Media & Censorship

Definitions:
Mass Media
New Media
Digital Media
Social Media
The Internet
Information and communication technology (ICT)

Government Censorship and Information Manipulation

In authoritarian regimes:
● Singapore’s​ ​Newspaper and Printing Presses Act​ grants the government control over printed
forms of state media.
● The ​Chinese​ government’s ​“50 Cent Party,'' ​a colloquial term for Internet commentators hired by
Chinese authorities in an attempt to manipulate public opinion to the benefit of the Chinese
Communist Party
○ The ​Great Firewall of China ​used to block major western social media platforms.
● Russia’s​ censorship maintains an internet blacklist used to block materials that are deemed
extremist by the ​Federal Service for Supervision of Communications, Information,
Technology, and Mass Media
● Vietnam’s ​censorship of online opinions against the government has been referred to as a
“Bamboo Firewall”
● North Korea ​grants internet access only to select citizens living in Pyongyang (those who are
deemed politically desirable), and absolute control over state media outlets
● Singapore’s Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Law ​is under scrutiny by the
general public. While it is ostensibly intended to censor only false claims and not political opinions,
there are concerns here that it may be used as a tool for suppression of free speech.
● Saudi Arabia’s crown prince ​has a social media enforcer, Saud al-Qahtani, who issued public
threats against dissenters on Twitter, asking users to hashtag them so that their online activities can
be monitored.
● Burma’s​ arrest and unlawful detention of Kyaw Soe Oo and Wa Lone, reporters who exposed the
Burmese military junta’s atrocities.

Mass Media’s Manipulation of Information

In democracies :
● Media outlets in the United States with sensationalist reports on the future of jobs with increasing
automation used factually incorrect statistics.
● Clickbait style articles on Facebook generate traction by publishing falsified claims. ​Macedonian
fake news trolls​ made use of fake news about US politics to generate US$100000 per month in
profit. This affected the course of the​ 2016 US Presidential Elections
● The Wall Street Journal’s​ articles on famous Youtuber Felix Kjellberg took a joke out of context
and painted him as an anti-Semite
● Foreign intervention in social media ​- Russia was known to have used bots and fake accounts to
generate political consensus on Facebook during the US Presidential Elections.
● Burmese citizens make use of Facebook to spread hate against the Rohingya in Burma. This allows
the government to continue with its crimes against the Rohingya Muslim community.
● Communist Party of China ​erased details of the Tiananmen Square massacre from public
memory, vigilantly censoring it on the Internet.
● “Whoever controls the media, the images, controls the culture” ​Allen Ginsberg
● “We are drowning in information but starved for knowledge” ​John Naisbitt
 ● Tati Westbrook’s ​false allegations against Youtuber James Charles led to the proliferation of an
online hate bandwagon, with famous celebrities such as Miley Cyrus, Zara Larsson, and others
denouncing his actions. The rapid spread of this accusation led to Charles losing 3 million
subscribers in 2 days.
● Fox and Friends has been accused of being a mouthpiece for US President Donald Trump, with
critics noting the sycophantic tone of the show and Trump’s frequent use of it like a state TV outlet.

Benefits of Social Media

● Activism generates awareness about social issues and allows marginalised victims to voice their
discontent to the world. ​#MeToo ​movement empowered women to speak out against sexual abuse.
● #Blacklivesmatter ​helped shed light on systemic racism towards African-Americans and protest
against police brutality, racial profiling and racial inequality in the US criminal justice system. It
provides much-needed representation for marginalized folk.
● Generates discussion and consensus about socio-political issues.
● In Iran, Tunisia, Egypt, and Morocco, groups of predominantly young people launched the uprisings,
and their use of social networking media for cyberactivism was an important factor in the success of
their mobilizations. Bouazizi's self immolation was spread nationally and internationally due to the
effects of both conventional and social media (i.e. Al Jazeera and Facebook, respectively).
● Ready4Repeal movement on Instagram earlier this year generated traction in bringing the
antiquated section 377A of the penal code under discussion - the issue was debated in parliament,
and has been seen as a significant step towards a Singapore that is more inclusive.
● Increases police accountability ​- bodycam footage of police officers performing questionable
actions can be viewed online by citizens, who can then generate pressure for prosecution.
● Increases the reach of campaigns ​- Greta Thunberg’s School Strike for Climate Change
movement was able to spread across borders thanks to a combination of new and old media
reporting. On 15 March, there was a global strike for climate change.
● Increasing trust in government agencies ​- New Zealand Police Force’s Twitter posts make use of
internet memes and adopts an approachable persona. Builds trust within the community.
● Reduces barriers to movement and migration ​- Social media can enable people to stay in touch
and has been able to facilitate migration and freer flow of labour.

