Lee Kuan Yew once said frankly that Singaporeans, as descendants of Fujianese and Cantonese, had ancestors who were mostly poor and even illiterate, while the real dignitaries and scholars all stayed in China. Therefore, there is nothing that Singaporeans can do that the Chinese cannot. The key to Singapore's success is not Chinese studies or Confucian culture, but the rule of law system left by the British.

At its peak, the British Empire had 78 colonies. Except for the 56 countries in the Commonwealth, the remaining 21 were independent and separated from the United Kingdom. Of these 56 Commonwealth countries, 16 still swear allegiance to the Queen of England. It is puzzling that Britain, as a colonizer, has won the respect and love of its former colonies.

Myanmar is now the poorest country in Asia, but before World War II it was one of the most developed countries in Asia. Under British colonial rule, Myanmar's economic development once surpassed Japan. However, after Myanmar gained independence after World War II and abandoned the Commonwealth and British systems, it quickly fell from the richest country in Asia to the poorest in a few decades, which is called the Myanmar phenomenon.

This is not only the case in Myanmar, but also in South Africa. After independence, South Africa followed the British system and became the only developed country in Africa. However, after Mandela's reforms in 1994, South Africa overturned the original system and slid from a developed country to a predicament full of violence and poverty. The fundamental reason why Britain is still respected in its former colonies is the institutional contribution it made in the process of civilization.

In terms of institutional innovation, Britain has had a huge impact on the world. First, the rule of law system. The Magna Carta of 1615 established the principle that the king is under the law, and even the king must abide by the law. Secondly, the welfare system. The Poor Law of 1601 established the government's assistance to civilians through legislation. Next is freedom of speech. The On Freedom of the Press issued in 1644 laid the foundation for modern freedom of speech. The Bill of Rights promulgated in 1689 marked the origin of modern democracy, and the Toleration Act passed at the same time that year established the principle of equality for all. Britain also promoted the theory of decentralization. Locke's Theory of Government in 1690 proposed the idea of ​​separation of powers, which had a far-reaching impact. The clean government system was also pioneered by Britain. The public property disclosure system implemented in 1693 was a transparent government. In 1765, Britain triggered the Industrial Revolution and became the world's first industrialized country with the innovation of the steam engine. Adam Smith's The Wealth of Nations in 1776 laid the foundation for the modern market economy. In 1832, Britain reformed the electoral system, marking the perfection of the modern party system. Without these institutional contributions, human history might still remain in the disputes and killings of feudal society to understand the modern world.