I think you could make the case that Singapore is a dictatorship in a kind of English tradition just as the US is a democracy with the same broad tradition. Despite some differences in detail, broad cultural values are actually pretty close (language probably being a huge contributing factor).
To put it another way: Singapore uses strong central government to achieve the same kinds of effects Americans will cheerfully use other means (e.g. Disneyland, gated communities, giant shopping malls) to achieve.
Actually, we do have giant shopping malls and some form of gated communities in Sinagpore, too. Disneyland didn't quite make it, despite some attempt in the 90s (I think), but there are other themeparks.
To put it another way: Singapore uses strong central government to achieve the same kinds of effects Americans will cheerfully use other means (e.g. Disneyland, gated communities, giant shopping malls) to achieve.