Downsides of New Media

● Rise in popularity of anonymous sources such as when the ​New York Times ​publishes an account
by ‘an anonymous senior official in the Trump administration’. The risk of retribution is what keeps
expressed opinion between the lines of responsibility and holds people accountable.
○ Allegations that ​US Supreme Court Nominee Brett Kavanaugh​ committed sexual assault
in highschool did not gain much traction until the woman making the claim agreed to go on
record.
● Conspiracy theorist ​Alex Jones ​of ​Infowars​ convinced viewers that the Sandy Hook massacre was
faked, causing the Pozner family who lost their six-year old son Noah to receive multiple death
threats, relocate several times and be unable to visit their son’s grave.
● Blue Whale challenge ​The Novaya Gazeta report estimated that 130 children might have killed
themselves between November 2015 and April 2016 because of their participation in these groups.
● Citizen journalism is often unreliable and colored with biases. The profit-incentive on social media
may encourage sensationalist and factually inaccurate pieces being written. These methods also
threaten to replace the relatively more reliable professional journalists on old media.
● Presence of an algorithm designed to keep users clicking. Usually, these media are those that
evoke strong emotions. This can lead to the creation of an online echo chamber and the rise of
hate.
○ Real world manifestations of this in Burma, where the populace is generally in favour of the
government’s ethnic cleansing.
 ● Platform for the dissemination of extremist ideology
○ The Christchurch mosque shooter made extensive use of social media to spread his racist
ideologies. He posted on an online forum known as 4chan, calling others to take up arms
against Muslims. He livestreamed the actual shooting on Facebook, and published a
self-written manifesto that detailed the need to purge the Muslims. Disturbingly, there were
people in the comments that were assenting to his views and showing support for him.
○ Similarly, ISIS has been known to make use of social media to publish its ideology, and gain
the sympathy of people living abroad. Recently, two Indonesian maids have been arrested in
Singapore under the Internal Security Act for financing terrorist acts. It is believed that the
two became brainwashed after exposure to pro-ISIS social media posts.
● Platform for misinformation
○ Due to its relatively unfettered nature, social media is a convenient platform for like-minded
individuals to share their opinions, even misguided ones. Anti-vaccination groups frequently
use Facebook groups to share alternative therapy methods, and to criticise the dangerous
purported side effects of vaccination. This has in part contributed to the resurgence of
measles earlier this year, when it was previously nearing eradication.

Role of Media as an institution: Objective reporting

● Walter Cronkite ​of CBS News provided a voice of reason in the Vietnam War and Watergate era
and earned the recognition of being the “most trusted man in America” due to his impartiality,
level-headedness and honesty.
● Jon Stewart​’s The Daily Show and ​Stephen Colbert​’s The Colbert Report shone as a beacon of
rationality in the post-9/11 America precisely because it recognized the absurdity of the times and
attacked it, teaching viewers not what to think but how to think. They gave millennials intellectual
armor—the critical eye, the skepticism, the keen sense of the absurd to navigate what comes
through social media.
○ Topical comedy, as Stewart has frequently pointed out, is ephemeral, but inspiration lasts.
● Speech by ​Goh Chok Tong​: In reality, of course, there is no such thing as unfettered press
freedom. Even the most liberal-minded person would acknowledge the necessity of some form of
regulation or code to ensure responsible reporting. ​Theodore Roosevelt​, the 26th American
President, once said, “The power of the journalist is great, but he is entitled neither respect nor
admiration because of that power unless it is used right”.

Environment
Activist Movements and Treaties
● Strawfree Singapore movement ​that resulted in a nation-wide move towards reducing the usage
of plastic straws in Singapore. Popular fast-food chains such as 4Fingers have removed straws from
their stores.
○ This has generated much controversy, with numerous counter-campaigns started by
opponents of the initiative. Among these are students who claim to intentionally take two
straws to counteract the attempts to reduce usage of them.
● H&M ‘Conscious Campaign’ ​encourages people to recycle their old clothes by exchanging them at
H&M stores for discounts on their next purchase.
● Paris Agreement, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change,
● Greta Thunberg​ began a school strike for the climate outside the Swedish Parliament, when she
was 15

Environmentally-friendly case studies

● ReTuna ​is the world’s first secondhand shopping mall, in Sweden, that sells only recycled, reused
or sustainably produced items
Pollution
● The US has emitted ​6511 million​ metric tonnes of CO2 in the year 2016.
● The resumption of building work at hundreds of Chinese coal-fired power stations in 2018
○ China is the largest coal producer in the world, and its pollution kills​ 750000 people every
year, according to the World Bank
● Sweden ​recycles nearly 100 per cent of all their household waste, and even imports waste to
generate energy.
● Singaporeans waste about 140kg of food every year. ​This pollutes the air, and land, as well as
wastes resources that went into the production of the food items.
● According to the World Health Organisation in 2008, coal particulate matter pollution is responsible
for shortening 10000 lives every year.

