i have often thought that cuba and singapore share some similar traits and common ground, their deviating points being economics (which in turn influences their ideology: pragmatism vs principle), and the composition of the people in the country.

that said, i think cuba and singapore are similar in terms of its governance structure. both are small city nations, and both have one leader who has not quite retired yet but was and continues to be instrumental in guiding the country's progress and direction.

and in terms of the steps the country's civil society chooses to adopt or can afford to adopt , i think the words of one bbc author in havana rings through for both nationa, although the living standards and material comfort of the two aforementioned countries are drastically different, it is surprisingly this discrepancy in material comfort that leads the following statement to be pertinent to both countries.

One of the side effects of 48 years with the same leader is an extraordinary degree of resignation amongst the people. It works both ways.

Those that support the revolution believe that their future is in good hands. Those that yearn for change feel that things are out of their hands. ---bbc news on cuba 1/9/07

i think the author just hit a note on the political nature of cubans that resounds just as strongly in the political culture of singaporeans.