1. Unit 4: Globalisation
1.1. Part 1: What globalisation is What is globalisation? How has globalisation come about?
1.1.1. Case study: COVID-19
1.1.1.1. Highlights how interconnected the world is, and how that can facilitate the spread of problems like pandemics, and also allow for a global response to the issue
1.1.2. Definitions of globalisation
1.1.2.1. Globalisation refers to:
1.1.2.1.1. An interconnected world where
1.1.2.1.2. Local events are shaped by decisions on the other side of the world with
1.1.2.1.3. Dominance of large companies and
1.1.2.1.4. Technology playing an important role in bringing countries and cultures together.
1.1.2.2. The term can be applied to many different issues: cultural, economic and political, and be viewed in a positive and negative light
1.1.3. Aspects of globalisation
1.1.3.1. Economic: an interconnected global economy characterised by increased flows of trade, finance and labour, and an increased number and size of multinational corporations (MNCs)
1.1.3.1.1. Trade: cross-border imports and exports of goods and services
1.1.3.1.2. Finance: direct and indirect foreign investment, repatriated corporate profits and wages
1.1.3.1.3. Labour: short- and long-term migrant workers/economic migrants
1.1.3.1.4. MNCs: companies that operate in more than two countries, with headquarters in home MEDC, regional HQs, production facilities in LEDCs and global distribution to international markets
1.1.3.2. Sociocultural: the global exchange and spread of culture via conquest, trade, migration, tourism, mass media and the Internet
1.1.3.2.1. Perceived as three trends/scenarios:
1.1.3.3. Political: intensification and expansion of political interrelations with growing significance of international organisations (IGOs or INGOs) and transnational actors having implications on state sovereignty by influencing state decision-making, threatening national security, and challenging old territorial concepts of "domestic" vs. "foreign"
1.1.3.3.1. IGOs are organisations with universal or limited membership comprising three or more nation-states and permanent secretaries/bureaucracies formed to address common problems requiring collective action
1.1.3.3.2. INGOs are NGOs that operate on a global scale with branches in different countries
1.1.4. Factors leading to rapid growth in 20th century
1.1.4.1. Technological advancements in transport and communications
1.1.4.1.1. Transport: steam power, air travel, high-speed rail, containerisation, etc.
1.1.4.1.2. Communications: electronic mass media, satellites and optical fibre cables, the Internet/WWW, converged devices, etc.
1.1.4.1.3. 4th industrial revolution: AI, cloud computing, smart devices, robotics, etc.
1.1.4.2. Rise of MNCs and IGOs
1.1.4.2.1. Connect countries via trade, migration (labour), and political agreements (e.g. free trade and travel agreements)
1.2. Part 2: The impacts of globalisation How does globalisation affect people around the world? How does globalisation affect our understanding of citizenship?
1.2.1. Positive and negative outcomes of an increasingly globalised world
1.2.1.1. Economic
1.2.1.1.1. Benefits:
1.2.1.1.2. Costs:
1.2.1.1.3. On SG:
1.2.1.2. Sociocultural
1.2.1.2.1. Benefits:
1.2.1.2.2. Costs:
1.2.1.2.3. On SG:
1.2.1.3. Political
1.2.1.3.1. Benefits:
1.2.1.3.2. Costs:
1.2.1.3.3. On SG:
1.2.2. Implications on diversity and the role of the individual in society
1.2.2.1. Globalisation makes countries increasingly diverse with new/emerging identities and points of tension - migrant vs. local (new citizen vs. "core Singaporean"), "cosmopolitan" vs. "heartlander"
1.2.2.1.1. Also widens socioeconomic divides (refer to Vadaketh's End of Identity and Mathews's Managing Singapore's New Diversities)
1.2.2.2. Citizens are no longer able to remain concerned with the purely local as global forces/issues made themselves felt (e.g. COVID-19, global recession, immigration, climate change, etc.)
