WILBERFORCE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIAL SCIENCES (WJSS)
ISSN: 2504 – 9232
Volume 3, No. 1, March 2018
Pages 48-66
DOI: 10.36108/wjss/8102.30.0140
THE DEVELOPMENT TRAJECTORY IN SINGAPORE: THE ROLE OF THE STATE AND POLITICAL LEADERSHIP
TOKPO CORONATION EDWARD
Abstract
The meteoric rise of the Asian Tigers- Taiwan, Hong Kong, South Korea and Singapore has become a reference point in the global development discourse. This paper interrogates the development trajectory of Singapore, the role of political leadership and the state in driving development in the South East Asian City-State. Designed as a desk study, the paper found that political leadership is fundamental in a country’s drive for development. It also discovered that much as liberal scholars advocate the non-involvement of the state in economic and social development, the state remains a key player in development, especially in emerging states. Finally, upon careful study of Singapore’s success story, the paper draws some lessons for Nigeria to put her on the path of socio-economic and political progress.
Keywords: Development, Asian Tigers, development trajectory, foreign direct investment