Impacts of Climate Change (according to NASA)

● Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)​ predicts that increases in global mean
temperatures of less than 1 to 3 degrees Celsius above 1990 levels will produce beneficial impacts
in some areas and detrimental effects in others.
● Changes in precipitation patterns
● Droughts and heat waves
● Stronger hurricanes in the North Atlantic
● Sea level will rise by 1-4 feet in 2100
● Great Barrier Reef ​bleached by warm water temperatures. ​Polar bears ​in danger of extinction.

Clean energy and its side effects

Nuclear power
● Considered to be one of the cleanest forms of energy. However, there have been large scale
meltdowns that have generally led the public to become averse of it.
○ Three Mile Island incident
○ Chernobyl
○ Fukushima Daiichi
● The topic has been debated on and researched in Singapore, with the conclusion that given
Singapore’s small size, we cannot afford to have nuclear power.
Hydroelectric power
● The Chinese Three Gorges Dam is one of the largest in the world, and accounts for 3% of China’s
energy needs.
● However, it has been accused of disturbing the quality of the water in the Yangtze River
downstream, and widely believed to have contributed to the near eradication of the Chinese River
Dolphin.
Solar power
● Singapore has a new target for solar energy which aims to produce enough power by 2030 to meet
the annual needs of about 350,000 households.
● This represents 4 per cent of Singapore’s total electricity demand today.
● While this move is promising, there are still concerns over the cost of these solar panels, which are
said to be very expensive

Sustainable economic growth

● Proposal of the Green New Deal that puts forth a range of economic reforms to tackle rising
inequality and environmental degradation. However, this legislation has failed to gain much traction
in Trump’s administration, which is markedly against the notion of climate change.
 ● Singapore focuses more on instituting mitigating policies than reducing emissions, with PM Lee
expressing during his rally that millions will be spent on constructing infrastructure such as dikes to
mitigate the effects of global warming and rising sea levels.

Science and Technology

Benefits to mankind
1) Globalisation
a) The invention of modern transportation such as aeroplanes have allowed import and exports
to move around quicker, improving the global economy. Communications technology also
allows business to be conducted with greater ease.
b) Singapore ​imported 73.6 million tonnes of sand from ​Cambodia
c) Exchange of knowledge in Singapore’s A*Star science research facility allowed scientists
from all over the world to invent a vaccine for Influenza
2) Improving Standard of Living (made possible by communications and transportation)
a) Over 7000 MNCs operate in Singapore, generating income for Singaporeans
b) Big name retailers such as ​H&M​ have their clothes manufactured in garments factories in
Bangladesh. 31.2 million dollars of their GDP is attributed to exports, of which the textiles
industry accounted for 82%
3) Medicine
a) Invention of the ​HIV vaccine and drugs used to suppress the disease​ has allowed people
afflicted with it to live a normal life.
b) Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen’s​ invention of the x-ray allows for quicker diagnosis of illnesses,
and removes the need for invasive biopsies.
c) The ​EpiPen ​used to treat allergic reactions that may otherwise prove to be life-threatening.
d) Radiotherapy and chemotherapy in treating cancer.
e) General advancements in medicine that have prolonged life expectancy.
4) Facilitates osmosis of knowledge and quicker social progress
a) The Internet is a repository of information readily accessible to most - free services such as
Wikipedia​ aids greatly in preliminary research/gaining knowledge about the world.
b) Free and professional educational resources such as ​Khan Academy ​and ​Duolingo
democratises education and provides help to those who cannot afford it.
c) Petitions against 377A ​in Singapore, though unsuccessful, ​generated conversations
within parliament​ and amongst the general public.
d) USB drives used to smuggle media from South Korea into North Korea through the 38th
parallel. Many defectors have expressed that foreign media exposed them to the injustices
within their country.

