the birth of his grandson, the grandfather promised that he would do everything to ensure that Lee received the best English education, and he kept his word.

The future great modernizer received his primary education at an English-language Singapore school. After graduation in 1945 "Roffles College" - the most prestigious high school in the city, a diligent and diligent student goes to the UK for further studies.

Thanks to his impeccable English, he successfully graduates from the London School of Economics, as well as the most popular university in Britain - Cambridge, where he receives diplomas with honors in economics and law.

After a four-year absence, in 1949 a young and promising young man returned to his homeland. A year later, in 1950, he began his legal career in one of the companies in Singapore, and then in his own office. At the same time, Lee Kuan Yew advises trade union organizations on legal issues. Even then, the patriotic young lawyer dreamed of transforming his hometown into one of the richest and most prosperous states in the world.

Rise to power

To realize his dream, Harry Lee (as he was called in the family circle), together with his like-minded people, founded a political movement in 1954 - the “People's Action Party”, where he held the position of general secretary.

It was after the democratic elections in 1955 that three candidates (including Lee Kuan Yew) from this party entered the first Legislative Assembly of Singapore. Four years later, when the city receives self-government status, at the next elections the PAP wins the largest number of votes and accordingly takes 43 of the 50 seats in parliament. And the leader of the political force is elected to the post of prime minister of the country, which he held for more than 30 years. From that moment, inevitable events began that led to great changes in the development of Singapore.

Years of power

The time when Lee Kuan Yew and his reform team came to power coincided with the British government's decision to grant independence to Singapore. The newly elected parliament is faced with the dire situation of the city-country.

Catastrophic poverty, almost no education, completely corrupt local authorities, a communist-influenced population devoid of intellectual and cultural development, unemployment, a thriving drug industry - this is not a complete list of problems whose solutions depended on the new leadership.

The small island state, which did not have natural resources and even drinking water, found itself on the brink of survival. The only advantage of the country was its favorable geographical location. For a long time, Singapore “survived” by transporting various types of raw materials and goods from neighboring Malaysia and Indonesia to the countries of Europe and America.

Lee Kuan Yew tried to improve relations with his neighbors, thanks to successful negotiations in 1963. Singapore is part of the Federation of Malaysia. But after two years, the leadership of the federation breaks all agreements with the mini-country. But despite all the difficulties, Harry Lee maintains calm among the population and finds a way out of the current difficult situation.

The decision taken by the Prime Minister to establish partnerships with Europe, America and Japan directly played a major role in the further development of Singapore. The politician began to think about attracting Western investors to his country, and began to actively invite the world's leading transnational corporations for mutually beneficial cooperation.

But for large-scale financing, arguments alone were not enough, and Lee Kuan Yew took on the task of creating opportunities for cooperation with TNCs. His team developed a project for the construction of a new district - Jurong, and with the help of investors, a modern industrial district soon grew outside the city. The government welcomed all capital investors and contributed in every possible way to their development. Such actions were justified by a colossal influx of finance: from 1965 to 1970, investor investments amounted to more than $4 billion.

At the same time, other projects necessary for life were developed and implemented. Lee Kuan Yew set himself and his team of modernizers seemingly impossible tasks: developing labor-intensive industries, building affordable housing, eliminating corruption, reforming the social sphere, creating new jobs based on fair competitive selection.

The Prime Minister controlled all innovations with very strict methods and monitored the pace of development of the country, concentrating the management of the state in his own hands. The use of the death penalty and other physical punishments contributed to pushing through corruption and intersecting the spread of crime.

Lee Kuan Yew is raising salaries, radically reforming the judicial system and law enforcement agencies, and creating a capable army. The people finally believe in their country, and the politician, through his actions, forms a new patriotic and culturally developed nation. Singapore is becoming an authoritarian state with an incredible amount of prospects.

Modern Singapore is largely thanks to Lee Kuan Yew

Results

Modern Singapore is rightfully considered one of the most naturally clean, economically transparent and industrialized countries in the world.

