THIS IS WHAT MERITOCRACY LOOKS LIKE: MERITOCRACY UNDER SINGAPORE'S 4G LEADERSHIP

Abstract

In recent years, meritocracy has been criticised for problems such as social stratification and a high-stress education system. Political observers have also been analysing the PAP’s undisturbed rule. These discussions have intensified since 2011. Yet, few works have focused on how the changes made to meritocracy can affect the PAP’s rule. By analysing education, social and racial policies, this Honours Thesis strives to understand what meritocracy looks like under the PAP’s fourth-generation (4G) leadership, and how that affects their electoral dominance. To do so, expert interviews were conducted with 3 teachers and 1 social worker to understand the practical changes made on the ground, complemented with library research and primary sources on the changes made to refine meritocracy. It was found that, while the 4G leadership’s brand of meritocracy rewards hard work, develops and prioritises Singaporeans, it is also undermined by their affirmative action policies against the non-Chinese. However, their ability to finetune meritocracy with the existing political structures of technocracy, tripartitism and electoral engineering, has placed them in good stead to maintain their electoral dominance.