Harms to mankind
1) Infringement of Privacy
a) The Chinese military embedded tiny chips on ​Supermicro​ server motherboards which
provided a backdoor into the servers of its customers which include US government
agencies, Apple Inc. and other large firms, allowing hackers to obtain sensitive information
and effectively compromising the entire supply chain.
b) Facebook’s ​Cambridge Analytica scandal ​and Mark Zuckerberg’s subsequent testimony
before the Senate revealed privacy infringements against its user base.
2) Ethical issues
a) Self-driving cars​ developed by ​Uber, Google and Tesla​ are being tested in several US
states. In March 2018 an experimental Uber vehicle killed a woman pedestrian in Tempe,
Arizona. Ethical concerns such as how autonomous vehicles respond to the classic “trolley
 problem” and difficulty of allocating responsibility in the event of an accident have left
lawmakers in the lurch due to a lack of precedence of such issues.
3) WMDs and other weapons of war
a) The gun ubiquitous in movies, insurgency movements and guerilla armies - the ​Kalashnikov
AK-47 rifle. ​Relatively cheap and reliable, these guns played a part in violent uprisings, and
crimes against humanity. So much so that its inventor, ​Mikhail Kalashnikov​ has expressed
regret at inventing the weapon
b) The ​Manhattan Project ​overseen by Robert Oppenheimer was responsible for the deaths of
hundreds of thousands of civilians in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Throughout the
1960s-1980s​, these weapons of mass destruction were the part of the escalation of tensions
between the United States and former Soviet Union.
c) Agent Orange​ used in the Vietnam War was originally implemented as a defoliant, but its
harmful side effects became apparent. Today it remains a contaminant in Vietnamese soil,
and each year, millions are born with defects to parents who have been exposed to the toxic
agent.
d) Mustard Gas ​was first invented as a pesticide during WWI. It was subsequently deployed
against soldiers.
e) Predator drones used by the US government against civilian targets in the name of
peace-keeping
4) Inventions with side-effects
a) Nuclear energy​ contributes to approximately ​10%​ of the world’s electricity needs. It also
does not pollute the air, releasing harmless steam into the atmosphere. However, depleted
uranium/plutonium used in the nuclear fission reaction remains radioactive for decades, and
storing them is exceedingly expensive and dangerous.
i) Nuclear meltdowns in Chernobyl (1986) and Fukushima (2011)​ have rendered
areas around the reactor facilities to be uninhabitable for decades to come. Exposure
to deadly gamma rays have also contributed to cancer amongst recovery workers
and ex-residents.
b) Social media intended to connect people together, but often facilitates cyber-bullying.
i) Ryan Halligan took his own life at age 13 because of constant homophobic
cyber-bullying online. He was also egged on to commit suicide by a pen-pal
5) Unethical practices of researchers
a) Theranos​ was a Silicon Valley startup that promised to invent a blood test machine capable
of detailed blood analysis in a small-form factor. It made use of existing commercial
machines to perform the tests, while development on the Theranos Edison machine stalled.
The company’s CEO, Elizabeth Holmes, fooled investors such as former US Secretary of
State Howard Shultz, and gained a market valuation of 4.5 billion USD before being exposed
as a scam artist.
b) L’Oreal tests its cosmetics on animals, despite the potential dangers of chemical exposure.
c) China’s illicit organ harvesting scheme (killing of minorities such as Uighurs), has been
under investigation by the US Congress and European Parliament. It is alleged that these
organs are sold for purposes of testing and transplantation.