But how did a simple guy from the outback manage to create the “Singaporean economic miracle”?
Only thanks to his perseverance, sense of patriotism and responsibility to his country was Lee Kuan Yew able to achieve incredible results. This great man had an unusual mindset, he knew how to analyze and calculate the necessary moves in advance. Having enormous willpower, he managed to create a powerful country from numerous small islands.

Today, Singapore occupies a leading position among the most developed countries, has many priorities due to low taxation and. The father of the “Singapore economic miracle” formed a truly great high-tech, economically and culturally developed state.

Singapore Economic Miracle

Singapore only gained its independence in 1965. At this point, the island state was classified as the poorest and most problematic in the world. The country does not have large reserves of natural resources; fresh water was supplied from Malaysia. The Singapore miracle is that today the capital of the state can be compared with New York in America. Thanks to the wise policy of the Prime Minister of the Republic, the economy of this corner of the earth flourished in a short time.

The Singapore miracle is the merit of the country's Prime Minister, Lee Kuan Yew. He was born in 1923, studied in his native country and graduated from Cambridge in Britain. In 1949, after returning home, Lee devoted himself to the practice of law. He was a regular participant in trade union movements. Between 1959 and 1990 he served as Prime Minister. It was under the leadership of this great man that the country managed to move from the category of “third world” countries to the category of the richest states. The prime minister’s unusual policy was based on the desire to revive the country at the expense of a successful and developing people.

The secret of the Singapore miracle is hidden in Lee Kuan Yew's unique approach to the development of the country. He emphasized that all citizens of the state are overly interested in their personal growth and high incomes. The law of natural selection, which plays a key role in nature, was also taken into account. The concept of education under the authorship of Lee formed the basis for dramatic changes. She made it possible to change the statistics according to which the majority of smart and educated women never get married or have children. In parallel to this phenomenon, successful men gave priority to either poor or poorly educated Malaysian women. The Prime Minister decided to form a powerful basis for the development and creation of highly intelligent families that will give birth to a healthy and intelligent generation, which in the future will have a beneficial impact on the economy as a whole.

Under government leadership, two major marriage agencies were formed and contributed to Singapore's economic miracle. The main task of the organizations was to unite men and women of equal intellectual level and social status. One of the agencies still operates today, helping young, highly intelligent people create good families. The second helps other young people in the country. The selection of partners was carried out taking into account the personal characteristics of each person. Employees of the organizations organized personal meetings and created all the conditions for the favorable development of relations. After marriage, the young family received incentives from the state in the form of a housing loan. Uneducated women agreed to sterilization in exchange for solving the housing issue. Highly intelligent representatives of the country, on the contrary, were encouraged to give birth to a child.

The Singapore miracle was made possible not only by the formation of new connections. It was preceded by significant reforms in the education system. It was decided to provide all children with the same development conditions. There was no division among children's schools and kindergartens. Every year, IQ tests were conducted in each educational institution, organized by English scientists. Children who showed the best results automatically became students of the best school in the country, Raffles. It was here that the training of the future leadership of the state took place. This approach provided the country with highly intelligent personnel. There is a shortage of specialists with medium and low qualifications.

Lee Kuan Yew created the Singapore miracle gradually. And it became a natural consequence of an integrated approach to transforming the nation, which took into account numerous factors. The modernized education system has borne fruit. Today the state ranks first in the world in terms of intellectual development. The constant influx of young people with good education and intelligence ensures the continuous development of the state. The system of re-education of citizens has led to a reduction in crime, since chaos and development by their nature are simply incompatible.

Singapore's economic miracle and its causes are based on strong government rule based on the rule of law, which overcame shortcomings such as the lack of natural resources, minerals and fresh water. The world crises of 1998 and 2001 did not affect the country in any way due to its extraordinary development. The country has accepted unquestioning obedience to the law. Any legal violations require full responsibility on the part of the violator, whose social status does not play a role in this matter. Singaporean society is based on discipline at every social level. Family discipline is built on the traditions of three cultures at once: Chinese, Malay and Indian. Residents of Singapore have character traits that are unique in nature, such as a high level of efficiency and cunning, business acumen and a desire for success. The “father” of the Singapore miracle focused attention on another feature of the people - their obedience. A society of law, order and financial success is based on cultural characteristics.

