How Singapore captures the limelight?
The world is evolving and developing each day which leads to the countries competing for the standards. Wherever they belong, a third world, industrialised or a developing country, they have only one priority – that is to pride itself for being the best and the ideal nation. It is then the responsibility of every country to commit itself to producing competent citizens as well as a culture and practices where every country can look up to. One Asian country, Singapore, emerges from the typical nation to one of the most admired nowadays due to the fact that the said country has achieved so much stability both in economic and social aspects.
If we try to take a look into the causes which might have brought Singapore to the limelight is its culture which remains unfading up to these times. As it has been stated, economic and social stability have something to do with the national culture of a nation and that is where Singapore is best at showing and sustaining. In their culture, they have what they call as Kiasu. To acquaint you, Kiasu, referring to Singaporean context is pointed to maintaining the national tradition culture so as to achieve economic and social stability. Moreover, according to terminologies, Kiasu means afraid to lose and the mind set of always wanting to be first in line, thus, driving to excel always in competition, in negotiation. Kiasu is evident in the culture of Singapore. They just don’t simply settle for what is ordinary and regular because they aim for something greater, anything that can possibly surpass the average and the typical capacity of a nation. This, in fact, is a good and commendable attitude which every country must follow, if they desire too.
Some say that kiasu creates a selfish mentality because you only consider and think of and for yourself, no other more. If we take into account this side, it perhaps deliver that sort of attitude but sometimes you have to compromise a good thing to arrive at a common good. It is not sufficient all the times that you adhere to what is the standard for humanity’s sake because most of the times, to be genuinely compassionate, you have to keep one thing to be able to consider helping others too. Furthermore, what may be good to one may not necessarily good to you. Practices and traditions are relative; it is dependent on what works for you. And Singapore evidently shows economic, social and political stability by utilizing this kind of mentality; hence, the inclusion of this in their culture.
If Kiasu works for one country, then there can be a possibility that it can also be feasible to Singaporean-like economic and social structure countries.