The Ruling Elite of Singapore: Networks of Power and Influence by Michael D. Barr

The Ruling Elite of Singapore: Networks of Power and Influence Reviews

• 
  Deon

  This book is an ahistorical look at the shifting dynamics of elite composition within the ruling government. Through research and secret interviews with (ex-)members of the elite circle, Michael Barr produces adept analyses of the power structures and networks that sustain the political hegemony in Singapore.
  
  It comes at no surprise that many of the key players in the inner orbit of power have enjoyed lowered barriers and easy access to influential positions closely linked to the power core. Despite our claims to be a practising democracy, it is crystal clear to any third-party observer that the political situation in the island state is anything but. Across GLCs (government-linked companies), educational institutions, civil service, media, trade unions, statutory boards, and military forces, the entrenchment of state power has been so complete that potential challengers of the hegemony would be politically helpless even if they were to form majority in parliament.
  
  That Singaporeans live in a socially constructed national myth of meritocracy should be old news by now. Michael Barr compares Singapore's unique elite network to "a Chinese family business, complete with a patriarch, an eldest son, guanxi networks and questions of cross-generational continuity". We can observe this in several examples of political missteps over the years that have led to little or zero repercussions to the offending elites. (Most notably, the less-than-satisfactory handling of GLCs under the helm of some Lee family members.)
  
  While many of the problems identified in this book have not been fully addressed, I believe that Singapore is slowly changing for the better. We now have a more diverse representation in parliament (though Barr argues that opposition parties are dependent on the ruling party), as well as a more active electorate who are more willing to question the state's (previously unchallenged) moral authority. At the end of the day, it is important to remember that no matter our political affiliations and social standing, we all want what's best for our country and people.
  
  Overall, this is a good book that paints a clear picture of the power relations and influence within the upper echelons of the elite society. If you're interested to know more about the BTS of Singapore's elite network, this book will serve as a nice introduction.
  
  #QOTD: Regardless of whether one lies on the continuum of power – near the inner or outer levels – unless you are practically part of the family, you are in a position of dependency.
• 
  unperspicacious

  A hard book to write well, as so many things are stacked against it. Little of this will be new to those who have lived in Singapore, but gaining access to more of those who might have something more substantial to say is obviously problematic. The Singapore National Archives are closed off as well, so historically much of the data falls back on the old secondary published sources. At times more of an extended feature article reproducing ongoing work by social media. But useful all the same as a sign of the times, by an outsider who has studied the scene for at least two decades. The point about real power being wielded first and foremost within the Lee family, and then the GLCs, civil service, military and so on is well taken, and points to a continuation of Chinese-dominated elitist paper-chasing patterns into the medium and long-term - regardless of whether the PAP will lose its electoral mandate or otherwise. But still highly speculative.
  
  Probably worth reading in conjunction with Hard Choices -
  https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
• 
  R

  not very well-written at all, and hardly an argument in sight. mostly history and some very badly compiled statistics that insinuate and accuse through speculation rather than evidence. (this is no doubt in part due to the unavailability of data, but that doesn't excuse the inability to form anything resembling an argument, rather than a summary of historical fact.) i'm with it on its premise - which has been demonstrated, if not systematically, elsewhere - but this book doesn't do very well at convincing even someone who is.
• 
  Shoon Teoh

  Well researched book that lays out how power operates and reproduces itself in Singapore's elite. Barr relies mostly on textual analysis of news articles and off the record interviews with anonymous retired public figures to map out relationships within the notoriously closed networks of Singapore's political elite. Whilst this can sometimes come across as conjecture and hypothesis in certain examples which rely on the author's interpretation of events, Barr's research is extremely thorough and he lays out compelling arguments.
• 
  Yeah

  Paradigm-shifting book that illuminates the mechanisms through which Singapore operates. It is difficult to piece everything together without this book. I will refrain from talking about things like nepotism, quasi-meritocratic oligarchy, paranoia etc because those terms need adequate treatment which can be found in this book. I was very surprised when I found that multiple copies of this book sits placidly in the recesses of Lv 11 of the NLB.
• 
  Sharad Pandian

  In just 140 pages of text, the author puts up a pretty good case (in part by drawing on his earlier work) that: "...it makes it a lot easier to understand Singapore if you put aside notions of modernity and ordinary governance, let alone democracy, and begin from the premise that it is a Chinese family business, complete with a patriarch, an eldest song networks and questions of cross-generational continuity." (108)
  
  Simply summarizing publicly available information (for the most part), a book like this about another country would have simply been mediocre. But in the context of Singapore, where the establishment would probably bomb its own offices before being forthright, it's actually quite insightful and would serve as a pretty good introduction to how the country works.
  