War and Conflict

1) War and conflict can bring about benefits
a) War is extremely profitable.
i) According to the Economic History Association, WWII directly aided the US in
recovering from the Great Depression by creating jobs in weapons and war materiel
manufacturing. This subsequently allowed the US to emerge from the war as a global
political power, and greatly improved the standard of living of the average American.
 ii) War procurements for Japan and South Korea helped to rebuild the industrial
capacity of their economies.
b) War generates enduring periods of peace. A war that renders large casualties usually
generates a period of peace where previously belligerent nations forge new alliances. This is
seen in how the end of the Vietnam War allowed for the normalisation of relations with the
United States.
i) The formation of various economic and political pacts and international organisations
after WWII (NATO, UN, Bretton Woods System)
c) War was able to empower women during WWII - Women were released from their traditional
role of the homemaker and allowed to work in factories to maintain the US’s productive
capacity as men left to fight in the war.
i) Malala Yousofzai made use of her run-in with Taliban forces to spread messages of
female empowerment and to encourage girls to seek an education. Named UN
Ambassador for Peace in 2014
2) War and conflict is unacceptable because of atrocities committed during them
a) In China, the Nanking Massacre and human experimentation by Unit 731.
b) In Nazi Germany, there was the Holocaust and human experimentation on Jews.
c) During the Soviet Occupation of Berlin, many women were raped by the soldiers.
d) Southeast Asian women were used as comfort women by Japanese soldiers during WWII.
e) Bashar Al-Assad’s use of sarin gas against his own civilians
f) ISIS’s beheading of civilians/mass slaughter of civilians in the name of establishing a
Caliphate.
g) The US’s bombing of civilian targets as part of counter-terrorism efforts.
3) War and conflict is unacceptable because of the displacement of civilians
a) The Syrian Refugee Crisis happened as a result of the proxy war in Syria sponsored by
nations such as Iran, Russia, and the US.
b) Many reports of drownings as they try to flee by sea/get turned away at the borders.
4) War and conflict is unacceptable because there are diplomatic ways to maintain peace.
a) In the modern world, there is no need for armed conflict to resolve differences in interest
between countries. The United Nations serves the function of maintaining peace and
representing the interests of different nations
b) Diplomatic channels should always be considered first - forging of economic and political ties
with nearby nations is the best way of maintaining peace and stability
i) Singapore’s close ties with its neighbours through its active participation in ASEAN
Summits
ii) Close diplomatic ties with both the East and the West - remaining a neutral party in
ideological conflict, while building up a strong and technologically advanced
self-defence force.
5) Preparing for war is the best way of maintaining peace
a) In some cases, diplomatic channels have to be used in conjunction with military
preparedness in order to defend a nation’s sovereignty
b) Singapore Armed Forces accounts for 3.2 percent of the GDP. This allows the SAF to invest
heavily in technologically superior weaponry and training a competent fighting force in order
to be regarded as a potent force on the world stage
c) South Korea spends 14 percent of its GDP on its army. Due to its close proximity to an
ideologically incompatible, belligerent nation, its self-defence military is similarly well-armed
and ready to defend South Korea against the threat of a North Korean ground invasion.

Terrorism
Countries possessing intermediate levels of political freedoms, on both the democratic and authoritarian
sides of the regime spectrum, suffer the largest number of terrorist attacks, because it is lacking in both the
freedom of political expression and the brutal censorship
of either ends of political regimes.
Islamic extremism and white nationalism
● Sri Lanka bombings carried out by 7 suicide bombers associated with a local militant Islamist group.
The attack was believed to be in retaliation against the Christchurch shootings on 15th March 2019
● Christchurch shooting was intended to inspire others to commit similar deeds in the name of white
nationalism. The shooter published a 74 page manifesto and livestreamed the shooting on
Facebook.
● Paris bombings in November 2015. ISIL claimed responsibility for the suicide bombing attacks,
saying that it was in retaliation for French airstrikes on ISIL targets in Syria and Iraq.
● Boston Marathon Bombing 2013 - homemade pressure cooker bombs. Perpetrators said that they
were motivated by extremist Islam beliefs.
● Kunming Station stabbings in Xinjiang were committed by Uighurs influenced by Islamic extremism.
Has led to the increased surveillance of the people.
International terrorism
● Two Indonesian maids arrested in Singapore under the Internal Security Act for having financed
ISIS.
● Some 900 Britons have left the UK to join ISIS.
International Relations and Political Governance
● Global trade
a) Economic impact: ​Bloomberg economists have projected that if the US-China trade war
escalates with tariffs covering all US-China trade, the global GDP will fall by 600 billion
b) Political reasons:
i) Trump wants to cut the US’s trade deficit with China, which stands at 419 billion USD
ii) China refuses to play by the WTO’s rules, by engaging in dumping, espionage, and
protectionism. The Belt and Road initiative uses the profits from these activities in
order to circumvent the global economic hierarchy
c) Social impact: ​China’s official Xinhua news agency released an editorial titled “If you want
to talk then let’s talk, if you want to fight then let’s fight”
● Political instability
a) Havana’s support for Nicolas Maduro is allowing him to stay in power in Caracas. Economic
sanctions have been imposed on Cuba, which has now introduced rations.
b) Libyan National Army siege of Tripoli in a military coup led by General Haftar. US
policy-change to support him.
c) The United States supported the revolution in Nicaragua and El Salvador during the Cold
War, leading to political instability in both countries.
● Human rights abuses
a) Saudi Arabia has been attempting to use physical methods to curb dissent following the
murder of the Saudi journalist and Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi. Riyadh has
been performing extrajudicial executions.
● International borders
a) Skirmishes over territory ​can pose a threat to international peace and security. This can
be seen in the turbulent Middle Eastern region, where border conflicts frequently erupt
between countries. Recent example of the Turkish invasion of the Syrian border with an
attempt to wipe out the Kurdish.
b) Denies mobility and can lead to inequality in the living standards of citizens in
different countries. ​Increasing isolationism and xenophobia in the United States have led to
tightening immigration laws, particularly against the Mexicans. This denies them access to
foreign resources.
 c) Enables the denial of entry of undesirable persons. ​Usage of no-fly lists in the United
States, as well as immigration screening found in other countries can prevent undesirable
people from entering a country and causing harm.

