Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

PAP Vulnerability and the Singapore Governance Model: Findings from the Asian Barometer Survey

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Book cover The Limits of Authoritarian Governance in Singapore’s Developmental State

  • 1670 Accesses

Abstract

This chapter looks at how Singaporeans view the governance of the People’s Action Party (PAP) and finds that there are considerable differences in views. The focus is on three dimensions of governance—one party dominance, immigration policy, and Singapore as a ‘model’ of development, but it also includes assessments of other public perceptions of governance such as corruption. The analysis is based on the findings of the Asian Barometer Surveys of 2010 and 2014. Using a statistical multilogit model we explore who and why Singaporeans are divided on its development trajectory and find that there is considerable variation and inconsistency with regard to views of governance in Singapore. Despite this variation, the PAP is facing more pressure from the public to maintain its political legitimacy.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 109.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 139.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Notes

  1. 1.

    See http://bridgetwelsh.com/v2/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/WelshGE2015-Survey-Singapore-Final.pdf

  2. 2.

    In 2015, Singapore was ranked eighth in the world. https://www.transparency.org/country/#SGP. In 2017, that number increased to six.

  3. 3.

    In 2014, Singapore ranked fifth on the Economist’s crony capitalist index. http://www.economist.com/news/international/21599041-countries-where-politically-connected-businessmen-are-most-likely-prosper-planet. In 2016, Singapore’s ranking rose to fourth globally. See: http://www.economist.com/blogs/graphicdetail/2016/05/daily-chart-2

Bibliography

  • Barr, M. (2014). The Ruling Elite of Singapore: Networks of Power and Influence. United Kingdom: IB Tauris.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Cho-Oon K. (1996). Singapore: Political Legitimacy through Managing Conformity, In M. Alagappa (Ed.), Political Legitimacy in Southeast Asia (pp. 108−135). Stanford: Stanford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chua B. H. (1997). Political Legitimacy and Housing: Stakeholding in Singapore. London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chua, V., Tan, E. S., Koh, G. (2017). A Study of Social Capital in Singapore. http://lkyspp2.nus.edu.sg/ips/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2017/11/Study-of-Social-Capital-in-Singapore_281217.pdf. Accessed January 20, 2018.

  • da Cunha, D. (2012). Breakthrough: Roadmap for Singapore’s Political Future, Singapore: Institute of Policy Studies.

    Google Scholar 

  • Diamond, L. and Morlino, L. (2004). The Quality of Democracy: An Overview. Journal of Democracy, 15(3), 20−31.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • East Asia Forum. (2015a, September 15). Singapore’s PAP wins over the youth and secures its future,

    Google Scholar 

  • East Asia Forum. (2015b, September 16). PAP’s win silences its critics.

    Google Scholar 

  • Institute Policy Studies. (2015). https://lkyspp.nus.edu.sg/docs/default-source/ips/pops-8_slides_ge2015_061115.pdf?sfvrsn=91f6610a_2

  • ISEAS Perspective. (2013, February 4). Singapore’s Population White Paper: Impending Integration Challenges,

    Google Scholar 

  • Hussin M. (2012). Singapore Malays: Being Malay, Muslim and Minority in a Global City-State. London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kausikan, B. (1997). Governance that Works, Journal of Democracy, 8(2), pp. 24−34.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lee, D, Jeoung, K. P. and Chae, S. (2011). Measuring Social Capital in East Asia and other World Regions: An Index of Social Capital, Global Economic Review, 9(4), pp. 385−407.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lim, J. (2015). Popular Nationalism in the Wake of the 2011 National Elections in Singapore. Japanese Journal of Political Science, 16(2), pp. 143−159.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Norris, P. (2011). Democracy Deficit: Critical Citizens Revisited. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Ong, E. (2015). Complementary Institutions of Authoritarian Regimes: Constituency Service in Singapore, Journal of East Asia Studies, 15, pp. 361−390.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ortmann, S. (2010). Singapore: the politics of inventing national identity. Journal of Current Southeast Asian Affairs, 28(4), pp. 23−46.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Population White Paper. (2013). Sustainable Population for a Dynamic Singapore. Singapore, National Population and Talent Division.

