LogFAQs > #979741285

I had a debate here with someone almost 2 months ago, but it was more to do with me not believing in China's system, but he convinced me that China is doing pretty well for itself. During that debate, though, the term "benevolent dictatorship" sprang up.

For my country, Singapore, I admit that "benevolent dictatorship" is a rare term that might seem strange to many people. It was mostly used to describe the man (Lee Kuan Yew) who transformed Singapore from a third world, war-torn, poverty-stricken land into a first-world nation within just 3 decades during the latter half of the 20th century.

"Dictatorship" has a negative connotation to it, and for good reason. Dictatorships hardly work, if ever. However, if absolute power was used for good by an incorruptible leader, to guide a country and its people to better lives, is it necessarily always a bad thing?

It is extremely rare for a "dictatorship" to succeed, but if the word "benevolent" was added to it... The results are there in my country after decades of this system. One of the highest GDP per capita (PPP) in the world, one of the longest life expectancies, highly educated workforce, clean and green environment, peaceful, multiracial and multireligious society with no riots, no feeling of danger for a woman and child walking around the streets at 2AM after midnight, the ability to voice your displeasure at the government's policies and vote for an opposition during polling day, much higher degree of freedom compared to regular dictatorships etc.