1.2.2.2.1. But are also empowered by increased avenues for citizen participation (e.g. social media) to address issues of concern both nationally (via CS or through/with the state) and globally (through IGOs and INGOs)
1.2.3. Case study: Human Trafficking/TIP
1.2.3.1. Highlights how globalisation can give rise to transnational issues that have wide-ranging impacts and require a comprehensive, collective response
1.2.3.1.1. Impacts on victims:
1.2.3.1.2. Impact on countries:
1.2.4. Case study: Violent Extremism
1.2.4.1. Highlights how globalisation can give rise to transnational issues that have wide-ranging impacts and require a comprehensive, collective response
1.2.4.1.1. Economic impacts:
1.2.4.1.2. Social impacts:
1.2.4.1.3. Political impacts:
1.3. Part 3: Responses to globalisation How can countries respond to the challenges of globalisation? How can individuals make a difference in addressing global issues?
1.3.1. Pro- and anti-globalisation approaches
1.3.1.1. Pro-globalisation:
1.3.1.1.1. Economic: promoting international trade, finance and labour flows e.g. with FTAs, visa/travel agreements etc.
1.3.1.1.2. Sociocultural: embracing foreign cultural flows and promoting local culture abroad
1.3.1.1.3. Political: multilateralism - valuing international cooperation and participation in IGOs
1.3.1.2. Anti-globalisation:
1.3.1.2.1. Economic: protectionism and nationalism e.g. withdrawing from agreements, imposing tariffs, curtailing immigration etc.
1.3.1.2.2. Sociocultural: restricting and censoring foreign cultural flows
1.3.1.2.3. Political: unilateralism and isolationism - rejecting international cooperation and withdrawing from IGOs
1.3.1.3. SG's responses:
1.3.1.3.1. Economic: decoupling and diversification of economy - growing new sectors & promoting entrepreneurship; heavy investment in education and lifelong learning for an adaptable workforce; strengthening social safety nets
1.3.1.3.2. Sociocultural: preserving and promoting local culture (e.g. through celebrating ethnic festivals/holidays, media programming, bilingual policy, NHB and museums etc.); controlling foreign cultural influences perceived to be harmful; managing anti-immigrant sentiment
1.3.1.3.3. Political: controlling external sources of influence on domestic politics with existing and new laws (e.g. ISA, POFMA); concerted nation-building effort – especially constructing national identity; national security strategy that responds to evolving threats e.g. violent extremism
1.3.2. Measures to address problems/challenges created by globalisation
1.3.2.1. State actors
1.3.2.1.1. National govts.:
1.3.2.1.2. International community/IGOs:
1.3.2.2. Non-state actors
1.3.2.2.1. Businesses:
1.3.3. Civil society (NGOs & INGOs):
1.3.3.1. Support services for victims - shelter, counselling, legal aid etc. e.g. HAGAR shelters for victims of sex trafficking, TWC2 soup kitchens and legal clinics for distressed migrant workers
1.3.3.2. Rehabilitation of victims to facilitate reintegration e.g. RRG providing counselling/religious rehabilitation of terrorist/VE detainees
1.3.3.3. Complement govt. efforts to raise awareness of issue e.g. HAGAR TIP public campaigns, RRG videos and publications that counter radical narratives
1.3.4. What individual citizens can do to address global problems
1.3.4.1. Signal concern to govt. through feedback channels
1.3.4.2. Donate to/volunteer with NGOs
1.3.4.3. Help with identification/detection of problems e.g. victims of trafficking or radicalisation process/ security threats
1.3.4.4. Help raise awareness of issue by spreading the word or participating in campaigns
2. Unit 3: Active Citizenship and Civil Society
2.1. Part 1: Active citizenship and interest articulation Why should citizens play an active role in the political decision-making process? What can individuals do to effect change in society?
