Meritocracy and the Emerging Political Families in Singapore

Abstract This article uses the concept of “political family” to explore a new trend in the political participation of the Chinese elite in Singapore and whether this trend impacts “meritocracy,” which has always been the governing principle in this country. In reviewing Singapore’s eight political families, this article finds that the long-standing political stability and intra-party unity of the ruling People’s Action Party ( pap ) are more conducive to the growth of the political family, allowing second-generation family members to enter the political arena much younger than their colleagues without such family backgrounds. Thus, the rise of these young stars aligns with the “power begets power” and “brand name advantage” arguments. However, Singapore is, after all, an electoral democratic country with a parliamentary system, and individuals must first pass the test of elections before being promoted based on their achievements. Therefore, good performance remains the key for these second-generation political family members to sustain their political careers and their families’ brands. From this perspective, the rise of political families does not seem to conflict with Singapore’s long-standing emphasis on meritocracy.