Borderless world/globalisation
1) Global economic growth founded on trade liberalisation
a) The creation of the Bretton Woods system in 1944 and the institution of the General
Agreements on Tariffs and Trade in 1947 enabled the free flow of trade that has facilitated
the most prosperous expansion in human history.
b) Standards of living have risen dramatically worldwide. Countries such as China have
benefited greatly in acting as the world’s manufacturing base. The Asian Tiger economies
were able to experience a meteoric rise between the 1970s and 1990s in spite of their small
economies as they oriented their economies towards export-led growth.
2) Because of the growing interconnectedness of the global economy, conflicts are also less likely.
a) Prior to WWII, the prevailing economic theory was that supply drives demand. This classical
view of economics led countries to embark on international conquest. In Japan, the invasion
of Manchuria in 1931 was primarily due to a lack of resources at home.
b) Likewise, Nazi Germany displayed similar expansionist tendencies as it conquered Poland
and Czechoslovakia in order to restore its productive capacity and provide more ​lebensraum
for the German populace.
c) These invasions would eventually spark off WWII.
d) However, in present day, countries no longer subscribe to that antiquated notion. They also
do not have incentives to invade their neighbours; the offshoring of capital and the growth of
trade means that a country stands to lose by invading and destroying the stability of another.
3) However, the gains from globalisation have been uneven, with some countries being worse off than
others.
a) For Bangladesh, the garments industry is their sole source of growth. Multinational clothing
firms have greatly benefited from the cheap textiles they manufacture. However, the collapse
of the Rana Plaza building shed light on the terrible working conditions of the employees.
b) The global income gap is also growing because the wealthy are able to exploit the effects of
globalisation to their advantage - gaining access to cheaper labour abroad, opening
branches overseas, producing for exports, etc. Meanwhile, the poor suffer when their jobs
are relocated overseas, or when their jobs become automated by machines imported from
abroad.
4) This has led to the rise of the related problem of xenophobia, and increasingly isolationist
tendencies.
a) In recent years, there has been an increasing trend of countries looking out for themselves,
withdrawing from international organisations that characterise this globalised world. Brexit in
the UK and the increasing isolationism of the United States reveals the negative social
impact of globalisation; faced with growing cheap labour and rising costs of living, the
populace of these countries have chosen to shy away from collaboration and turn inwards
instead.
b) In Singapore, there has also been a rise in xenophobic tendencies, with Singaporeans often
heading to online forums such as Hardware Zone to express their unhappiness arising from
the encroachment by foreign expatriates and labourers.
5) The advent of a global supply chain has also encouraged the development of consumerist culture.
a) Fast fashion outlets such as H&M, Zara, and Forever21 have all played a part in
perpetuating this culture. Their excess to cheaper raw materials from abroad have made it
possible for them to launch new designs every few weeks or so, and sell their clothes at
incredibly affordable prices. This encourages consumers to always be on the lookout for
 what is trendy and new, thus cultivating a wasteful culture that is negative for the
environment.
b) This excessive demand for cheap labour has also led to increasingly unsafe conditions in
sweatshops located in developing countries, as firms attempt to cram in as many workers as
possible in order to be profitable.
6) Moreover, the world is also more vulnerable to sharp economic downturns in recent years.
a) Dot com crash of the 2000s
b) Subprime mortgage crisis 2008-2009,
c) Current trade war and its ramifications on Southeast Asia, with many countries here having
China as their largest trading partner.
7) States interfering in other states in pursuit of national interests, often to destabilising effect. While
such actions have existed even prior to the increasing interconnectedness of the world, globalisation
has created greater impetus for major powers to defend their interests abroad.
a) American invasion of Panama in 1989 to protect its own strategic interests in the continued
operation of the canal.
b) The US alliance with the Kurds and the Russian alliance with Al-Assad’s government has led
Syria to be embroiled in a constant state of conflict. Trump’s recent decision to withdraw
troops from Syria has been accused of leading to the resurgence of ISIS and creation of
political instability.
c) Russia’s alleged involvement in the 2016 US Presidential elections.
8) Globalisation has also led local cultures to be replaced by foreign ones.
a) The popularity of Japanese and Korean culture in Singapore, while local festivals are not
celebrated to the fullest extent.
9) The technologies associated with globalisation, namely the advancements in transportation and
communications technology have also resulted in problematic phenomena.
a) International terrorism: ​With the advent of advanced communications technology,
extremist groups are able to publish their ideologies online, while transportation technology
enables them to carry out attacks abroad. This has resulted in a rise in hate and bigotry
worldwide; lone wolf attacks are increasingly becoming a threat.
i) ISIS and its usage of social media to garner financing and support. Two Indonesian
maids were detained in Singapore under suspicions that they had financed ISIS.
Likewise, online forums have also enabled white supremacist ideals to grow and
fester inspiring people to carry out terrorist attacks.
ii) Christchurch mosque shooting was conducted by an Australian who flew in to New
Zealand.
Others:
● Alabama’s abortion bill passed on May 14th. It bans abortion at any stage of the pregnancy, and
harks back to the 19th century, when it was first made a crime. Criticised for encouraging women to
perform the procedure on their own in unsafe ways.
Hooks:
In ​1984​, George Orwell depicts a totalitarian state characterised by constant surveillance, and
manipulation of information by a malevolent government. In today’s world, recent developments have been
reminiscent of…

