Recommendation: This book delves into the intricate interplay between the US's containment strategy and Singapore's non-alignment foreign policy during the height of the Cold War. The author argues that Singapore's success is largely attributed to the support it received from the US, which in turn catalysed economic and strategic cooperation. This book would be a great read for political science enthusiasts and those interested in Southeast Asian history and foreign relations.

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During the Vietnam War, the newly-independent Singapore struck the position of being non-aligned. It maintained an anti-communist stance while, at least initially, criticizing the United States’ intervention into Vietnam. Yet Singapore might not have achieved its post-colonial success so rapidly without the support of the United States. As the war in Vietnam raged on, Singapore became a critical refueling point, also providing ship and aircraft repair for the US military. Commercial and strategic support from the United States lifted Singapore out of the economic doom predicted for the city-state after secession from Malaysia. Without this strategic and economic assistance, Singapore’s history might have been different. By considering the importance of the role of the United States in Singapore’s nation-building, this book provides an important supplement to the well-trodden narrative that attributes Singapore’s success solely to good governance.

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