Since it gained political independence in August 1965, by any yardstick, Singapore?s development has been phenomenal. Beginning as a backward city-state, today it is an ultra-modern metropolis, with one of the highest per capita incomes in the world. Apart from its cleanliness and efficiency, it is also one of the least corrupt countries in the world. Yet, while it has advanced from Third-World to First-World status economically, in the arena of politics, its development has been relatively slow. Critics have poured scorn on how the ruling party that has dominated national politics for over fifty years continues to stall political democratization through an array of measures that have kept the opposition at bay and restricted political opening. How has an economically prosperous state succeeded in defying large-scale political democratization, especially since it is plugged in globally and exists in a region that has seen authoritarian regimes being overthrown? The answer lies in the ability of the ruling party to provide economic prosperity and security while, through gradual democratization and accountability, creating a system that is synonymous with good governance in an Asian setting.