Lion City: Singapore and the Invention of Modern Asia

by Jeevan Vasagar

A compelling, illuminating and evocative history of Singapore—the world's most successful city-state.

In 1965, Singapore's GDP per capita was on a par with Jordan. Now it has outstripped Japan. After the Second World War and a sudden rupture with newly formed Malaysia, Singapore found itself independent - and facing a crisis. It took the bloody-minded determination and vision of Lee Kuan Yew, its founding premier, to take a small island of diverse ethnic groups with a fragile economy and hostile neighbours and meld it into Asia's first globalised city.

Lion City examines the different faces of Singaporean life - from education and health to art, politics and demographic challenges - and reveals how in just half a century, Lee forged a country with a buoyant economy and distinctive identity. It explores the darker side of how this was achieved too; through authoritarian control that led to it being dubbed 'Disneyland with the death penalty'.

Jeevan Vasagar, former Singapore correspondent for the Financial Times, masterfully takes us through the intricate history, present and future of this unique diamond-shaped island one degree north of the equator, where new and old have remained connected. Lion City is a personal, insightful and definitive guide to the city, and how its extraordinary rise is shaping East Asia and the rest of the world.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Asia, Politics, Economics

336 pages, Paperback

Published September 1, 2022

Reviews

[Гери]

Вляозох зад лъскавите небостъргачи на Сингапур, където един апартамент може да се купи сигурно за половин софийска панелка, гражданите ѝ носят маркови стоки и обикалят скъпите заведения, една отскоро независима страна, чиито местни обитатели отдавна са загинали остаивли само името на острова и затовастрашно небгалгоприятна земя без собствена питейна вода се превръща в един вид експеримент за китайското мнозинство. Те преобразяват не само населението но и самия остров, лишавайки ги от блатата и давайки му вида на мегаполис, който те първа щес ебори с променящата се природа, която му носи жега и тропически болести. Експериментът не е неуспешен, може би нелогичен, една първата страна, която прави операции за смяна на пола и признава промяната, a са забранени еднополови бракове, вдъхновяват се за конфуцианските ценности, към които са по-изпълнителни и от китайците и приветстват смъртното наказание. Видях и бедността, скритите бордеи с азиатски робини и нископлатен труд.
Страна без питейна вода, която обаче от 60-те години не е имала режим на водата, защото иска технически напредък.
Авторитаризъм, който до днес се бори с марксизма като не го приема за другата страна на монетата, но страна, в която усиленият труд и учене все пак може да те вкарат в скъпите климатизирани небостъргачи империя построена от бедни и неграмотни работници.
Все пак по успеха на страната личи, че е прихванала проблемите на съвременното общество, застаряващо население и пробудени творци.
Не знам дали би имал същият успех ако през цялото това време не беше ръководен от твърдата ръка или вече би се превърнал в част от някоя съседна страна, защото виждаме как демокрациите се провалят по света, автокрациите избуяват, но ние просто нямаме по-добро, може би трябваше да е девизът на Ли Куан и той просто избърза и го сътвори такъв..
Жалко че нямат място за една писателка, която не шофира, обича и височините и плажовете, обича да се разхожда и малките пространства и говори развален мандарин, но Сингапур няма нужда от мигранти, даже се стреми да смени нископлатената работна ръка с роботи.

[Carles · Rating 4 out of 5]

During my trip to Singapore I was fascinated by the tiny city-state. With this book I learnt so much more about it, its history, leadership and how it is run and managed. Really good reading.

[Swapnil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed the initial few chapters of the book which talked about the history of the city state. However, the latter half of the book was sometimes illuminating but did not offer much new information.

Overall a pretty solid read into undoubtedly a successful case of nation building. The contrasts that are usually not mentioned when talking about Singapore- such as the wealth inequality, the political repression, and the role of government as parent that provides but is strict is really well brought out in the book. The book does good job at proving a view from inside the state into how it is possible to create and sustain a highly free market but a socially and politically authoritarian state.

