Lee Kuan Yew's Predictions: The Man Who Saw The Future?

Lee Kuan Yew's Predictions

I spent a lot of my time during the pandemic listening to Lee Kuan Yew’s predictions & insights about the world and collated a small fraction of his quotes in the below videos.

As one of the most successful nation-builders in history, we’re incredibly lucky that his insights are easily accessible online. Lee Kuan Yew’s deep knowledge of both the East & West allowed him to lead Singapore, a country with no natural resources, to become one of the wealthiest nations in the world. It’s a shame not more people (especially young people in the US & Australia) know this man.

Video Timestamps & Description

A small collection of predictions, quotes & insights from Lee Kuan Yew (from his interviews, speeches and books) – with some commentary & quick analysis.

From the rise of Asia (China, India, Vietnam) to the decline of Nokia, listen to his thoughts on the world, some of which have come true, some are questionable, and some are unknown.

Timestamps

0:00 – Intro
0:20 – Australia will become the white trash of Asia?
1:56 – Predicting the rise of Asian tech innovation & entrepreneurship
4:12 – Predicting the rise of China (ft. Deng Xiaoping)
5:34 – Predicting no American intervention
6:24 – LKY’s thoughts on Xi Jinping
6:57 – Predicting Japan’s military resurgence
8:17 – Predicting the rise of Vietnam (ft. Nguyễn Thị Phương Thảo)
9:24 – The rise of India? (ft. Rishi Sunak)
10:41 – Predicting the futility of the US in Afghanistan 11:19 – Democracy destined to fail in Myanmar? (ft. Aung San Suu Kyi)
12:53 – Predicting the decline of Nokia
13:47 – Lee predicts that he could become a villain after his death

Part 2

Part II & final video of Lee Kuan Yew’s predictions & warnings for the world. Countries & regions mentioned: America, China, Europe, Scandinavia, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, South Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore & more.

Timestamps & topics:

0:00 – Intro
0:05 – US Dominance or Decline?
2:00 – Decline of the US Dollar as the World’s Global Reserve? (De-Dollarisation)
3:25 – The American Dream for Chinese?
4:43 – China’s Potential Barriers
8:58 – Decline of Europe & the Euro?
11:07 – Lee’s thoughts on Russia
11:45 – Philippines Potenial?
13:43 – Malaysia’s Brain Drain?
15:43 – Indonesia’s Reliance on Natural Resources?
16:30 – Thailand Will Do Well ft. Thaksin Shinawatra return?
17:08 – North Korea & South Korea Reunification?
18:51 – Advice for Hong Kongers
21:18 – Middle East Tensions ft Iran, Palestine & Israel
22:44 – Dangers of Globalization & Internet
24:30 – Nuclear Power is the Future?
27:39 – His Worry for Singapore’s Future

I highly recommend reading LKY’s One Man’s View of the World (published in 2013) as no video can do justice to the breadth & depth of knowledge that Lee had. It’s interesting how many of the hot topics we’re grappling with today were already being discussed decades ago.

Lee Kuan Yew's Advice For Young People

Timestamps:

0:00 – Intro (ft. Charlie Munger)

1:02 – On materialism, wealth, careers & self-acceptance (ft. Five Cs of Singapore)

6:00 – Do NOT speak SINGLISH – On bilingualism (especially English & Mandarin), learning a new language and moving overseas/abroad (to the US, China, Europe, Indonesia, etc.)

11:52 – On relationships & love

18:07 – Physical & mental health (importance of meditation)