The author of the Singapore miracle, Lee Kuan Yew, was not only involved in restructuring society. During his reign, a decision was made to develop the oil refining business. Cooperation was established with Brunei and Indonesia, which, although they were developing oil deposits, could not process it independently and efficiently. The world's largest companies were invited to implement the project. It was with the help of their funds, experience and connections that today's largest oil refining industry was built. Immediately after the heyday of this segment of the economy, construction began on the first Singapore port, of which there are already four today.

The creator of the Singapore miracle initiated the construction and development of the airport, banking business, electronics sector, trade and tourism. All this became the prerequisites for the splendor of modern Singapore. The state, which was drowning in debt back in the 1970s, now has investments abroad amounting to $300 billion. Moreover, the government has about $200 billion at its disposal for future projects. Singapore, which has a population of about 4 million people, is home to at least 50 thousand millionaires and billionaires. The Singapore miracle, which Lee Kuan Yew created throughout his life, is today considered an example for many countries around the world. Although Lee is now retired, he remains a minister-councillor and proudly bears the title of leader and father of the nation.

According to Lee Kuan Yew, the modern Singapore miracle can be observed thanks to the active attraction of investors to the country in all possible ways. The government literally went out of its way to help foreigners realize their projects. According to unofficial data, foreign investors save at least five hundred billion dollars in the country's banks. Today the country's GDP is equal to 55 thousand dollars per capita. It is by this indicator that the country is almost two times ahead of Saudi Arabia, Great Britain, Germany and even America. The state is also in the forefront in terms of the level of intellectual development of the population. A special part of the history of the island state can be called the fight against corruption. The authorities have significantly simplified decision-making mechanisms and limited the number of permits and licenses. The term of criminal punishment for bribery was significantly increased. There was an expansion of the powers of law enforcement agencies. An investigation, for example, can now be launched due to the families of officials living beyond their means.

Lee Kuan Yew's Singapore economic miracle was not complete without integration into the global banking system. The country received the status of a financial center for making 24-hour banking services possible. The country has filled a niche that was previously vacant. Thus, funds from Zurich, whose banks open at 9 am, are redirected to Frankfurt and then to London. After banks in Zurich close at lunchtime and financial institutions in Frankfurt and London close later, New York takes over, followed by San Francisco. Due to the specifics of time zones, from the moment banks closed in San Francisco until 9 a.m. in Switzerland, the financial world was previously asleep. Today this niche belongs specifically to the banking segment of Singapore. This approach to the development of the financial industry has made the country not only a major financial center in the region, but also provided it with a worthy place on the world stage. According to experts, the Singaporean economic miracle is a standard for how an effective economic system should be built.

Who revived Singapore?

What became the basis for the development of the state?

Marriage agencies - the foundation Under the leadership of the government, two major marriage agencies were formed, which contributed to Singapore's economic miracle. The main task of the organizations was to unite men and women of equal intellectual level and social status. One of the agencies still operates today, helping young, highly intelligent people create good families. The second helps other young people in the country. The selection of partners was carried out taking into account the personal characteristics of each person. Employees of the organizations organized personal meetings and created all the conditions for the favorable development of relations. After marriage, the young family received incentives from the state in the form of a housing loan. Uneducated women agreed to sterilization in exchange for solving the housing issue. Highly intelligent representatives of the country, on the contrary, were encouraged to give birth to a child.

It all starts at a young age

An integrated approach gave stunning results

What is the government's policy based on?

Global changes at the economic level

Encouraging investors and fighting corruption

Integration into the global banking system

What does Singapore look like today?

