Confucian Democracy

We take the case of Singapore.  Human Rights Watch, in its 2008 report, writes that Singapore remains an authoritarian government that strictly curbs freedom of expression, assembly and association.  All political activities are also tightly controlled.  The Singaporean government also retains and continues to apply criminal and internal security laws that allow for prolonged detention of suspects without trial.  Each year, several thousands of people, including illegal immigrants and other people convicted of crimes, are beaten – that is, caned – as part of their punishment.  And despite recent reforms, authorities also fail to guarantee basic rights for the hundreds of thousands of domestic workers in the country.

But, what is interesting to note is, unlike Cuba under Fidel Castro or USSR during the Cold War, Singapore’s economy is consistently showing high growth rates.  Unemployment rate is kept quite low; and quality amenities are provided for all its citizens.  When one thinks of residing in Singapore, one expects quality residential facilities to avail of.  Schools in the country are international standard, too.  These, among others, account for just a very few number of Singaporeans who are leaving their country to settle in another land.  These also explain why the countries of, say, Oman and Malaysia deliberately study the Singaporean system and adapt what applies to them.

In literatures, there’s always an attempt to understand Singapore through the prism of democracy-versus-economic-development.  Of course, from this perspective, Singapore’s being authoritarian is emphasized.

But, is Singapore really inimical to democracy?  Or do we just need to have a new point of view in understanding the political phenomenon that is Singapore?

The founder of modern day Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew, has always been saying that democracy in Singapore is vibrant and that it is informed by Asian values.  Asia is, of course, home to the great religions of the world.  And, since Singapore is peopled by the Chinese, it is but understandable that Lee Kuan Yew and others would take pride in what they call the marriage between Confucianism and democracy.  Fact is, there’s even an attempt among some Asian intellectuals to brand the Singapore democracy as Confucian democracy.

But can there be Confucian democracy?  Can there be a marriage between Confucianism and democracy?

At the surface level, it would appear like we are going to attempt to fuse the ideals and traditions by the West and the East.  But, according to Lee Teng-Hui, in an article published in the Harvard International Review (September 22 1999), between these two “cultures,” there is going to be no contradiction.  Actually, Lee claims, Confucianism is even a facilitating factor – as the traditional, host culture – that brings about democracy in Asia, and particularly Singapore.  It is because Confucianism, like Christianity or Buddhism, is adaptable to different political systems.