The majority of Singaporeans are strongly committed to democracy, with over 80 per cent satisfied or strongly satisfied with the way democracy works in Singapore. Singaporeans also expressed strong disapproval of authoritarian systems of government. These are some of the key findings of the 2023 Asian Barometer Survey (ABS) conducted by the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS). The survey, which has been conducted from 2006 to 2023 in Singapore, examined the political attitudes of 1,000 Singapore citizens aged 21 and above. Respondents were asked what democracy means to them, their views on authoritarianism, their support for the current system of government in Singapore, and more. The survey also touched on respondents’ views on the influence of China and the U.S. on Singapore.
Background
The ABS survey has been a recurring study since 2006, aiming to gauge the political attitudes of Singaporeans. The 2023 iteration involved 1,000 citizens aged 21 and above, providing a comprehensive overview of the public’s stance on democracy and governance. The survey’s significance lies in its ability to track changes in public opinion over time, offering valuable insights into the evolving political landscape of Singapore.
State of democracy in Singapore
Respondents were queried on how much of a democracy they thought Singapore was. Since 2006, the majority have indicated that Singapore is a “democracy, but with minor problems.” Notably, the percentage of respondents who said that Singapore is a “full democracy” increased from 9.2 per cent in 2020 to 12.4 per cent in 2023. Respondents also rated how democratic Singapore was 10 years ago compared to the present government, with mean scores consistently higher for the current government.
Factors behind political attitudes
The survey found that respondents with technical or secondary education were more likely to think that Singapore is less democratic now, as opposed to those with high school or university education backgrounds. Those aged 36 to 55, along with those 56 and above, were also more likely to think that there has been no change in democracy.
Meaning of democracy
Respondents were queried on their understanding of democracy, which was broken into four dimensions: political-civic rights, substantive, procedural, and good governance. Across three waves of the survey in 2010, 2014, and 2023, the most essential characteristics highlighted were free and fair elections, provision of basic necessities, law and order, and corruption-free governance. The survey concluded that Singaporeans generally value the procedural, substantive, and good governance dimensions of democracy more than political-civic rights.
Support for democracy
Since the 2010 wave of the survey, the majority of respondents have agreed with the statement: “Democracy may have its problems, but it is still the best form of government.” In 2023, 18.3 per cent of respondents strongly agreed with the statement, while 53.9 per cent agreed. Over the past five waves of the survey, over 80 per cent of Singaporeans have indicated satisfaction with the way democracy works in Singapore. In 2023, 20.4 per cent were “very satisfied,” while 60.3 per cent were “fairly satisfied.”
Suitability and importance of democracy
Across three waves of the survey in 2014, 2020, and 2023, respondents indicated a strong belief that democracy is suitable for Singapore and expected it to remain democratic in ten years’ time. In 2023, the most common response was that democracy and economic development are equally important, with 28.3 per cent choosing this option. In second place, 25.6 per cent said that economic development is definitely more important.
Strong disapproval of authoritarianism
From 2006 to 2023, respondents indicated strong disapproval of authoritarian systems of government. A majority (between 72.2 and 73.9 per cent for each statement) in 2023 disapproved or strongly disapproved of statements advocating for a strong leader without elections, a single political party, or experts making decisions on behalf of the people.
Current system of government
Respondents generally indicated support for the current system of government in Singapore across the 2010, 2014, 2020, and 2023 iterations of the survey. In 2023, 58.2 per cent said the current system needs minor change, while 20.9 per cent said it works fine and does not need to change. Additionally, 58.6 per cent somewhat agreed that the system is capable of solving Singapore’s problems in the long run, while 25.9 per cent strongly agreed.
International relations
Respondents were also surveyed on their views of the influence of the United States and China on Singapore. The majority believed that China would have the most influence in Asia in ten years. In 2023, 59.1 per cent said China will have the most influence in Asia in ten years, whereas only 6.9 per cent indicated the United States. Respondents were slightly more positive about China’s influence on Singapore compared to the United States, with mean scores of 4.1 for China and 3.9 for the United States.
Methodology
IPS noted a higher proportion of respondents choosing the “Don’t understand/Don’t know/Can’t choose/Decline to answer” option in the 2023 wave compared to previous waves. These responses were not taken into account when calculating mean scores or comparing responses across various waves of data. The 2023 survey was largely self-administered, with respondents keying in their responses themselves, unlike previous editions where interviewers posed questions and recorded responses on a tablet.
