Lee Kuan Yew: The Beliefs Behind the Man

by Michael D. Barr

Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore's first prime minister (from 1959 to1990), has been an international figure not only for establishing Singapore's political and economic stability but also for fostering economic development throughout Asia. He is particularly renowned as a principle architect of the 'Asian values' campaign of the 1990s, which sought to preserve the undemocratic traits of Asian culture while attending to the demands of a capitalist economy operating globally.

A critical examination of Lee's life, career, and ideas, this is the first book to analyze the origins and substance of Lee's political thought. Augmenting established primary sources with his own interviews and correspondence with Lee's old associates, Barr shows how Lee has been influenced by British and Chinese racism and elitism, western progressivism, and even the cultural evolutionism of Arnold Toynbee. This reassessment of Lee's achievements and worldview sheds new light on a key figure on the world stage.

Genres: Asia

288 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 2000

Reviews

[Choong Chiat · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book seeks to critically examine key aspects (historical progressivism, elitism and cultural evolutionism) of the late Lee Kuan Yew's worldview, how they apparently originated due to his experiences as a child/youth and young adult and how they have shaped the development of Singapore under his leadership. I would say that the book has succeeded but not fully in accomplishing these three broad goals. This book does provide some interesting assertions, e.g. that Lee's governance style is essentially a combination of Confucianism and Chinese Legalism, but does not really go deep into them. Recommend that this book be read together with "Lee Kuan Yew: The Man and His Ideas", another book which this book draws much upon, for a fuller appreciation of Lee's worldview.

[Stephen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great thesis

[Chris Kipp · Rating 3 out of 5]

While the author states this isn't a biography, it uses a lot of biographical frameworks. It got to be a bit confusing because of the similarity of it being a biography but not always following that framework. Overall, it's a solid academic resource about Lee Kuan Yew.

[Thamrong · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a biography instead his beliefs, his vocation, his great intellectual prowess and ideology.

[Tamara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book - fascinating life and leader

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

A bold and fascinating look into the man behind the conundrum that is modern Singapore.