Singapore (1965): a new system that brought prosperity
Singapore (1965) built a system with no predecessor and became prosperous by riding a wave the world already backed.
Casharro
Lessons from the world
How nations and movements started strong, from Medina in 622 to Singapore, the UAE and Rwanda. Only cases that succeeded, each with what was new and the lesson it holds.
Nations that built something new
UAE federation (1971): a new system that brought prosperity
UAE federation (1971) built a system with no predecessor and became prosperous by riding a wave the world already backed.
Dubai (1985 to 2004): a new system that brought prosperity
From 1985 Dubai built something new: free zones with their own rules, where foreign companies could own 100% of their business, pay little or no tax and…
Rwanda (1994): a new system that brought prosperity
Rwanda (1994) built a system with no predecessor and became prosperous by riding a wave the world already backed.
Estonia (1991): a new system that brought prosperity
After independence in 1991, Estonia built a government that runs almost entirely online: one digital ID for every person and one secure link, X-Road, that…
Botswana (1966): a new system that brought prosperity
Botswana (1966) built a system with no predecessor and became prosperous by riding a wave the world already backed.
Shenzhen (1980): a new system that brought prosperity
On 26 August 1980 China made Shenzhen, a farming area next to Hong Kong, its first Special Economic Zone, allowed to write its own market rules inside a…
How nations started strong on day one
Medina under the Prophet (peace be upon him), 622
Soon after the Hijrah in 622, the Prophet (peace be upon him) turned Medina, a city of rival clans, into one community under one written agreement.
Umar ibn al-Khattab, 634 to 644
How Umar ibn al-Khattab, 634 to 644 stood up working government on day one: what was in place, what was new, and the lesson it holds.
Mu'awiya, Umayyad state from 661
From 661 Mu'awiya ran a fast-growing state from Damascus by keeping the skilled officials who already ran Syria and putting them to work for the new state.
Mehmet II, Ottoman state after 1453
After taking Constantinople in 1453, Mehmet II rebuilt it as Istanbul and turned a frontier state into a central government run by salaried officials loyal…
Dutch Republic, 1579 to 1648
In 1579 seven provinces in the Low Countries joined in the Union of Utrecht, then declared independence from Spain in 1581.
United States, 1789
How United States, 1789 stood up working government on day one: what was in place, what was new, and the lesson it holds.
Meiji Japan, 1868
How Meiji Japan, 1868 stood up working government on day one: what was in place, what was new, and the lesson it holds.
Finland 1917 and Ireland 1922
How Finland 1917 and Ireland 1922 stood up working government on day one: what was in place, what was new, and the lesson it holds.
Israel, 1948
Israel's government existed before the state did. Elected pre-state bodies, backed by Jews abroad, ran schools, welfare and defence for decades, and on 14…
South Korea 1948 and Taiwan 1949
South Korea (1948) and Taiwan (1949) both started poor and damaged by war. Both gave farmland to the people who farmed it, put children in school, then…
Malaysia, 1957
Malaya became independent on 31 August 1957 as a federation of states that kept their traditional rulers.
Somalia today
Somalia today
Where Somalia stands today on the building blocks of a state: the constitution, the treasury, justice and ID.
Tailwinds: digital ID, mobile money, data exchange and AI
Digital ID, phone payments, linked government databases and AI let a small team do work that once needed thousands of clerks.
Toosoo!
Since 1895, every generation has worked for one united, prosperous Somalia. Now it is our generation.
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