Despite being a tiny lost city-state in the middle of Southeast Asia, Singapore is one of the most talked-about and admired countries in the world: for its cleanliness, its efficiency, and its hyper-modern metropolis appeal. Yet it is less frequently talked about how it is that Singapore arrived at its current status as a trade and financial hub, the measures taken by Lee Kuan Yew-the nation's father-and the policies implemented by his party, the People's Action Party. While it is true that all that glitters is not gold, Singapore - amidst borderline sham elections, excessive punishment and veiled suppression of dissent - is not showing itself to the world as it really is.

Sources:
Morgenbesser, Leo (2016), The autocratic mandate: elections, legitimacy and regime stability in Singapore
Mutalib, Hussin (2000), Illiberal Democracy and the Future of Opposition in Singapore
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