In search of the ‘Asian way’: Cultural nationalism in Singapore and Malaysia

Abstract

Singapore and Malaysia are recognisably Southeast Asia's most impressive economic performers. Their economic achievements have been accompanied by the maintainance of relative political stability within a challenging multi‐ethnic social milieu. Not surprisingly, both nations have been widely promoted as models worthy of emulation for developing economies. Since the late 1980s, leading political elites in Singapore and Malaysia have been assiduously promoting the ‘Asian way’ model of political development. Offered as an alternative to the liberal democratic ideal, the ‘Asian way’ discourse has provided authoritarian governments with a theoretical basis for resisting domestic pressures for greater political democratisation. Whilst acknowledging the role of the ‘Asian way’ discourse in affirming and validating the cultural identity of East Asians in a global community that is largely dominated by Western cultural and institutional forms, the paper seeks primarily to examine the contradictions, paradoxes and political agenda underpinning the discourse. A particular focus is the usage of the ‘Asian way’ discourse as a potent ideological refuge for the continuation of authoritarian rule, its reinforcement of patriarchal values and institutional impact on women.