Since 1965, one of the poorest countries in the world has become the richest state on the planet. What everyone can see today was achieved by Singaporeans solely through their own strength and intellect. The world financial center, decorated in high-tech style, is distinguished by sterile cleanliness. Concern for the environment is evident in a small number of cars. The reason for the lack of traffic jams is hidden in the too high cost of cars and the price of obtaining a permit to drive a vehicle. Pleasant little things that make the life of the country's citizens better are noticeable everywhere. Just look at the benches installed at an angle, allowing everyone sitting to clearly see the number of the approaching vehicle. The country has strict fines. A cigarette butt thrown out of a window can cost the offender about 15 thousand dollars. Not only the country's economy, but all aspects of its life look impeccable.

In connection with the death of Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, the excitement around the so-called “Singapore economic miracle” has once again risen.

They started talking again about how this country, thanks to the wise policy of Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, who is called the “father of the Singapore miracle,” managed to achieve impressive successes in the economy, “to make a dizzying path from a “third world” country to a highly developed state with one of the best standard of living."

When the bourgeois press makes a fuss about a phenomenon, praises it and extols it, this should alert us. From this we can conclude that it serves her interests. And the bourgeoisie has one main interest - to maintain its dominance, to preserve capitalism. To do this, it is necessary to deceive the working people, to make capitalism attractive or at least tolerable for them.

Since the working people of capitalist countries know first-hand how disgusting, cynical and ruthless their own, “domestic” capitalism is, there is only one thing left to do – to create for them an attractive picture of “alien” capitalism. Deceive them with the illusion that somewhere out there there is a bourgeois state, where rivers of milk flow on the banks of jelly, where everyone can become rich, where real “economic miracles” happen. Let the working people in their country suffer from the oppression of capital, poverty, unemployment, from all the ills of the bourgeois system - and at the same time let them believe that there is an “economic miracle” somewhere. And what if you are lucky and a “wise leader” comes to power, he will arrange the same miracle for them. It will suppress corruption and give everyone the opportunity to get rich.

And the workers will not have to change the social system or strive for liberation from the power of the capitalists. On the contrary, it is precisely the capitalists who are destined for the role of benefactors of the working people; it is they who will arrange everything for the better, and create an “economic miracle” for the working people.

This makes the workers hope for a miracle, for a change in their fate by the good will of the capitalist, distracts them from the struggle, and therefore serves the interests of the capitalists.

It is in these forms that the bourgeoisie from time to time praises some capitalist state for its supposedly fantastic economic successes and trumpets about an “economic miracle.”

We decided to find out what the so-called Singapore miracle is and how things are in Singapore. Here's what we found out.

The father of the “miracle” is considered to be Lee Kuan Yew, who was the prime minister and directly ruled the country in 1959-1990, and after that held the positions of senior minister and minister-mentor (that is, he ruled unofficially).

For a long time, Singapore was a British colony. From the beginning of the 17th century and for almost a hundred years, Great Britain fought with Holland for these territories and eventually took possession of them.

Having become a colony, Singapore immediately became part of the British East India Company. British East India Company in fact, it was one of the largest trading monopolies in Great Britain. Created on December 31 by decree of Elizabeth I, it received extensive privileges for trading operations in India. With the help of the East India Company, the British colonization of India and a number of countries in the East was carried out. Britain used Singapore as a trading point on the way to deliver British goods to China. (That is, to spread its economic influence to Southeast Asia and for its further colonization. Please note this point - Singapore, due to its geographical location, has long served to spread the influence of the economically developed West, in particular Great Britain, to Asia, served the colonialist Western policy) To develop trade and implement colonialist policies, the British needed the most modern ports and communication routes in Singapore, and they built them: an overpass across the Strait of Johor, connecting the island with the mainland, a railway through Malacca to Bangkok, etc. Probably for these reasons According to Wikipedia, “Singapore prospered under English rule.” But we know what such “prosperity” actually turned out to be for the local population and due to what it happened - due to the ruthless exploitation of the local population, due to the most brutal colonial rule of the British over the enslaved territories. And if anyone flourished, it was the local nobility, with whose help the colonialists carried out the oppression of the bulk of the natives. But, be that as it may, we see that in Singapore and at the time of colonial dependence, a large number of communication routes were built and trade was actively developing, that is, the preconditions were created for the development of capitalism.

