ACJC_History Papers_Paper 2 prelim consolidated

2 ANGLO-CHINESE JUNIOR COLLEGE Preliminary Examinations JC2 H I S T O R Y H 2 9731/02 Paper 2 History of Southeast Asia, 1900-1997 19 August 2008 3 hours Additional Materials: Writing Paper READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS FIRST Write your class, index number and name on all the work you hand in. Write in dark blue or black pen on both sides of the paper. Do not use staples, paper clips, highlighters, glue or correction fluid. Answer four questions. You must answer Question 1 (Section A) and any three questions from Section B. Begin each question on a fresh sheet of paper. At the end of the examination, fasten all your work securely together. All questions in this paper carry equal marks. © ACJC 2008 9731/02/Preliminary Exams/08

3 Section A You must answer Question 1. THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE ASEAN WAY 1 Read the sources and then answer the question. Source A ASEAN was designed to be first and foremost an association of states actively engaged in nation-building, as Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Singapore had become sovereign independent nations only after World War II. Since nation-building was often messy and vulnerable to foreign intervention, the governing elite wanted to have free hands to conduct their policies in the knowledge that their neighbors would refrain from interfering in their domestic affairs. In addition, smaller members such as Singapore, are consciously fearful of forceful and coercive measures from much bigger neighbors like Indonesia. As a result, non-interference became the cardinal principle of the organization. Members are committed to the norms of non-use of force and non-confrontation and they often shared reluctance to institutionalize and legalize regional cooperation. They were in favor of informal and under-institutionalized forms of regional cooperation instead. In fact, the ASEAN process has been managed through consultations and consensus among top leaders. An extract taken from the ASEAN Secretariat at www.aseansec.org. Source B The shaping of the organization itself has developed in a Southeast Asian way. What worked best was best. ASEAN had no preconceived constitution; no rules; nothing. It is based on the goodwill, tolerance and relaxed style of the six members. And to this day, this is what keeps ASEAN alive. True, we have differences, acrimonious debates at times but there are no breaching of rules, simply because there are no rules. That is why we are