China is a vast, disparate country; there is no alternative to strong central power.
Lee Kuan YewRead
You’re talking about Rwanda or Bangladesh, or Cambodia, or the Philippines. They’ve got democracy, according to Freedom House. But have you got a civilised life to lead? People want economic development first and foremost. The leaders may talk something else. You take a poll of any people. What is it they want? The right to write an editorial as you like? They want homes, medicine, jobs, schools.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Democracy is not enough; people prioritize basic needs like jobs and healthcare over political freedoms.
In this quote, Lee Kuan Yew emphasizes that while democracy is often lauded as a fundamental right, the reality in many developing countries is that citizens prioritize economic stability and access to essential services over political freedoms. He argues that leaders may speak about democracy, but the true desires of the populace focus on their immediate needs, such as employment, healthcare, education, and a decent living standard. This highlights the importance of economic development as a precursor to political expression.
Themes
DemocracyEconomic DevelopmentBasic NeedsCivilized LifeFreedom
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about the importance of prioritizing economic development in policy-making.
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Political reform need not go hand in hand with economic liberalization.. I hold unconventional views about this.. I do not believe if you are a libertarian, full of diverse opinions, full of competing ideas in the market place, full of sound and fury, therefore you will succeed.
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The human being is an unequal creature. That is a fact. And we start off with the proposition. All the great religions, all the great movements, all the great political ideology, say let us make the human being as equal as possible. In fact, he is not equal, never will be.
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They say, oh, let’s have multiparty politics. Let’s have different parties change and be in charge of the Government. Is it that simple? You vote in a Division Three government, not a Division One government, and the whole economy will just subside within three, four years. Finished.
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America's greatest long-term influence on China comes from playing host to the thousands of students who come from China each year, some of the ablest Chinese scholars and scientists. They will be the most powerful agents for change in China.
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