[Justin Goldman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was pleasantly surprised to find this fist book from Jeevan Vasagar, former Singapore and Malaysia correspondent for the Financial Times, prominently displayed on the new books shelf of our local library. This is a thoughtful, journalistic account as he scans the history of Singapore leading up to its present day circumstances. He moves through the history quickly, but he sets the scene well for someone unfamiliar with Singapore's path. The country is well known for its struct libel laws which does challenge journalists to carry out their reporting. To be fair, Reporters Without Borders ranked the country 139/180 for 2022, a jump of 21 points from the 160/180 ranking in 2021 so the challenge to control information flow is slowly evolving. Jeevan's interest in Singapore begins with his family as his Father, born in 1932, left Ceylon as a teenage stowaway bound for Singapore, then still British colonial territory. This book gets into familiar issues of discussion within Singapore from education to demographics as well as the challenge to find an equilibrium in its relations with great powers. It was interesting to read this work as Singapore's Finance Minister Lawrence Wong was recently named as next in line to transition power from Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. Like so many matters it has maneuvered in its relatively short history, Singapore will be challenged to strike that balance in a populist era and less deference from Singaporeans that was part of the late Mr. Lee Kuan Yew's push to rapidly move "From Third World to First."

[Elfear · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of the most interesting things I learnt is that the word "compound" in its architectural meaning in English came from the Malay word "Kampong".

Besides that, I don't think I learnt anything completely new. The best I can say is that I don't know much beyond the basics about Singapore's leftist or communist past (whatever was non-PAP) hence I did get acquainted with more details. I'm not sure I really care to know much more but maybe that's my political apathy and general comfort with my life in Singapore.

Nonetheless I think this book did a really good job of almost pulling me out of it. Might actually have planted a seed that will eventually sprout. Let's see.

It was a well written and thoughtful read, I enjoyed it. I think the author generally captured the spirit of the people. Would recommend it based on all that. I don't think I can comment well on its accuracy, this is my first independent foray into understanding Singapore's past and her current struggles.

[Timothy Lim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Could identify with a lot of the themes. Great research but got a bit repetitive. To sum it up, it’s a benevolent dictatorship that leads the country to new heights, albeit with rising tensions simmering in society.

[Ethan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A breezily written introduction to Singaporean history and society, but a bit too heavy on the journalese. The author is ex-FT, and this book reads like 10x FT Big Reads bundled together.

[Reza Amiri Praramadhan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Singapore is my vision of a perfect place for living. A modern, rich, island-state ruled by an authoritarian, but highly competent, ruling party which had ruled Singapore since it early days of independence uninterruptedly. It managed to transformed itself from an island colony fraught by ethnic and class conflict into an economic powerhouse managing to punch above its own weight. Its success story has become source of inspiration for various kinds of people, from American Right-wing Libertarians to African Dictators, all saw Singapore as result of a successful experiment of a country where economic development need not to be accompanied by democratic reforms.

However, there are another side of Singapore's face. after all, it is nicknamed 'Disneyland with Death Penalty,' while its system of government is called 'benevolent authoritarianism', or 'authoritarianism with gucci handbags'. Every dissent is dealt harshly, but effectively, especially during Lee Kuan Yew, the nation's founding father and first Prime Minister's long tenure. However, Singapore's government has shown its pragmatism, shown by its acceptance for the need of opening up its political valve by gradually allowing greater public participation in politics, while showing more compassion towards the more unlucky and vulnerable members of Singaporean Society. This Book managed to capture Singapore as a whole by discussing various aspects of Singapore's anomalous existence, such as its economic miracle, its heavy-handedness, the underlying ethnic and socio-economic tensions, the Singaporean Dream of wealth, the list goes on and on.

Overall, I love Singapore, and this book confirms my longtime infatuation with many aspects of it. While I have been familiar with the draconian and authoritarian tendencies of its ruling regime, this book opened my eyes more on these issues by pointing out some particular cases of people who wittingly, or unwittingly stepped out of the line and bashed mercilessly. A very interesting book on a very, very, interesting topic for me.

[Andrew]

Singapore is a country that presents a conundrum for policymakers. A low-taxing, business-friendly city-state, it is now one of the richest nations in the world. Conservative think tanks consistently rate Singapore – where labour, capital and goods are able to move freely with minimal government intervention – as having the most “economic freedoms” in the world.

Yet dig a little deeper and you'll find that Singapore is a state characterised by strong government and comprehensive provision of services, including near-universal government housing. Its world-leading educational success is driven by its government school system. Its economy has been shaped by an active industry policy, with government unafraid to identify and back emergent industries. And Singapore’s taxes might be low, but its government generates more revenue per person than countries such as Australia, much of it non-tax revenue from state-owned enterprises.

