Singapore, a prosperous city state of 4 million people, gained its independence from the Great Britain in 1963. Since that time it has been ruled by the People’s Action Party (PAP), which has won every single election since 1959.Initially styling itself an anti-Communist and Social Democratic, the PAP was expelled from the Socialist International in 1976 because it suppressed dissent and jailed opposition party leaders.
In addition to political repression Singapore has high rates of economic inequality. On the Gini Index where 100 is complete inequality and 0 is full equality, Singapore’s score is 48, the U.S. is at 45, and the Nordic countries are most equal at 27. Full Story
