THE 'RELATIVE AUTONOMY OF THE STATE' : THE CONCEPT AND ITS APPLICATION TO THE SINGAPORE CASE

Abstract

The concept ‘relative autonomy of the state’ simply put, it sot postulate the idea that the state can have a certain degree of independence or autonomy from the society. Although the concept can be diagnosed in such a straightforward manner, it is problematic, vague and confusing because of the term ‘state’. There has been no universal or conclusive understanding as to what the term ‘state’ should be defined. The conceptualization of the state can range from the broadest interpretation when it is being conceived of as a normative order of society. Or it can be considered in the narrowest perception, a government. In the context of Singapore, the state has been conceived as a government, an entity, an actor. In our exploration of the concept ‘relative autonomy of the state’, we noted three ideas extracted from the Marxist and non-Marxist views that are applicable to Singapore. We also noted that the conditions in the 1960’s helped Singapore, as a state, to develop into a relative autonomy entity from the state in 1970’s to further extend and enhance its control over the society. However, the autonomy enjoyed by the Singapore state is limited and relative because it is constrained by the need to depend on foreign investors to provide economic growth.