What is behind the success of countries like Singapore?

In commenting on the mutual successes of both Singapore and China, Warren Buffett is correct that Singapore's great success story is largely due to Lee Kuan Yew.

He is also correct that Deng Xiaoping drew inspiration from Lee Kuan Yew when he first embarked on China's reform of its economy in 1978.

He then pinpointed that they were both Chinese.

In saying that, however, he missed identifying the most fundamental ingredient to the sauce common to both of their mutual successes, which is Confucianism.

China (and the Chinese people) is a Confucianist Civilization. As such, at its very core, is the importance of the family to an individual and the country is essentially an extended version of the family.

Countries such as Japan, Korea, and Vietnam have one thing in common, they were all gifted by China in their formative beginnings with Confucianism and are today remarkable Confucianist societies in relative harmony and high economic performance.

Just wait and see when Confucianism will be adopted by more countries, especially in Africa, Central, and South America, then mankind would be writing new and successful developmental chapters to its history. I can't wait to see this!!

However, in juxtaposition with other entrenched cultures or societies, say India for instance and a good example is fundamentally more diverse having many societies within its present political borders with Hinduism as its dominant driving value, the contrasts are all too evident. It is a well-known fact that since India embarked on its economic neo-liberalization reforms introduced by the Narsimha-Rao government in 1991, both government and business leaders have often extolled and inspired themselves and Indians to "learn from Lee Kuan Yew and Singapore " and sayings like,"if only we have a Lee Kuan Yew, India would surpass China".

Unfortunately, at best, it's a tough call and probably a forlorn hope, simply because while Confucianist societies are cooperative and cohesive, Indian (Hindu) societies are divisive in nature and the idea that every citizen is equally valued or regarded is fundamentally anathematic to its core belief, the caste system.

In saying this, I am mindful of being misunderstood and wish to state categorically that I do not mean any disrespect to Hinduism as a religion and to Hindus in general, but merely drawing an observation why some societies can be more harmonious and perform better economically than others, that basic beliefs and values play a major part. In this case, a nod to Confucian philosophy.

Lawrence. Melbourne.