2.1.1. Definitions of AC
2.1.1.1. Citizen:
2.1.1.1.1. A member of a political community of state endowed with a set of rights and obligations and able to participate in life of communities
2.1.1.2. Active citizenship:
2.1.1.2.1. Being well-informed of issues facing the country
2.1.1.2.2. Wanting to make things better by offering thoughtful feedback and suggestions
2.1.1.2.3. Taking action and assuming responsibility by helping to implement suggestions
2.1.1.3. Why AC is needed:
2.1.1.3.1. Increasingly rapid changes and complexity of governing SG
2.1.1.3.2. Increasing demands by S'poreans to have a greater say in national affairs
2.1.2. Avenues for political participation and collective action
2.1.2.1. As individuals:
2.1.2.1.1. Vote in elections
2.1.2.1.2. Make direct contact with policymakers on personal or broader political issues
2.1.2.1.3. Engage in contentious action (protest activity)
2.1.2.1.4. Buy or boycott products for political reasons (political consumerism)
2.1.2.1.5. Work with others in informal groups
2.1.2.2. As groups:
2.1.2.2.1. Legitimate channels and tactics
2.1.2.2.2. Coercive channels and tactics (forms of political violence)
2.1.2.3. Case study: Hong Kong Protests
2.1.2.3.1. Highlights various forms of interest articulation and the problematic nature of coercive tactics and political violence channels for access
2.2. Part 2: Civil society and its development in SG What is CS? How has CS developed in SG? What is the contect for AC & CS in SG?
2.2.1. Definitions of CS
2.2.1.1. Civil society is a social sphere separate from the state and the market that includes all organisations that occupy the "social space" between the family and the state (i.e. NGOs)
2.2.1.1.1. NGOs:
2.2.1.1.2. NGOs include:
2.2.1.1.3. NGOs can operate at different scales:
2.2.1.2. CS plays two main roles:
2.2.1.2.1. Complementary role: autonomously or in cooperation with the state to fill gaps/deficiencies in state provision of public services
2.2.1.2.2. Adversarial role: challenge govt. agendas and policies by attempting to change them more in their favour
2.2.2. Case study: Chek Jawa
2.2.2.1. Highlights how active citizens can make a difference by taking action to address an overlooked need, and bring about unexpected policy changes by aiding govt. decision-making
2.2.3. Case study: Bt Brown Cemetary
2.2.3.1. Highlights how the adversarial role that NGOs play can influence govt. decisions but also lead to friction between CS and the state if expectations are not managed
2.2.4. The history of CS in SG
2.2.4.1. Impetus for growth:
2.2.4.1.1. Neglect or insufficient action by authorities
2.2.4.1.2. Disagreement with politics or action by authorities
2.2.4.2. Three main phases:
2.2.4.2.1. Colonial era: neglect of migrant communities by British govt. leads to formation of independent self-help groups
2.2.4.2.2. Early independence: domination of CS by PAP govt. during struggle against communists/leftists (concerns of political subversion)
2.2.4.2.3. Late 80s-present: relaxation of controls with more open and consultative style of govt. from GKT onwards, and challenges posed by a complex, fast-moving world and the Internet
2.3. Part 3: The challenges of growing CS What are the challenges of growing CS in SG? What are the limits to political participation in SG?
2.3.1. Tension and conflict resulting from increased activism
2.3.1.1. CS recognised as serving public interest but undesirable (violent, disruptive, undemocratic or uncivil) pursuit of self-interest can lead to conflict with other NGOs/the state, and impede governance
2.3.1.2. Challenges of promoting AC and growing CS:
2.3.1.2.1. Maintaining order and building cohesion while encouraging greater participation
2.3.1.2.2. Ensuring representation of interests while managing tensions and conflicts
2.3.2. Case study: Sim Lim Square Saga
2.3.2.1. Highlights how vigilantism can be an undesirable outcome of unchecked citizen participation, and how more desirable alternatives exist
2.3.3. Case study: AWARE Saga
2.3.3.1. Highlights the conflicts between groups CS that can arise from more active citizenship, and the particular challenge of managing the role that faith/religious beliefs play in debates within our secular public space
2.3.4. Limits to political participation and boundaries for acceptable conduct
2.3.4.1. Level of tolerance towards discussion of issues varies from bread-and-butter issues (encouraged) to sensitive topics like race and religion (not tolerable)
2.3.4.2. What is deemed acceptable is defined by legislation, regulation and out-of-bounds (OB) markers
2.3.4.2.1. Legislation for security and public order e.g. ISA, Sedition Act, Public Order Act, MRHA
2.3.4.2.2. Censorship and licensing of media
2.3.4.2.3. Contempt of court and defamation lawsuits