  As an aside, despite the author being Australian, I was pleasantly surprised to find (in chapter 3 - "The creation and entrenchment of a national elite") a discussion of something well known locally about the education pipeline from institutions like Raffles and Hwa Chong to coveted scholarships and then to governance.
• 
  Celeste

  (I'm aware this is the 7th book I've started and finished reading in Lagos in the past 2 weeks, which shows the extent of my disenchantment in my remote internship and my lack of social activity, but moving on...)
  
  I was rather disappointed by this book because I was hoping for something less academic and more diverse (not just focusing on political power but also economic power). An expose that tracked the stats of people who go to elite schools and their long term career prospects. Instead we got an overly long book which (1) focused a lot on Lee Kuan Yew and his power struggles with his son/ other ministers — ok, fair, since power undoubtedly emanates from him; (2) revolved only around 2 main arguments: racism and the centrality of "Chinese-ness" in forming the political elite; the interwovenness of GLCs, Temasek/ GIC with the Cabinet/ PAP; (3) laundry list of people in power and the positions on their resume.
  
  Also, Lawrence Wong was mentioned only ONCE in the book; Singapore's 4th Prime Minister clearly fell through the cracks of the research, and might not neatly fall into Barr's explanation of elite circles and patronage.
• 
  Bertrand

  Nothing too foreign if you're not from Singapore, but must be quite the exciting read if you're not!
• 
  Margery Osborne

  must read if you want to understand sg
• 
  Jess Scott

  The Ruling Elite of Singapore is a brilliant publication, in which Michael Barr, a senior lecturer in International Relations at Flinders University, Australia, explores “the complex and covert networks of power” in the city-state of Singapore.
  
  The text is divided into eight concise chapters, written in a clear, objective style that is not bloated with academic jargon. The content is juicy without being slanderous, and factual without being pedantic.
  
  The book takes an incisive look at the “twin myths that Singapore is a meritocratic and multiracial society,” by revealing how the power of personal networks and the centrality of Chinese ethnicity form the true core of the networks of power and influence in Singapore.
  
  The introduction gives a quick outline of the book, which is very useful for quick reference. I especially liked the summary for Chapter 3 (“a brief account of the historical evolution of the elite, the basis of its monopoly of power and the nature of its self-perception as a proud, self-satisfied elite”).
  
  Chapter 5 features a quote by retired Permanent Secretary, Ngiam Tong Dow, who said in a 2003 interview:
  

  “However good [Raffles Institution and Raffles Girls’ School] are and however brilliant their teachers are, the problem is that you are educating your elite in only two institutions, with only two sets of mentors.”

  
  This comment highlights a lack of diversity in the process of elite selection and elite formation. It reminded me of the case with
  Wee Shu Min in 2006 (who exuberantly advised all commoners to “get out of [her] elite uncaring face”). While this disgraceful incident was not mentioned in Barr’s book, it displayed the self-entitlement and snobbish behavior that often accompanies a closed, elitist mindset.
  
  Barr takes note of “the Lee family’s supremacy” in Singapore with a reminder (through a quote by Hamilton-Hart) of how the Lees are “effectively off-limits as subjects of criticism.” Barr also mentions how Ho Ching and Lee Hsien Yang have never been brought to account for any part in running down the value of their respective government-linked companies. Instead, both were praised and rewarded, despite their companies having engaged in “
  high-risk ventures that failed spectacularly.”
  
  In the final chapter, Barr is diplomatic in pointing out how even the scenario of an opposition victory would not “necessarily challenge the system bequeathed by Lee Kuan Yew.” The author offers some critical thoughts without being overly optimistic or judgmental, in an effort to determine how much change or continuity there will be in the near future of Singapore’s political situation.
  
  The job of an objective academic or historian is neither to sing praises nor hurl insults. It is to gather information and study the facts, in order to provide analysis and insightful commentary in order to educate the reader. I believe Barr has done very well in this regard, with his book’s intense focus on Singapore’s “ruling elite.”
  
  It reminds us that politicians are supposed to govern society, not simply reward themselves at the expense of their serfs, I mean, citizens, because they feel entitled to do so.
  
  I would like to extend my sincere thanks to the author, Michael Barr, for expanding his original paper into a full-length book, to the prestigious I.B.Tauris for publishing the title (and providing fine editing), and to Palgrave Macmillan for distributing the title in North America, where I am currently residing.
  
  -- By Jess: a former Singaporean who has a keen interest in the country, its people, and the direction of its leadership.
  
  
  http://jesscscott.wordpress.com/2014/...
• 
  Rianne

  Interesting book that mostly confirms the sense I got from growing up in Singapore and often seeing Chinese scholar men in power. It seems like the ruling elite values competence and trust, which is understandable. But it seems like they may not be as competent or trustworthy as they appear…