Jeevan Vasagar's excellent book, Lion City: Singapore and the Invention of Modern Asia explores this paradox, along with the many tensions that have shaped Singapore’s development. No matter how you interpret Singapore’s success, it is a nation of much interest. As a successful young nation with a heterogeneous population shaped by migration, it has policy dilemmas similar to many countries in the anglosphere. But it’s richer than them, gets better educational outcomes and has longer life expectancy. And it has achieved all of this in just over fifty years, transitioning at warp speed from an impoverished tropical island with no natural resources.

LION CITY makes for great history, but importantly offers a nuanced and respectful examination of the forces and tensions that will shape Singapore’s future.

(This is an extract of a longer review available in Australian Foreign Affairs Issue Issue #14, February 2022.)

[Ajay · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are an immense number of myths around Singapore -- From Third World to First (what enabled Singapore's development and what lessons does it hold for the world), the "founding" of the city by Stamford Raffles (even though the city of Temasek on the island of Singapura pre-date it by centuries). Held up as the model of development for the 3rd world and inspiration to authoritarian leaders and Brexiteers -- understanding Singapore's story is more important then ever.

Vasagar does a great job in this book of illuminating the history of Singapore, bringing the culture and leaders of the city to life, and navigating us through some sensitive debates. Wealth inequality, political repression, education, democracy, immigration, the role of the government in our private and social lives. This book is filled with great research and a personal touch.

I'd have liked to learn more about the other founding fathers' of Singapore -- the book is a bit light on Sinnathamby Rajaratnam, Hoh Keng Swee, and Dr Toh Chin Chye -- or gotten more on Singpore's relationships with it's neighbors (e.g. Burmese military generals). But it covers such a wide range of topics from history, economics, cultural, and contemporary that this would have just been the icing on an already solid cake.

[Patrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating. I knew so little of Singapore. The cover flap shares the comparison "Disneyland with the death penalty." The city is a weird mix of totalitarian rule and party democracy and economic oligarchy. It's poor history, unique geography and lack of resources, and simultaneous embrace of its paternalistic British founder and its majority Chinese ethnic superiority are very interesting. This city both wants China's type of control over its own citizens, and to avoid being brought under China's control like Hong Kong.

The author has roots in Singapore and experience reporting on Asia. His personal experiences added to the understanding of various cultural aspects, and his personal interviews with government officials showed ongoing examples of the government narrative and control. With all that, the author didn't turn the history into more of a memoir and lose focus.

The history is relevant to all of the issues happening with China and Hong Kong currently. Highly recommended.

[K · Rating 4 out of 5]

This history of Singapore was just right: the right length, the right topics, and made me realize that the workaholism and hypervigilance of Singapore society may be a constant in a small city state. Prosperity will not lessen the need for both. There is always some new threat to worry about, albeit, ones that Singaporeans might not be able to control: rising China, melting ice caps, no natural resources yet high consumption, and more.

What Jeevan Vasagar really captured was the steely determination required to take a place from third to first world in one generation. I appreciate the author showing where this determination resulted in overstep too.

The only topic I would have liked to read more about is Peranakan culture.

I finished the book wishing more whimsy for the people of Singapore. The artist in the book who put stickers on the traffic lights that said, 'Push here for time travel,' was an absolute delight. Now, I need to get back to Singapore and hike that trail from one end of the country to the other. Thanks for telling your readers about it, Mr. Vasagar!

[Meir Brooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent book giving a kind of broad, bird's-eye journalistic view of Singapore. Full of interesting anecdotes and tidbits, this book may not be great for people who already have a good grasp of the city's history, politics and contemporary issues, but is great for people like me who had a general grasp of these things but wanted more detail and insight. At 296 pages and covering a wide range of topics, this is not a high-resolution work with lots of sources and things you won't find elsewhere, but it's a quick, engaging and well-written read. It is exactly what you will expect from it in that sense.

[Horatio · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very good summary of Singapore's history from independence and how it developed from a completely new country into the success story that it is today. The author covered many policies and key historical moments, though much of it was quite narrative and not particularly argumentative. I also would've preferred if the topics were a little more in-depth, though I did feel like the author did a good job of summarising many of the key events well. Not a bad book to read as an introduction and concise summary of Singapore's history!

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book about Singapore that manages to balance both the positive development of the nation and the flaws of its governance. It didn't hold back in pointing out some of the issues that the country has which I truly appreciate as the book felt more objective because of the choices that Jeevan Vasagar made in writing it. This is worth recommending as the definitive book about Singapore for those who want to learn more about the nation and explore its multi-faceted layers that others might not be willing to tackle.