In 1948, in connection with the liberation struggle of the colonial peoples that intensified after the Second World War, the British imperialists, seeking to maintain their dominance over these territories, created the so-called “Malayan Union”. It included the Malay states and parts of the former British crown colony of the Straits Settlements - Penang and Malacca. Singapore, formerly part of this colony, became a separate colony. However, all this could not stop the liberation aspirations of the dependent peoples. The anti-colonial struggle intensified. In 1959, as a result of negotiations, Singapore was declared an "autonomous state" within the British Commonwealth, and in 1965 it became an independent state.

The “father of the Singapore miracle,” Lee Kuan Yew, came to power in 1959 - when Singapore gained autonomy, when colonial dependence on Great Britain was somewhat weakened, but not destroyed. He became prime minister, in fact, the governor of the colonialists. Wikipedia says that “the new government followed a moderate course in both foreign and domestic policies.” What did this mean? In foreign policy, the “moderate course” of the new government was expressed in the fact that it tried to suppress the anti-colonial struggle of its population and compromise with the British imperialists. The authorities, led by the “father of the Singapore miracle,” were afraid that the liberation struggle of Singaporeans against the colonialists could turn into a struggle against their own oppressors who served the imperialists, and sweep them away along with them.

In domestic policy, Lee Kuan Yew’s “moderate course” was expressed in the fact that he methodically cleared the ground for building state-monopoly capitalism in his country. In particular, for this purpose, he organized a brutal persecution of communists. This is stated very frankly and exhaustively on one of the bourgeois resources praising the “Singapore miracle”:

“In Singapore, as in other successful Asian countries (Korea, Taiwan, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia), the Communist Party was crushed and banned, since its ideas would be destructive to the emerging new market relations and the emergence of a class of owners.”

In 1961, a small left wing broke away from the People's Action Party, whose chairman was Lee Kuan Yew. The new party advocated a more courageous and open struggle against the colonialists and called itself socialist. Lee Kuan Yew accused the new party of being a front for the communists. This became a signal for persecution of all communist and socialist parties and trade union movements in the country. The real debacle was Operation Coldstore on February 2, 1963, when 107 left-wing political and trade unionists were arrested under the Internal Security Act. They were accused of having links with Indonesian intelligence, supporting the uprising in Brunei, plotting against the creation of Malaysia and overthrowing the Singaporean government. Without trial or investigation, they spent many years in prison.

Lee Kuan Yew began such an anti-communist policy even before 1965, when Singapore remained a British colony. After gaining independence, he continued and intensified the persecution of communists, making it part of state policy.

Much has been written about how the “father of the Singapore miracle” managed to crack down on corruption. As you know, corruption is an integral attribute of capitalism. And state-monopoly capitalism is the most favorable, ideal environment for corruption. The mining and metals industry provides previously unheard of opportunities for corruption. Therefore, corruption in the mining and metals industry can only be reduced in one way - draconian measures, harsh force actions of state-monopoly capital. This is exactly what Lee Kuan Yew did:

“Lee Kuan began the fight against corruption by simplifying the interpretation of legislation. All ambiguities and loopholes have been removed. Judges' salaries were increased many times over... Almost all of the police were replaced. Officials' salaries were significantly increased and at the same time anti-corruption bodies were created, reporting personally to Lee Kuang. A number of ministers and even relatives of the “dictator” who were convicted of corruption received prison sentences.”

A perfect illustration of What is the “fight against corruption” under the MMC - state-monopoly capital, whose interests are expressed by Lee Kuan Yew, defends with an iron fist its monopoly right to rob the workers and the entire people and inexorably deals with those who encroach on this monopoly. To do this, he strengthens the bureaucracy, seeks to buy its loyalty, gives it high salaries, which again falls on the shoulders of the same workers.

