The Three Habits Of Highly Thriving Countries by Fadi Ghandour on LinkedIn At a recent conference in Istanbul, the city that stands like a bridge between East and West, Kishore Mahbubani, the Dean of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore, was asked what it is that keeps Singapore a thriving, cohesive, diverse, multi-ethnic society, and what can a Middle East reeling from sectarian and identity crises, learn from his country. Mahbubani sits up and, as is his habit, offers a quick and very snappy answer: meritocracy, pragmatism in governance, and honesty in public service. Elementary, no? And yet these three key components are as elusive to us in this region as they are self-evident to Mahbubani. So let me share a few of the Dean’s comments on a couple of these essential ingredients for any success story. This former diplomat’s minority status is never ever a consideration when it comes to his work and his place in Singapore. Public officials like him are not in the business of ideology, but in that infinitely more constructive one of efficiently and consistently delivering services to people through proper governance and management. And what more could he or I possibly add about honesty in public service? But then, Mahbubani was asked about democracy in the Middle East, beyond the ballot box, and about the Lee Kuan Yew model of state building. He sits up again and says, “ You know, the problem with people in the Middle East is that they keep looking West when they should look East for models of governance…” I don’t know about you, but when I look West nowadays, all I can see is government shutdowns, red and blue divides that seem irreconcilable, tired and aging continents unable to overcome through sound economic policies, a financial crisis that brought ruin to the very idea of decent living. Is it not time that we in Middle East look East for some inspiration and guidance? Photo:
Posted on: Sat, 05 Oct 2013 22:56:38 +0000
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