{"product_id":"pap-v-pap","title":"PAP v. PAP","description":"\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 2020 General Election results have raised expectations that Singapore will transition to a more competitive democracy. But this is far from preordained. Nor is there a clear societal consensus that the city-state needs this amid a pandemic and its deepest economic crisis since independence.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor now, the People’s Action Party still controls all the levers of power. With the opposition still not ready to step up as an alternative government-in-waiting, Lee Kuan Yew’s prognosis still applies: the PAP’s internal dynamics will be the primary determinant of its continued viability.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ePAP v. PAP\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eexpands on one dimension of this inner struggle: between a conservative attachment to what worked in the past, and a boldly progressive vision for the future. Cherian George and Donald Low argue that a reformed PAP — comfortable with political competition and more committed to justice and equality — would be good for Singapore, and serve the long-term interests of the party.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn adaptive PAP, buttressed with stronger democratic legitimacy, would also maintain one of Singapore’s most important strengths: a strong consensus on the virtues of an expert-led, elite government. Only by strengthening democratic practices and norms can Singapore maintain its edge in a world pulled apart by identity politics, populist nationalism and nativism, and an erosion of trust in public institutions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe anthology draws from the authors’ many years of commentary on Singapore government and politics, and also includes new essays responding to the exceptional events of 2020.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCover Type:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Paperback\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePage Count:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e 170\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Epigram","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":32376855363639,"sku":null,"price":26.0,"currency_code":"SGD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1066\/2066\/products\/image_89c17bc9-2dcb-4a54-ba9e-527539e9bd88.png?v=1604806224","url":"https:\/\/www.independentmarket.mom\/products\/pap-v-pap","provider":"Independent Market","version":"1.0","type":"link"}