Forging a Singaporean Statehood: 1965-1995: The Contribution of Japan

This work takes an in-depth look at the multi-faceted contemporary relationship between Singapore and Japan since the end of World War II. It is the story of a relationship between an economic superpower, Japan, and an enterprising city-state whose leaders have sought to emulate not only Japan’s economic success but several key facets of Japanese society as well. No other country surpasses Singapore in its public admiration of Japan. How is it possible for a multi-ethnic Singapore to emulate a relatively homogeneous Japan? What features of Japanese society could be adapted to Singaporean society? More importantly what were the economic and political motives behind the attempt to emulate Japan? These and other questions and addressed in this work, which will be of interest to scholars of the international relations and security of East and Southeast Asia.