As for the “economic reforms” themselves, as a result of which the “miracle” occurred, they boil down to the following:

- firstly, the Singaporean bourgeoisie, represented by Lee Kuan Yew, provided the world's large monopolies, primarily American ones, with extremely favorable conditions for making profits - low taxes and an abundance of cheap labor. In fact, she sold her workers into slavery to foreign monopolists and, due to this, improved her affairs and became rich (the “father of the Singapore miracle” himself talks about it this way: “We didn’t just welcome every investor, we simply went out of our way to help him start with us production." This policy bore fruit. Through the efforts of American corporations, the foundation was laid for Singapore's large-scale high-tech industry");

– secondly, it turned into an agent of influence of Western, primarily American, financial capital in Asia, turned its country into a stronghold for the further expansion of Western financial capital in the Asian region, and became an active accomplice of Western imperialism. Through Singapore, Western imperialism exports capital to the Asian region and carries out the economic enslavement of the countries of this region.

This is how it is described on a bourgeois resource, where Lee Kuan Yew’s “economic reforms” are praised:

“Lee Kuan built his economic development strategy around the idea of moving into the non-manufacturing sector and turning Singapore into a trade and financial center of Southeast Asia, as well as attracting foreign investors by creating an attractive package of conditions for international companies.”

From all that has been said, it is clear that state-monopoly capitalism has been created in Singapore, and monopoly capital exercises its dominance over the working people and over all layers of society using the most brutal, often outright dictatorial methods. That is, it clearly has fascist features. It is not surprising, therefore, that in 1984 (under the reign of the same Lee Kuan Yew and at his instigation) the Singaporean authorities adopted an openly fascist “Concept of Education”. Here is a text that perfectly shows what this “concept” is:

“The law of natural selection, as one of the fundamental laws of the market, has become the basis for the education of Singapore citizens. Particular attention is paid to raising children. The concept of education was developed by Prime Minister of Singapore Lee Kuan Yew in 1984. It is based on eugenics, the theory of a person's hereditary health and ways to improve it. Singaporean sociologists have noticed that many highly educated women do not marry and do not have children, and many men marry poor, uneducated Malay and Indian women. Lee Kuan Yew ordered the creation of a powerful base for the creation of normal families capable of raising and raising healthy and smart children.

Two marriage agencies were created under the patronage of the government. Their goal is to arrange marriages between couples of comparable social and intellectual levels. The first agency is called the Department of Social Development, or SSD. It deals with educated young people. The second agency is the Social Development Service, or SSD. Their clientele is all other young people.

Both agencies work with the involvement of serious specialists: psychologists, sociologists and doctors. Here they not only select a partner for a young man, taking into account all personal characteristics, but also create conditions for meetings, including one-on-one... Uneducated women are offered sterilization after the birth of their second child in exchange for solving the housing problem. Intellectual women will also receive considerable encouragement, but only if they give birth to more than three children.”

There’s no need to even comment on anything here. Everything is clear - this is pure fascism, and there is no other way to call it. The bourgeoisie mates the working people like cattle at a breeding station in order to obtain from them the slaves they require.

And here it is impossible not to point out something to those sick in the head who equate communism with fascism. Look at how the Soviet government, the power of the working class, acted in its time. She taught the uneducated, gave them the opportunity to join education and culture, and assisted them in this in every possible way. And the fascist government, the reactionary dictatorship of capital, forces the uneducated to be sterilized.

And another frankly fascist feature of Singaporean capitalism. Financial capital, rigidly dominating the working people, not only completely subordinates their entire lives to its interests, completely sucks and devastates them, but despotically selects the most intelligent and talented children in order to subsequently force them to serve themselves, their interests, to use their intelligence and talent in for your purposes. Here's the quote again:

“All kids receive the same starting conditions. Kindergartens and primary schools are not divided into elite and non-elite. But once a year, global IQ testing is carried out for all 11-12 year olds. It is organized by the British - the world's best specialists in determining the level of intelligence. So Singaporean parents cannot use their family and other connections to influence the outcome.

The best of the best get into elite educational institutions. Raffles School is the most successful. Without exaggeration, the future leadership of the country learns here. Classes here start at 7.30 am and end at 18.00. Children of poor parents also study here. Their studies are fully paid for by the state.».