[Aquila M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lion City explores Singapore’s transformation from a struggling post-colonial state to a global economic powerhouse 🇸🇬.

Each chapter delves into specific aspects of Singapore, covering more than what I learned in Singapore history during my secondary school days. These chapters are engaging and informative, and the author supplements them with his own personal experiences as well.

There’s so much to think about and reflect on while reading this book: the sacrifices that our forefathers had to make for Singapore to achieve its world-class status today, the strengths and flaws of our authoritative state, and the promises and challenges of Singapore cohabiting both Western liberalism and Asian conservatism.

Reading this made me a more mindful citizen, one who is hopeful for a future Singapore that learns from its past mistakes and overcomes challenges through national cohesion and forward-thinking leadership.

My rating: 4.5/5

[Anthony Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very worthwhile, broad overview of Singapore, it's accomplishments and challenges, and what it is likely to look like in the future. This would be an ideal one-volume introductory for anyone new to studying or thinking about the country. Vasgar throws in a bit of his own compelling personal connection and I wish there had been more, but on the whole it was a useful read even for someone who has been traveling to and thinking about Singapore for more than a decade

[Hanneke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Voor mij persoonlijk heel interessant - en ook voor mensen met interesse in economie en politiek, maar ik zou het niet iedereen aanraden. Hele interessante en herkenbare verhalen, ook voor iemand die er net zoals ik maar heel kort gewoond heeft. En, absoluut kritisch. Wel tekenend: voor een land met een zekere mate van censuur, toch opvallend dat ik dit gewoon in een Singaporese boekhandel heb kunnen kopen.

[Deirdre E Siegel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a well researched in-depth history, almost a construction of a country in words. For someone who has not had the pleasure to visit Singapore personally, Jeevan Vasagar has provided proof that such a journey would need the leisure of time to learn, enjoy and absorb.
Beautiful, thank you Jeevan Vasagar, much appreciated :-)

[LRKK · Rating 3 out of 5]

competent

This is a competent history of a fascinating city state. While attempting balance Jeevan Vasagar tilts towards jingoism. He attributes Singapore’s success to a hard-working, meritocratic society, while soft-pedalling the repression of opposition, the repression of the local labour force, and the exploitation of migrant workers that made that success possible.

[Les Dangerfield · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable skim through some 20th century history of Singapore followed by a look at various aspects of economics and society in Singapore a chapter at a time. A bit superficial at times but, especially having lived there myself some years back, it was both a reminder and an update on aspects of life there.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would give a 3 for my enjoyment of reading it, but gave a 4 because it was very informative and well written. After having read it, I feel I have a better understanding of Singapore. I became interested after reading about Singapore being a "green city" in the book, "Nature Fix."

[Stephen King · Rating 4 out of 5]

Am intelligent and comprehensive historical analysis of Singapore from its early days to the present. Jeevan Vasagar is a former FT correspondent to Singapore and writes knowledgeably about economics, politics and social artifices which define the City State.

[Dave Pearl · Rating 5 out of 5]

A stunning tour de force of nonfiction. I have never read a book like this. A combination of autobiography, nonfiction, geography, economics, business and history. I live in Southeast Asia/Thailand and have thought of revisiting or moving to Singapore so this book was just what I needed.

[Teodora Denkova · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Една нация е велика не само с размера си. Това е волята, сплотеността, издръжливостта, дисциплината на хората и качеството на лидерите, които и осигуряват почетно място в историята."
Ли Куан Ю

Из "Сингапур", Джийван Васагар

[Deian Tzvetkov · Rating 3 out of 5]

Добра книга за Сингапур. Започвайки с историята авторът минава през демог��афията, икономиката, политиката и културата на страната. Добре написана. Научаваме доста неща за Югоизточна Азия и за връзките на Сингапур с Великобритания и САЩ

[Piotr Piwnik · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely fantastic book, giving a genuine and precise insights on why modern Singapore has become one of the Asian Tigers. One of the few uncensored books which force you to think and reflect on the geography and history of not only Singapore, but also the whole South East Asia

[Nicolas Proniewski · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well balanced (not overtly pro/anti government) look at Singapore’s history, great read

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would have liked more citations, but it was very interesting and readable - I read it in one evening, and ended up Googling a bunch of things for more info, so I learned a lot.

[Spencer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cool book