Porcelain Publishing / PSG / Volume 1 / Issue 1 / DOI: 10.47297/ppipsg2025010104
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Balancing National Security and Economic Development through  Authoritarian Capitalism: A Study of Singapore and its Narratives

Jun Zhang1
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1 Institute of Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao Development Studies, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
Published: 30 April 2025
© 2025 by the Author(s). This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
Abstract

Authoritarian capitalism has emerged as a prominent political and economic model since World War II, particularly in developing  nations, yet its sustainability still remains uncertain. This paper defines authoritarian capitalism as a system in which  authoritarian governance coexists with capitalist practices, often marked by state-led initiatives and the suppression of civil  liberties. While some countries, such as China and Russia, exemplify this model, Singapore stands out as an atypical case that has  successfully balanced national security and economic development over several decades. The narrative constructed by  Singapore's ruling elites promotes the view that authoritarian governance is essential for prosperity and stability, and this  narrative resonates with the strict social norms that prevail in the country. Drawing on cultural theories, this study examines how  Singapore's societal expectations align with its model of governance and explores the psychological mechanisms that support  this alignment. Ultimately, the findings emphasize the importance of narrative in legitimizing authoritarian practices and  sustaining the interests of the ruling elite, contributing to the ongoing discourse on the viability of authoritarian capitalism in an  evolving global landscape.

Keywords
National Security
Economic Development
Authoritarian Capitalism
Singapore
Narratives
Funding
This research received no external funding.
Conflict of interest
The author declares no conflicts of interest.
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Politics and Security Governance, Electronic ISSN: 2977-8883  Print ISSN: 2978-459X  , Published by Porcelain Publishing