In 1994 the founding father of Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew, gave a fascinating interview to the prestigious Foreign Affairs journal, in which he castigated Americans "not to foist their system indiscriminately on societies in which it will not work".

He argued that, given the cultural differences between Western and East Asian societies, Western-style democracy was not applicable to East Asia.

He expounded the virtues of the "Asian developmental model" based on Confucian ethics such as strong leadership, respect for elders, fraternal brotherhood, loyalty, thrift, and passion for education. This was a rebuke of Western democracy which, he stated, was blighted by excessive individualism, moral corruption and the collapse of the family structure.

The Singaporean statesman's interview sparked a heated debate in scholarly circles and in the popular media, pitting those who were in favour of his assertions against those who were against. Click here for more