Page Nation - Learn from the Master

ABC to nation-building with Mentor Lee Kuan Yew, August 2004, Singapore - What was nation building to Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew nearly 40 years ago has become a case study in successful nation "branding". According to Mr Lee, when he became Prime Minister in 1965: "We systematically set out to be different from the start. To tell the world that we are different; do not write us off". But, Mr Lee warned that, like brands whose quality deteriorates, nations can decline and "become sloppy" if a more "laid-back generation" takes over and does not respond with the "same determination as the hungrier generation". When ask to define the "Singapore brand", Mr Lee said: "This is for the ´customer´, other nations and investors, to pass a judgement on. But we are trying to assure other countries that Singapore is a dependable, reliable partner in any joint venture." Read his book, From Third World To First - The Singapore Story (1965-2000) by Lee Kuan Yew. This is a personal history of a man who, almost single-handedly, built a great nation from a small island. It should be consider to be the first textbook in the world on how to build a nation.

Singapore is one of the most successful example of nation-building in the post-colonial era. It is difficult to imagine a multiracial model startlingly superior to what was achieved in less than 30 years. But yet, Singapore leaders, including Mr Lee, are on record says that Singapore is yet a nation. A Singaporean state exists, a Singaporean identity is forming, but Singapre is not there yet!