The Three Habits of Highly Thriving Countries
At a recent conference in Istanbul, the city that stands like a bridge between East and West, Kishore Mahbubani, the Dean of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore, was asked what it is that keeps Singapore a thriving, cohesive, diverse, multi-ethnic society, and what can a Middle East reeling from sectarian and identity crises, learn from his country.
Mahbubani sits up and, as is his habit, offers a quick and very snappy answer: meritocracy, pragmatism in governance, and honesty in public service. Elementary, no? And yet these three key components are as elusive to us in this region as they are self-evident to Mahbubani. So let me share a few of the Dean’s comments on a couple of these essential ingredients for any success story.
This former diplomat’s minority status is never ever a consideration when it comes to his work and his place in Singapore. Public officials like him are not in the business of ideology, but in that infinitely more constructive one of efficiently and consistently delivering services to people through proper governance and management. And what more could he or I possibly add about honesty in public service?
But then, Mahbubani was asked about democracy in the Middle East, beyond the ballot box, and about the Lee Kuan Yew model of state building. He sits up again and says,
You know, the problem with people in the Middle East is that they keep looking West when they should look East for models of governance…”
I don’t know about you, but when I look West nowadays, all I can see is government shutdowns, red and blue divides that seem irreconcilable, tired and aging continents unable to overcome through sound economic policies, a financial crisis that brought ruin to the very idea of decent living. Is it not time that we in Middle East look East for some inspiration and guidance?
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6 年Though promoted values of Japanese Management practices has lost its mystery, it still prevails at least in the bottom half countries of Europe that have a lower industrial state values and perhaps whole of China and India.?
Experienced Professional
11 年“Nations thrive on indigenous models as they reach to this stage due to local perceptions, environment and aspirations”, examples to this can be traced back to Ottoman Empire and slightly older Indus Valley Civilization and new examples are true to Singapore, Malaysia and UAE- While role of honesty, justice and knowledge is universal and true to all times and nations..
Head of maintenance section at Greater Amman Municipality
11 年One of the problems of the peoples of the Middle East, they always look to the west. And now you want them to look to the east, why copy models from the east and the west, why not make your own model (Middle east model ), The religious heritage of the Middle East, which contains economic , financial and social system which just needs to be updated to fit with modern developments. Then the Middle East model will be the more appropriate for the Middle East peoples and may be later will be appropriate for the whole world.
Driving GTM Readiness | Digital & AI-led Transformation | Knowledge, & Sales Innovation at Genpact | Ex Wipro | Ex NIIT
11 年Shariq Saleem I don't see a point in hammering a country only because of a few statistics and random sample size. However, if you insist, here is my research. As per "Wealth Report 2012", Singapore topped the charts for highest GDP per capita in 2012 and it is also expected to continue to be the global leader in 2050. According to another research, Singapore also houses some of the richest people in the world. Moreover, it also holds a record of the richest businesswomen - clearly showing the gender equality in the country. Add the basic amenities like housing schemes and security for people. This makes a country lucrative enough to live in. Oh add their strong financial position and strong currency strength that provides stability to people. Let me remind you that no country is perfect. Like I said, everything has its positives or negatives. The idea is not to overlook the positives like you clearly are, in your comment. Aren't people in India are in Abyss staring at a corrupt system that devoid them of the basic amenities? Aren't Briton's staring in the abyss because of the recent financial crisis? Aren't the Americans staring in the abyss because a lot of them are jobless. I don't see these things in Singapore. In fact, these Americans, Britons and Indians move to countries like Australia, Singapore, etc. Let me cite an example about my independent research and 'irrefutable' findings. While I was in Singapore, I happened to speak to a lot of individuals - Indians, Pakistanis, Bangladeshi's, Britons, Americans etc. who've moved to Singapore a few years back. One of the Indian in discussion was a MBA. And there was a common factor binding all those people - Singapore may be expensive but it provides them with the basic things that their native countries fail at - Food, Shelter and Security. I implore you not to base your presumptions on statistics only and criticize. Sometimes, statistics fail to reveal both sides of a coin.