Is the People's Action Party Here to Stay?:Analysing the Resilience of the One-Party Dominant State in Singapore

by Bilveer Singh

This book examines the staying power of the People's Action Party, a political party that has governed Singapore since June 1959. A political titan with few chinks in its armour, the party has kept winning elections under three prime ministers and Singapore is about to witness a transition to the fourth prime minister. The party's seemingly unstoppable sterling performance makes the issue of the durability of the PAP highly critical. In light of the serious weakness of the Opposition and the strong performance legitimacy of the ruling party, it is worthwhile asking the question, can the PAP stumble and fall? Addressing this question is highly relevant given that similar political parties and structures have almost all collapsed elsewhere — the Barisan Nasional as the latest casualty with its defeat in Malaysia's 2018 General Elections. With an extensive coverage on domestic and international issues, up-to-date developments on the finalisation of the PAP's 4G leadership, the Workers' Party town council saga, and the efforts to form an opposition coalition led by Tan Cheng Bock are also analysed in this book.

Genres: Politics

332 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 7, 2019

Reviews

[Sense Hofstede · Rating 2 out of 5]

Badly written, shallow analysis and weak structure, and lacks substantive engagement with the relevant academic literature. Its main contribution is the quotation of large amount of primary sources. But the author does not seriously engage with the repressive elements of the PAP’s dominance or with the carefully crafted national narrative, instead arguing that the dominance stems from the PAP’s excellence and the Opposition’s mistakes. Large parts of actual analysis are not done by the author himself, but brought in through blockquoting others.

[Alphonsus Chong · Rating 3 out of 5]

OK. Some interesting ideas. Book would benefit from much tighter editing. Historical aspects were most interesting to me.

[Neil H · Rating 5 out of 5]

The whole world was talking about Singapore's success story as an ill abandoned island from Malaysia in 1965. From there the People's Action Party formed a government and took Singapore from a recently decolonised state to a first world country. What were the magic formulations? How is it that a country premised on the back of its esteemed nation state founder of Lee Kuan Yew able to carry and perpetuate over 50 years of its parties rule. A dominant one party rule in a state of multi party electoral participation. Mr Singh has written a persuasive account dealing with the PAP not just being able to rule but to have a discursive dominant sociological, economical and political climate which the population grows up with an identifying as its core interests. No easy task considering the electorates coming of intellectual independence and its exposure to global mobility and its technological access to information. The challenges facing the PAP is instructive if it'll stay beyond the heretofore unclaimed democratic one party rule of 70 years or will its hegemonic hold be diluted in some benign form. A required reading whose narrative is as exciting as compelling.

[Leroy Lim · Rating 3 out of 5]

2nd time reading this and did so in light of coming SG elections in 2025.

Overall not too bad and presents a fair view of the political landscape in Singapore, how the PAP had been able to become the dominant political party, and how they have been able to maintain it till date. It also explores some issues around political opposition, diversity, and regional politics to provide a fuller perspective of the situation.

Not too academic but not too light either. Reads like an extended commentary and would be accessible for the average reader. However, if you’re looking for something meaty, this might be too light for you.

[Joshua · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book between nomination day and polling day, completing the book after the final GE 2020 results were out.

Reading the latter part of the book in light of the surprising GE 2020 results was illuminating. The scenario of a diminished PAP presence in the coming years came somewhat true.

The author points a extended length of pap dominance though, so it remains to be seen whether reality would turn out that way. The next instructive milestone would be PE 2022, and thereafter GE 2025.

[Kyran Chew · Rating 4 out of 5]

A balanced assessment of the PAP's dominance as well as the Opposition's failure to challenge. My only critique is that it didn't really add anything new to the table, mainly a discussion of things we already know. Overall, a good read for people new and interested in Singapore's politics and the unique nature of our democracy.