As we see, monopoly capital vigilantly monitors the development of children in order to notice the talented children of workers in time and take possession of them, and from an early age begin to educate their obedient servants from them. There are two goals here - firstly, to get capable slaves, and secondly, to eliminate the possibility that these children, born to the poor, will eventually begin to serve their class and become the proletarian intelligentsia. To deprive the working class of those who could subsequently become a spokesman for its interests and lead it in the struggle for its liberation. Many poor parents are happy if their smart and talented children get into a free elite school, and hope that they will go out into the world. But capital does nothing for nothing. It is not for nothing that he invests money in the education of these children. He wants to take possession of them, so that he can then suck out their intelligence and talent, making them his assistants in the oppression and enslavement of the working people - that is, the enemies of his own parents.

The same fascist project - and with the same goal - is beginning to be implemented here in Russia. They are already preparing to try this project in Transbaikalia.

As we can see, the “Singapore economic miracle” is a lie. The economic paradise that the bourgeoisie paints for us turns out, upon closer examination, to be a nightmare, an openly fascist capitalist regime. The vaunted father of the miracle, Lee Kuan Yew, is a complete, convinced fascist, persecutor of communists, enemy of the working class and zealous servant of finance capital.

Well, as for the notorious Singaporean prosperity and victory over corruption, here are the facts. We quote excerpts from bourgeois sources, from which everything becomes clearer than clear.

First, on the topic of supposedly universal economic prosperity in Singapore

“And right on the first day, while walking around the city, we met several “friends” who were collecting bottles and sleeping on a bench in the park.

Who are these tramps and why do they live on the streets in this richest state?

These are pensioners. The fact is that there are no pensions in Singapore. Elderly people should be supported by children. And if the children turn out to be not very positive or wealthy people, then each parent has only one fate - to remain in old age on the street, since maintaining housing in Singapore is quite expensive.”

“But there are also slums here. If you take the time to move a little away from the city center, you will meet many poor people. A paradise for a foreigner, Singapore is a harsh homeland. The legislation of this city is one of the most cruel in the world. Thus, punishment with canes and hanging still exist here, and even calls for violence and suspicious conversations on the Internet are considered crimes.”.

This is on the topic of the origins of the “economic miracle”

« However, the development of Singapore has begun at a rapid pace only in recent decades. Thanks to its offshore zone status, low taxation and, frankly speaking, legislation favorable to foreigners, Singapore has become one of the centers of the world economy. The offices of the world's leading companies are located here, and those who would like to be tax-free register their organizations here. Those small deductions that still have to be made are the main source of income for Singapore. And this income is enough to keep the entire state in order.”

And finally, about “victory over corruption”

“A Japanese diplomat wrote in his almost native Vladivostok: “You won’t believe it, but what in Russia is usually called “democracy”, and you, as a journalist, call “freedom of speech” is practically absent in Singapore. There seem to be 3 parties in parliament, but 98 percent of the seats are occupied by the ruling party. You can get any newspaper in the world, but the local press is exclusively loyal to the government. This country is like one large corporation, all of whose citizens are arranged in a hierarchy in the staffing table and are personally interested in the successful financial and economic activities of this large company, which can be called Singapore Incorporated...

Yes, these are the facts about the “Singapore miracle”. This miracle is not for everyone, as it turns out, but for a minority of society. If the minority, the Singaporean bourgeoisie, enjoys all the blessings of life, then the ordinary working people of Singapore, the majority, are oppressed by poverty and concern for a piece of bread. The origins of this miracle are in financial scams, in the fact that the Singaporean bourgeoisie helps Western capital launder money and spread its influence in Southeast Asia and lives off this. And corruption, of course, has not been defeated at all. Singapore's rulers have to constantly suppress it with the most draconian measures. Which is not surprising, since under capitalism corruption cannot be defeated at all. Here people are beaten with sticks and hanged, they are put in prison even for “calls for violence” - that is, for the slightest attempt by workers to resist the power of capital.

So this is what it looks like up close, this Singaporean miracle, which is so diligently advertised by bourgeois ideologists in order to deceive us with a picture of tempting capitalism.

Photo

Car parking in Singapore skyscrapers

Photos of Singaporean poverty