In ​Brave New World, ​by Aldous Huxley, a dystopian futuristic world where citizens are
genetically-modified and society is intelligence based, development in reproductive technology and
psychological manipulation results in an almost unchallenged way of life. Such a Huxleyan future is said to
befall us in the coming years as science and technology progresses at breakneck speed, threatening to
leave mankind in the dust…

Quotes:

Abraham Lincoln once said “There's no honorable way to kill, no gentle way to destroy. There is
nothing good in war. Except its ending.”

George Orwell in his titular novel 1984 “War is peace. Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is strength.”
demonstrated the use of doublethink.

20th Century German-born political-thinker Hannah Arendt “Freedom of opinion is a farce unless
factual information is guaranteed and the facts themselves are not in dispute”

“Your society” questions

N2016 - People who do the most worthwhile jobs rarely receive the best financial rewards. To
what extent is this true of your society?
Worthwhile jobs
● Government officials
● Educators
● Transportation workers
● Service industry
● Food and beverage
● Cultural preservation
No, this view is not true of my society. Meritocracy rewards individuals working in key sectors in
Singapore. Government workers, finance workers and other leaders of industry are well rewarded
financially.
● Government workers ​in Singapore are the best paid in the world. While this is ostensibly to
prevent corruption in the public sector, there is no question that our ministers are well rewarded
for their worthwhile work - ​ensuring the continued prosperity and success​ of Singapore’s
economy and people. Prior to a salary review in Singapore, the Prime Minister’s annual salary
was​ 3.07 million SGD​, while ministerial-grade officers were paid between ​S$1.58 million and
S$2.37 million. ​In fact, the Prime Minister remains the highest paid political leader in the world.
● Educators ​are also relatively well paid in Singapore. Teachers have the worthwhile job of
nurturing young minds, cultivating moral values, and perhaps helping to mould future leaders of
the nation. Singapore’s teachers earn a reasonable 98000 SGD annually at the top of their pay
grade, which ranks amongst the top 10 best paid countries in the world.
Yes, this view is true of my society. Due to the lack of a minimum wage, many low-skilled labourers here
earn very little.
 ● The average ​cleaner ​earns just over 1000 SGD per month. The availability of cheaper labour
from neighbouring countries means that the wages of these workers will also be kept at a low
level.
● A bus driver earns about 3000 SGD a month, which is over 2000 dollars below the average
income in Singapore. These workers are responsible for helping us get from place to place, and
thus play a crucial role in the economy. However, they are clearly not well-rewarded financially.
Yes, this view is true of my society. People in the food and beverage industry are often not well
financially-rewarded for their work.
● Hawkers ​are an important cultural symbol of Singapore. Their recipes are often handed down
many generations, and are thus a critical part of Singapore’s food culture and history. Sadly,
today, the prospects of poor pay has left many youngsters unwilling to learn the craft and take
over from their parents. Furthermore, in spite of rising food prices, many hawkers still sell their
food at prices from a decade ago.

N2009 - How far should religion influence political decisions?

