The Big Ideas of Lee Kuan Yew

Lee Kuan Yew has long stood out as one of the century’s wisest and most consequential Asian leaders. This book, collecting accounts from close associates who joined him in building a new nation, makes an important contribution to the understanding of Lee Kuan Yew’s achievement.” - Henry A. Kissinger, former US Secretary of State

Lee Kuan Yew was born in 1923, a time when Singapore was under British rule. After experiencing the Japanese Occupation of Singapore, he travelled to England to study Law. Mr Lee’s legal career in Singapore was marked by increasing political involvement. Together with a group of like-minded individuals, he formed the People’s Action Party (PAP) in 1954. Following the PAP’s victory in the 1959 Legislative Assembly general elections, Mr Lee became the first Prime Minister of Singapore, at the age of 35. He held this position until 1990. After stepping down from the premiership, he remained in the Cabinet until 2011, serving as Senior Minister and subsequently as Minister Mentor.
Mr Lee oversaw Singapore’s transformation from a Third World country to a First World country. This remarkable achievement has long prompted admiration and debate. This volume makes a distinctive contribution to our understanding of Mr Lee’s legacy because for the first time the men and women who worked closely with him have come together to discuss his ideas. The resulting essays shed valuable light on a wide range of topics including law and politics, society and economics, and governance and foreign affairs. 

Author: Shashi Jayakumar

Publisher: Straits Times

Released Date: 2015

ISBN: 9789814342797