2018 POLITICS II INFOPACK

RI GP Y6 2018 / Politics and Governance II Copyrighted: Knowledge Skills Department, for internal circulation only 1 RAFFLES INSTITUTION YEAR 6 GENERAL PAPER STUDENTS’ INFORMATION PACKAGE Unit: Politics and Governance II - Focusing on Singapore 1. Introduction and Learning Objectives 2 2. Enduring Understandings and Essential Questions 3 3. For Further Reading/Viewing 3 4. Related Past Year Examination Questions: Cambridge and RI 4 ARTICLES Singapore and Democracy 1a. Demophobic society: Singapore's allergy to the D-word weakens us (Excerpt) 6 1b. A Defence of Singapore-style Democracy 9 The Tussle Between Freedom and Stability 2. Singapore must drop 'Out-of-Bounds' Censorship 13 3. 'Traditional values' Wear White campaign returning to Pink Dot weekend 15 4. The Social Laboratory 17 5. The Myth of 'Trade Offs' 25 Tensions within Our Educational and Social Policies 6. Of Race and National Identity 28 7. When Kids Say 'I Lazy What' 32 8a. Social Policy in Singapore: A Crucible of Individual Responsibility (Excerpt) 36 8b. Re-examining Singapore's Social Security System (Excerpt) 41 9. Singapore's Lesson: Managing Immigration to Create a Win-win Situation 45 Additional Materials for Analysis 1. Asia Barometer Survey 2014-2016 (Excerpt) 56 2. Global Competitiveness Index 2017-2018: Singapore's Profile 58

RI GP Y6 2018 / Politics and Governance II Copyrighted: Knowledge Skills Department, for internal circulation only 2 1. Introduction Politics and Governance II builds on fundamental concepts introduced in Politics and Governance I and throws the spotlight on contemporary political issues, specifically...This package aims to provide ‘just -in-time’ information on the abovementioned topics, and facilitate analysis and evaluation of complex political issues, to which there are not clear solutions. What this package is: This package is meant to supplement your learning in class by spurring independent thinking and facilitating active discussion on questions and key issues. It is also intended for self-study to gain content knowledge, as well as reflection upon key issues raised. The articles in this package are selected and customised to be of the standard of comprehension expected of an A-level candidate. More difficult articles necessitating a closer read and/or higher order conceptual understanding are flagged out (see Content Page). Related examination questions are highlighted beneath each article—these are meant to guide your thinking and focus your learning. For students interested in going further, links and suggested readings are provided where appropriate. For students requiring background information, particularly with regards to specific countries, additional links are also provided beneath the appropriate articles. What this package is not: This package is NOT an exercise in memory and regurgitation, nor is it a “model answer”. General Paper is not about thoughtless memorisation of facts and/or essay scaffolds. It is about close reading of sources, critical analysis of issues raised, and the formation and clear expression of your own logically sound opinions, which are substantiated by factual evidence.

RI GP Y6 2018 / Politics and Governance II Copyrighted: Knowledge Skills Department, for internal circulation only 3 2. Enduring Understandings and Essential Questions: There are NO new Enduring Understandings (EU) in this package, but we will be revisiting 5 key EUs introduced in Politics and Governance I in the specific context of Singapore: EU1: Whatever the choice may be in method of governance, there w ill be pros and cons, effects and consequences on the people, economically and socially. EU2: The tension betwen individual freedom and social stability always requires compromise. EU3: The tension between individual freedom and the amount of power veste d in the state always requires compromise. EU4: The tension betwen the needs of the majority and that of the minority always requires compromise. EU5: The tension between how resources are managed and allocated over the long term and the short erm always requires compromise What are the essential questions of this unit? 1. What is good governance? What do we expect from our leaders? 2. Are there alternatives to democracy that work? 3. How many forms of democracy are there and why are there so many forms? 4. Which is more important: principle of pragmatism and economic development or freedom and equality? 5. What is the nature of politics in Singapore? What are the changes and challenges? 3. For Further Reading/Viewing: Recommended Reading: 1) Lee Kuan Yew, From Third World to First: The Singapore Story: 1965-2000. 2) Gretchen Liu, The Singapore Foreign Service: The First 40 Years 3) Cherian George, The Air -conditioned Nation: Essays on the politics of comfort and control (1990-2000) 4) Warren Fernandez, Thinking Allowed? 5) Ghani, Peh, Teo, Lim, et al., Struck by Lightning: Singaporean Voices Post-1965 6) Kishore Mahbubani, The New Asian Hemisphere 7) Donald Low and Sudhir Vadaketh, Hard Choices: Challenging the Singapore Consensus (2014) 8) Carol Soon, Hoe Su Fern (ed.) Singapore Perspectives 2015: Choices 9) Cherian George, Singapore Incomplete (2018) 10) Teo You Yenn, This is What Inequality Looks Like (2018)

RI GP Y6 2018 / Politics and Governance II Copyrighted: Knowledge Skills Department, for internal circulation only 4 4. Related Cambridge and RI Essay Questions Cambridge Exam Questions: ‘Your society’ questions 1) In your society, to what extent is it acceptable for public money to be used for the acquisition of works of art? (Nov 2017) 2) Many developed countries are paying increasing attention to the needs of the disadvantaged. How far is this true in Singapore? (Nov 08) 3) How far is your country prepared for future crises? (Nov 06) 4) To what extent do young people in your society take an interest in politics? (Nov 06) Other politics & governance questions: 5) ‘No politician’s reputation can survive the judgement of time.’ How true is this? (Nov 10) 6) ‘In today’s world, power is determined by economic success, not military might.’ Discuss. (Nov 97) RI Exam Questions: ‘Your society’ questions 1) ‘We should abolish state funding for the Arts.’ How far do you agree that this should be the case for your society?(RI 2017 Y6 Prelim) 2) ‘Ours is a country of divided people.’ Is this a valid comment on your society? (RI 2015 Y5 Promo) 3) How far is your society prepared for the challenges that diversity brings? (RI 2015 Y6 Prelim) 4) Consider the view that people in your society have unrealistic expectations of their government. (RI, 2014, Y5, Promo) 5) ‘It is better to obey than to question.’ How far is this true of your society? (RI, 2014, Y6, CT2) 6) To what extent has the political climate in your society changed for the better? (RI 2013 Prelim) 7) What priorities would you set for government expenditure in your country and why? (RI 2013 Yr 6 CT 2) 8) Is it ever justified to spend large amounts of public money on national defence? Discuss this with reference to your country. (RI 2011 Yr6 Prelim) 9) It has been said that Singapore is economically First World but socially Third World. What is your view? (RI 2011 Yr6 Prelim) 10) “Not in my backyard.” To what extent is this a growing problem in your society? (RI 2012 Yr 6 CT2) 11) To what extent does your country challenge the current state of affairs? (RI 2011 Yr6 CT2) Other politics & governance questions: 12) Is it ever justified to sacrifice human rights for a country’s progress? (RI 2017 Y6 Prelim) 13) ‘At a time when the world needs capable leadership, many politicians do not seem to be up to the job.’ Do you agree? (RI 2017 Y6 Prelim) 14) ‘Achieving greater income equality for all