    Google Scholar 

  • Putnam, R., Leonardi, R., and Nanetti, R. Y. (1994). Making Democracy Work: Civic Traditions in Modern Italy. Princeton: Princeton University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Rahim, L. Z. (1999). The Singapore Dilemma: The Political and Educational Marginality of the Malay Community. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rahim, L. Z. (2015). Reclaiming Singapore’s Growth with Equity Social Compact, Japanese Journal of Political Science 16 (2), 160−176.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rodan, G. (1993). The Growth of Singapore’s Middle Class and Its Political Significance. In G. Rodan (Ed.) Singapore Changes Guard: Social, Political and Economic Directions in the 1990s (pp. 52−71). London: Allen and Unwin.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rodan, G. (2004). Transparency and Authoritarian Rule in Southeast Asia: Singapore and Malaysia. London: Routledge.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Rodan, G. (2016). Capitalism, inequality and ideology in Singapore: New challenges for the ruling party. Asian Studies Review. 40(2), 211−230.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Singh, B. (2016). Singapore’s 2015 General Election: Explaining PAP’s Resounding Win, The Round Table, The Commonwealth Journal of International Affairs. 105(2), 129−140.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tan E. S. (2004a). Does Class Matter: Social Stratification and Orientations in Singapore. Singapore: World Scientific.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Tan, E. K. B. (2004b). Multiracialism and Meritocracy in Singapore: Conventional Wisdom Reconsidered. Asia Pacific Research Center’s Southeast Asia Forum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tan, N. (2014). Why no Liberalizing Outcome? Singapore’s Hegemonic Party Regime after the 2011 Elections, Paper presented at the Dominant Party Systems Conference, University of Michigan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tan E. S. and Wang Z. (2007). Are Younger People Becoming More Democratic? Lifecycle Effects of Generational Change Asian Barometer Working Paper. 36.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tan, K. Y. L. and Lee, T. (Eds.). (2011). Voting in Change: Politics of Singapore’s 2011 General Election. Singapore: Ethos Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tan, K. Y. L. and Lee, T. (Eds.). (2016). Change in Voting: Singapore’s 2015 General Election. Singapore: Ethos Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Taylor, R. H. (1996). The Politics of Elections in Southeast Asia. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • The Straits Times. (2015, November 4). GE2015: 7 Takeaways from the IPS post-election conference that explains PAP’s dominance.

    Google Scholar 

  • The Diplomat. (2016, January 26). Singapore wants to Tweak its Political System.

    Google Scholar 

  • The Diplomat. (2017, June 27). ‘Squabbling Lees Highlight Singapore’s Dynastic Dilemma’. Taylor. R. H. (1996) The Politics of Elections in Southeast Asia. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thompson, M. (2001). Whatever Happened to ‘Asian Values’? Journal of Democracy 12(3), 154−165.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vadaketh, S. and Low, D. (2014). Hard Choices: Challenging the Singapore Consensus. Singapore: National University of Singapore.

    Google Scholar 

  • Varshney, A. (2003). Ethnic Conflict and Civic Life: Hindus and Muslims in India New Haven: Yale University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Welsh, B. (2011). Does Difference Matter: Particular and National Identities in Singapore’s 2011 General Election, In K. Tan and T. Lee (Eds.). Voting in Change: Politics of Singapore’s 2011 General Election (pp. 91−114). Singapore: Ethos Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Welsh, B. (2016a). Clientelism and Control: PAP’s Fight for Safety in GE2015. The Round Table, The Commonwealth Journal of International Affairs. 105(2), 119−128.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Welsh, B. (2016b). Political Identities, Engagement and Voting in Singapore’s 2015 Election. In K. Tan and T. Lee (Eds.). Change in Voting: Singapore’s 2015 General Election (pp. 191−219). Singapore: Ethos Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Welsh, B. and Chang, A. (2015). Choosing China: Public Perceptions of ‘China as a Model’. Journal of Contemporary China. 24(93), 377−397.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yap M. T. (2014). Singapore’s Population Conundrum: The Great Balancing Act 2. In D. Singh (Ed.) Southeast Asian Affairs 2013 (pp. 274−84). Singapore: ISEAS.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yap M. T., Koh, G. & Soon, D. (Eds.) (2015). Migration and Integration in Singapore: Policies and Practices. London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. John Cabot University, Rome, Italy

    Bridget Welsh

  2. IPSAS, Taipei, Taiwan

    Alex H. Chang

Authors
  1. Bridget Welsh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Alex H. Chang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Bridget Welsh .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Government and International Relations, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia

    Lily Zubaidah Rahim

  2. College of Business, Government and Law, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, Australia

    Michael D. Barr

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2019 The Author(s)

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Welsh, B., Chang, A.H. (2019). PAP Vulnerability and the Singapore Governance Model: Findings from the Asian Barometer Survey. In: Rahim, L.Z., Barr, M.D. (eds) The Limits of Authoritarian Governance in Singapore’s Developmental State. Palgrave Macmillan, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-1556-5_9

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation