“The main rationale for the "elimination of politics' is also its main tool: rapid and broad-based economic development, in PAP thinking, both justifies as well as facilitates depoliticization. Behind this approach is the assumption that sound economic management can largely do away with political conflict. Whatever little friction that remains, the theory goes, can be sandpapered down with authoritarian methods that are not so course as to provoke widespread dissent. Then, the main political tasks that remain would be to boost citizens' trust in the long-term wisdom of programmes that may entail short-term pain, and to enhance the sensation of nationhood and mobilise them towards national goals”