Religion should not influence political decisions because religious beliefs often contradict scientific
knowledge, and can negatively impact the lives of people.
● Anti-vaxxers believe that the power of God and natural healing can replace the role of vaccines.
These movements have been gaining traction in the US, leading to a spike in measles cases. If
lawmakers were to be influenced by religious beliefs and enact a law allowing for optional
vaccination, lethal diseases previously close to eradication may make a comeback.
● Anti-LGBTQ+ sentiments are often based in religious beliefs, with many citing the bible or similar
religious texts as evidence that same-sex relations are unnatural. In reality, there is no empirical
evidence to suggest that homosexuality is abnormal, and historically, when societies were
unfettered by anti-homosexuality laws, these were quite common. If laws were influenced by
these beliefs, then the sexual minority may lose their rights.
● Heartbeat Law in Georgia and new abortion law in Alabama fail to consider the rights of the
pregnant mother.
The question of which religion should influence political decisions will also become a source of
contention. Though the majority religion should ostensibly hold the most influence, this is problematic
because fundamental incompatibilities in differing religious beliefs will mean that the minority will be
marginalised. This can then lead to social and political instability and secessionist tendencies.
● Historically, when the state began to induct religion into its lawmaking, discontent arose within
minority communities. In Burma, under the leadership of U Nu, the country entered a period of
development with heavy emphasis of Buddhism as the state religion. The tensions culminated in
secessionist movements, the most prominent of which being the Shan National Army and the
Karen National Liberation Front. Similarly, in the Philippines, the state’s heavy preference for
Christianity has also led to a push for secession within the Muslim minority community, most
prominent of which is the Moro National Liberation Front.
● Today, religious influences in lawmaking leads to contention between the liberals and
conservatives in the United States. While the latter is often heavily influenced by Christianity and
likely to push for archaic laws, the former prefers social progress in pro-abortion movements and
legalising same-sex marriage. Their beliefs run antithetical to each other, and hence
bipartisanship has become increasingly difficult in recent years.
Religion should not influence politics because secularism allows lawmakers to make decisions that
respect the equality and religious freedom of its citizens.
● In France, the state chooses not to have a state religion, instead emphasising an assimilationist
policy where citizens are free to practise their religion in private, but embrace a common French
identity while in public. This has led to relative stability in the multiracial society
● In Singapore, similar principles apply, where state decision-making and religion are mutually
exclusive. This has allowed for decisions that benefits all Singaporeans, regardless of race,
language, or religion.
The only exception where religion can have a role in policy-making is when a law can directly impact
these institutions.
 ● For example, there can be representatives of different religions when discussing laws that can
affect worshippers.
● Religion can also help serve as a moral compass for lawmakers, in guiding them to make ethical
decisions. But these should not be conflated with scientific facts and knowledge.

N2016 Countries facing conflicts should be left to sort out their own problems. How far do you
agree with this statement?
No, they should not be left to sort out their own problem. Sometimes conflicts can be orchestrated by the
state against a relatively defenseless minority.
● Marginalisation of the Uighur minority in China. Has not escalated to armed conflict, but
reeducation camps that restrict their freedom of movement constitutes a human rights
transgression.
● Burma’s military junta and massacre of the Rohingya Muslims.
No, they should not be left to sort out their own problems because they lack the ability to. Failed states in
economic ruin and anarchy are unable to reform without foreign aid.
● Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro v.s. Juan Guaido political impasse. The country had been sliding
into an economic slump for years, and now the economy is in ruins, with hyperinflation and
shortage of basic food and necessities. Without foreign interference, the impasse will be likely to
persist and Venezuelans will suffer as a result.
● South Sudan - conflict between government forces and various rebels. All parties committed war
crimes such as indiscriminately attacking civilians, unlawful killings, beatings, and arbitrary
detentions (according to Human Rights Watch). The conflict started in December 2013.
● Somali Civil War between government forces and militant terrorist group and factions. The
country is now without a central government, and split under various camps which disagree with
each other. Resolution without intervention is not likely
Yes, they should be left to sort out their own problems because Great Power influence can escalate the
extent of conflict.
● US intervention in the Vietnam War led to the unnecessary loss of Vietnamese lives to Agent
Orange. On the other side of the ideological spectrum, the backing of the Soviet Union through
arms provisions also fuelled the intensity of the conflict between the North and the South.
● In Syria, the Syrian War was initially a civil war, but great power involvement has led it to become
a protracted conflict lasting 8 years to date. The US backing the insurgents and Russia backing
Assad’s regime. This has destroyed countless of lives, and allowed Assad to commit atrocities
against his own people.
Yes, they should be left to sort out their own problems out of respect for the principle of national
sovereignty.
● This notion of national sovereignty is the cornerstone of modern international relations. In theory,
as articulated in the United Nations Charter, every nation has sovereign rights which may not be
violated by any foreign body through intervention into its domestic affairs.
● To intervene when the country did not make such requests is contentious and can set a negative
precedent that may undermine the conduct of international law.
● International and regional organisations all have to abide by this rule in order to justify their
intervention into a country’s domestic affairs.