In many Lao communities, temples are among the cleanest places around. People sweep the grounds, tend to the gardens, and take care of the buildings. There is a shared understanding that these places are sacred, belong to everyone, and that caring for them is a collective responsibility.

But why doesn’t the same care always extend to the streets and public spaces outside?

This is one of the questions that get to the heart of an idea explored by Lao scholar Dr. Anoulak Kittikhoun in his new book, A Great Country Is What Leaders Make of It.

Former Minister Alounkeo Kittikhoun applauds during the launch of A Great Country Is What Leaders Make of It. (Photo supplied by the Embassy of Singapore in Laos)

“I like the word ‘great’ because I want to correct the often misusage by the big powers, mostly about their size, grand history or civilization, and wealth,” he said. “When you have discussions with people about what’s great about their country or other countries, it’s never about those things.”

After visiting around 40 countries and reading extensively about their histories and development, Anoulak has identified five things he believes matter to people, their economies, and how their countries are seen by the rest of the world.

These form the five rules at the heart of his book, which he describes as “polite reminders to leaders” about what it takes to build a great country.

Drawing on examples from other countries and different periods in history across the world, Anoulak looks at what makes a country “great”, and why the answer goes well beyond economic growth, political decisions, or the infrastructure it builds.

Starting With ‘Green and Clean’

One of the book’s early themes is keeping a country “green and clean”. 

Singapore and Japan are popular Asian examples of how environmental standards and public discipline can become part of everyday life. But Anoulak also turns his attention to Laos, where ambitious development plans and major projects are only part of the picture. 

What makes a country a good place to live also comes down to basic things like how public spaces are cared for, how people treat their surroundings, and whether those in positions of power see public service as a responsibility to the people they serve.

“Clean and green are fundamental traits of a great country because they are a sign of self respect, self organization and self discipline. It means you care about your place and wish it to be here for generations to come,” Anoulak said. “It means you will do everything possible to ensure all the other rules are realized. It is thus the first and most fundamental rule.“

Lessons for Lao Leaders

He also sees the first rule as a practical starting point for young leaders, precisely because it is something they have the power to influence.

“The first rule is the one you can control the most,” he said.

Through his essay collection, Anoulak looks at countries that have taken different paths. He considers what helped them move forward, what stood in their way, and what their experiences might offer Laos.

The book is aimed particularly at current and future Lao leaders. It does not offer a blueprint for turning Laos into a great country, or suggest that another nation’s model can be copied. 

Instead, it asks readers to look at the choices behind national progress, and to think about what kind of country they want to leave for the next generation.

He wrote the book in 2025 while serving as an Independent Senior Fellow at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore. His book gathers lessons from that wider interest in governance, history, and national development.

“All are my personal views and not of the Lao government or regional bodies I served at or serving,” he said.

Singapore Ambassador to Laos Ong Siew Gay delivers remarks at the book launch in Vientiane. (Photo supplied by the Embassy of Singapore in Laos)

Anoulak presented the collection at a launch on 3 November at the Laos-Singapore Cooperation Centre in Vientiane. The event was supported by the Singapore Embassy, with Ambassador Ong Siew Gay delivering the welcome remarks, followed by former Minister to the Prime Minister’s Office and Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Alounkeo Kittikhoun. 

Members of the diplomatic corps and other guests attended.