Singapore is viewed as a model of an orderly, economically developing successful society on the Pacific Rim. Based on eight years of field work, the author analyzes how modernization effects an Asian society and which value conflicts prevail.

The Singapore government's program to shape its version of a modern, yet Asian national identity is described in light of the dominant ideology. In addition, the values and beliefs of opposition movements are presented. The work explores the tensions between these ideological sets and the likely outcome of the complex, inconsistent processes currently underway.