Lee's legacy to find suitable model

Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore's founding father who died on March 23, has been widely praised for his governance and insightful comments on global situations. His persistent efforts for efficient governance have been lauded by leaders in Asia, although some Western observers have criticized him for being autocratic.

For China, the Lee-spearheaded development of Singapore has been an example of an Asian country realizing good governance and economic growth. Many governments have tried to replicate Singapore's democratic politics and social model. But despite its huge success, Singapore's experiences cannot be imitated by China because of the differences between the two countries.

Lee's governance model and the underlying political mindset can be traced to his views on the essence of politics and the tactics to realize political goals. The chaotic era in which Lee was born and the recession the then British colony suffered shortly after World War II caused Lee to realize the "evils" of politics.