It gets worse. Ambassador Chan’s audience is then bizarrely told that Singapore is criticised for not being “your average Anglo-American democracy” because the Singapore political system is founded on a “Westminster” parliamentary model. The last I checked, the Westminster parliamentary system was originally created by England, that very Anglo-Saxon country.
And then we are told that “Singapore is a democracy.”
Why? Apparently, this is because:
“Democracy is a concept best understood in reality as elastic. There are basic criteria that must be met. The most important is free and fair elections. Beyond that, countries have more or less democracy – some countries are more democratic than others.”
It may be the case that amongst some relativist political science circles that such a shallow conception of democracy is pretty much good enough as far as democracy goes. But illiberal democracy, while better than no democracy whatsoever, is a low standard. It is also really isn’t quite good enough for an industrialised developed nation like Singapore which wants to be a serious player in the big league, competing with the other developed countries in the world. Ambassador Chan admits as much to this towards the end of her speech when she says that “fewer restrictions and regulations mean greater space for a diversity of ideas, and foster creativity and innovation. Democratic liberal culture can spur competitiveness and innovation.”
- http://www.publichouse.sg/categories/topstory/item/571-ambassador’s-smug-take-on-illiberal-democracy
And then we are told that “Singapore is a democracy.”
Why? Apparently, this is because:
“Democracy is a concept best understood in reality as elastic. There are basic criteria that must be met. The most important is free and fair elections. Beyond that, countries have more or less democracy – some countries are more democratic than others.”
It may be the case that amongst some relativist political science circles that such a shallow conception of democracy is pretty much good enough as far as democracy goes. But illiberal democracy, while better than no democracy whatsoever, is a low standard. It is also really isn’t quite good enough for an industrialised developed nation like Singapore which wants to be a serious player in the big league, competing with the other developed countries in the world. Ambassador Chan admits as much to this towards the end of her speech when she says that “fewer restrictions and regulations mean greater space for a diversity of ideas, and foster creativity and innovation. Democratic liberal culture can spur competitiveness and innovation.”
- http://www.publichouse.sg/categories/topstory/item/571-ambassador’s-smug-take-on-illiberal-democracy
