ACJC_H2_HIST_SEA_Suggested_approaches_SBQ

© 2016 ACJC History Department  SEAH Preliminary Exams – Suggested Approach (SBQ)      Southeast Asian History Preliminary Examinations (2016) – Suggested Approach (SBQ)   To what extent do sources A-E show that ASEAN’s lack of success as an organization was a matter beyond its control? Interpretation of hypothesis: ASEAN’s failure to achieve regional stability and economic growth was due to factors beyond its own structures and initiatives. This hypothesis therefore posits that ASEAN was dependent on these external factors to deliver success in the form of regional stability and economic growth. Sources Challenge /Support Main Theme of Source Contextual Knowledge & Tone Provenance A Limited Support It highlighted how ASEAN’s success was ultimately dependent on an individual’s country willingness to compromise their own national interest In 1995, ministers endorsed an ‘ASEAN Cooperation Plan on Trans-boundary Pollution’ which was based on the assumption that Indonesia would improve its domestic environment which would subsequently improve the regional problem of haze. However, Indonesia failed to do so as the haze in 1997 reached disastrous proportions. This highlighted how the success of ASEAN was dependent on countries aligning its agenda to their own national agendas. Objectivity is questionable through the use of emotive language “drag their feet”, “lamenting” and “much vaunted ‘ASEAN Way’”. Article was published in a Singaporean newspaper whose country is one of the states directly impacted by the haze and Indonesia’s lackadaisical attitude and would thus be less objective as further proven by its emotive tone. C Strong Support It highlighted how ASEAN’s success ultimately hinged on the direction set by superpower states Ignoring ASEAN’s 1992 South China Sea Declaration, a Chinese military base was discovered at Mischief Reef in 1995 which was demarcated by the Philippines as part of its territory. This highlighted how even a united ASEAN was helpless to resolve conflicts An academic source which displays comprehensive analysis along with a strong advantage of hindsight.

© 2016 ACJC History Department  SEAH Preliminary Exams – Suggested Approach (SBQ)    unless China itself deems it necessary to do so. D Limited Support It showcased how ASEAN’s ability to function as a cohesive unit was dependent on the outbreak of events rather than the existing structures it had within itself. Throughout the Cambodian conflict between 1978-1991, ASEAN were only successful at making unitary decisions at the start of the conflict as seen in the joint statement issued to the UN Security Council in 1979 to take immediate steps to end the conflict. However, when left to mediate the conflict on their own, ASEAN struggles to be cohesive as seen in the breakdown of the 1985 ‘Proximity Talks’ and the Jakarta Informal Meeting (JIM 2) in 1989. While the source is an academic source, its