BBC country profile

Separated from Malaysia so Malaysia could be controlled by Malays, not Chinese
Independent country, even if it is basically a city -- 3 million, on an island
Very multi cultural -- Chinese, Malay, Tamil, European, EurAsia

Economics

Trade center for SE Asia
Vigorous international involvement in economy, esp high tech, computers
Large taxes, government investment fund, public housing -- high degree of government involment in economy
Now invests a lot in China for lower labor costs, sells servcies (hotel management, real estate development, etc.

parliamentary system on paper
in practice, one party rule under Lee Kuanyu
He has retired but is powerful behind the screen
His son, Lee Hsien Loong, has had years of grooming to be the successor
    - became deputy prime minister in 1990
    - appointed prime minister in 2004
    - called election 2006, first time his power/legitimacy is put to a vote
        election results (he won)
Parliamentary distribution
    82 seats to Lee's "People's Action Party"
      1 seat to Workers Party
      1 seat to Singapore Democratic Alliance
very strict laws, social control

Interesting interview with Lee Kuanyu, September 2007