Lee Kuan Yew

Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore's first prime minister (from 1959 to1990), has been an international figure not only for establishing Singapore's political and economic stability but also for fostering economic development throughout Asia. He is particularly renowned as a principle architect of the 'Asian values' campaign of the 1990s, which sought to preserve the undemocratic traits of Asian culture while attending to the demands of a capitalist economy operating globally.

A critical examination of Lee's life, career, and ideas, this is the first book to analyze the origins and substance of Lee's political thought. Augmenting established primary sources with his own interviews and correspondence with Lee's old associates, Barr shows how Lee has been influenced by British and Chinese racism and elitism, western progressivism, and even the cultural evolutionism of Arnold Toynbee. This reassessment of Lee's achievements and worldview sheds new light on a key figure on the world stage.

Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore's first prime minister (from 1959 to1990), has been an international figure not only for establishing Singapore's political and economic stability but also for fostering economic development throughout Asia. He is particularly renowned as a principal architect of the Asian values campaign of the 1990s, which sought to preserve the undemocratic traits of Asian culture while attending to the demands of a capitalist economy operating globally.

A critical examination of Lee's life, career, and ideas, this is the first book to analyze the origins and substance of Lee's political thought. Augmenting established primary sources with his own interviews and correspondence with Lee's old associates, Barr shows how Lee has been influenced by British and Chinese racism and elitism, western progressivism, and even the cultural evolutionism of Arnold Toynbee. This reassessment of Lee's achievements and worldview sheds new light on a key figure on the world stage.

About the Author:
Michael D. Barr teaches at Queensland University of Technology.

Booknews

Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore's first Prime Minister, was a leading figure in the recent revival of Confucianism throughout the Chinese world and was a main initiator of the "Asian Values" campaign of the 1990s. Barr, a research scholar at Queensland University of Technology, augments a wealth of primary sources with his own interviews and correspondence with Lee Kuan Yew's associates in school, university, and government to present a critical examination of his life, his career, and his ideas. He examines how Lee has been influenced by British and Chinese racism, Western progressivism, English and Chinese elitism, and the cultural evolutionism of Arnold Toynbee. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Michael D. Barr teaches at Queensland University of Technology.