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'{:1

THE
BROADER POWER
PERSPECTIVES ISSUE
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I
BROADERPERSPECTIVES thepoweT ]ssUe
 Note
In arvorld of ever advancing technological and scientific
innovations, where man has acquired significant abili-
ties to alter his environs and to disseminate that said
every individual not just bis entities like states aDil cor?oraiions
- is able io iap on
_knowledge,
lheselev€lling aDd empowering tools to exert powcr. Wc can, rnore than at any time ii history. finally claim
that this is the cent!ry of the indivjdual. Across the wortd, \re see people revelling in their everyman poweN to
do more for themselves, to alter the status quo, to influence the big players of the worlil and to effect change.

Yet the questiotr is how will such power be used? The pitfalls !o power come when ou. purpo.ted krowledse is
far sreater than our wisdon and when we exchange clout aDd control for an abnesation of msponsibilitj,. An
American hip hop band, the Flobots, have a telliDs sons callcd Handlebari that shows the diff€rent paths an
enpowered individtral can choose to takc. Ii statls out hiih a deceptively simple and aLmost childish refrain.

t\ Iian ride n1a bike uith no fidndl"6ars, he repeatsbefbre extending the analos/into:

I;on Tndke neu dnhbioh.s

I con hand out a million uaccinations
I can .hange the nation uith a inicrophone
I cen split ait otatn of a tnalecule

Yet the song ends rvith a strongly worded diat.ibe agaiNt thc dclDsions and excesses of that powerl

I
I can do.anlttllinq Luith no pertnission
Icanquide n missile b! saklLite
I can end the planel in a hoLocoust

So the firsl most important po$erto wield maybe the truih about ourselves- If power is always accompanied
by moral choice, theD we can be a platform for positive social change, and we can be the sta.ting points for civic
ensaseneDt iD oursocieties- Which path will you take?

BASE IMAGECREDIT aftue, Kn,s Richar.l II ot England

aor rhis pnge) lve Can Do ltl blr J. Howard Miller, crcarir cotrrrotrs

or"oroor^ooor*or*ror,r'ua I,
 CULTURE WATCH
P]tOPS OF PROPAGANDA

18 tlorv c.n ! government .onvin.c

thc pcoplc to siarunit€d at alltnlcs?

HOW TO
STAGF. A MtI,]TARY CoUP
Put on your Ch. Gucvera tee-shirt, strap or

20 Iour plasti. ndchinc gun and pla),

rrm-chair rc!olutioraryl

COMPREHENSION
5'IHINGS TO I(NOw
POWER PLAYERS'I'O BE 2L STARTING OVER
hdr€.e anrhopc lor chrnge nr the uorldl

06 RECKONED \(TITH'I'ODAY
WhowiU malte or brcak our world?
A MATTEII OF OPINION
IS IT GOOD THAT TI.IE
]NDIVIDUAL HOLDS SO MUCH
PO\flER INTODAY'S \f ORLD?

29 i;*:l:;:';*l;".::;
FEATURE AR'I'ICLE LOCAL/GLOBAL
HOW PO!(ERFUL IS
Evervbodv SINGAPORE COMPARED

Wants to hule 34 TO OTHEI{ COUNTRIES?

The littl€ red dot Bets ,anked ilith the best.

the'World SI(ILLS SECTION

THE INTRODUCTION:
PART TWO
The nation-state is losing its right
to rule to a slew ofnew po\^rer-
players on the global stage. So
38 N'e mrkeoverthreeinlroductionsbrsed
or skills{'e taught n1th.l.n issu..

what is the big deal? Should

SI'O'I'LIGHT
we be thankful or should we
be worried? 45 WE ARE ALL UNAWAR}]
V/hy did AvAltE suddcnly rattcr so much? I

ON 2ND THOUGHT
ITE'IHINI( THE UN \)(HAT'S THE POINT?

T4 Love iror hrr€ it. the UN

is thc drost
nnportart IGO we have today. 46 FEAR
Howferr keeps {s lrom thc truth.
 5 THINGS TO I(NO'W

Shakespeare once said, "All the world's

Power a siage, And all the men and women

merely players" . Besides the usual

tobeReckoned
nation-states, who are the top dogs
ofthe 5 actors on the global politi-

\iltnfll
cal stage who are changing our lives,
that we need to know about?
bt SHIAO-YIN KUIK

5 Most Powerfirl International Governmental Organisations (IGOs)

,the ru
It ull
"
I Itr" wTo
I
I The world Bank
I Hcadquartcts Washnqton D.C., USA
New York, USA B.ussels, Luembourg New York, USA Staried in 1945 MoDcy Might Anmal budg€t of
Startcd in 1945 Startcd in 1948 US$26.8 billion Nlcmhcrs 185 nation-states
MoDel Might Startcd in 1993
MoDey MigLt Us$o.2 billion Economic development;
ofSg15bjllion technical advice, loans,
uS$18.4 trillion) of

Dealing with
Facilitating inter

socio ccoDonic devel- Developing a poliiical

opmeDt, human ights, dd economic union

INATO rr.,aq,,""r",\ Bru.srl., EplAiUmsrirl.d in r9.15

Iuone\ tlishr ao.rL,i ,.d
'nili.Jrt.p.r,lingor all NATOrembcr.cnr-
stitutes over 70% ofthe world's defence spending Nlemllcrs 28 nation-
statcs IDterests All members of the North Atlaniic Treaty Organisation
agree to rnutual defence in response io an attack by any erternal party.

5 Most Powerfrrl Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs)

BRAC Hcadquaters Dhaka, Bang
ladesh Slarrcd iD 1972 EDrployees
11o,ooo Money Itlight Annual budget
US$48o millionj USg4.6 billion podfolio
in micrcloans lnterests Microcredit,
VorldMsion ucadquarters
Washington, USAStarlcd in 1951
Employces 31,ooo Money Nl iAht
US$r.6 billion Interests Food aid, ener
gency assistance, child sponsomhip.
Oxfam Headquarte.s Oxford, En8
landStarred in 1994 Employees 6,2c)0
ltoney Might US$j7o4 miilion
Inte.esls Poverty alleriation, dcbt reliel
Doctors Without Borders
Hcadqr{ft ers Geneva, Switzerland
Staricd in 1971trmployees 27,ooo
Nl oncy Might US$7oo million
Intercsts Healthcare in poor countries,
eneqency nedical care.
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Hcadquarte$ Seattle, Washington
Startcd iD 1994 Employees 5,1o
Nloncy Mislrt US$3Tbillion in as-
sets, US$2 billjon jn sranis siven away
anrually I nrcrcsts Global healthcare,
eradicatiDg poaerty, improving Amencan

BROADERPERSPECTIVES theoow€TissUe
5 Most Powerfirl Religious Leaders
Grand Avatollah Ali al-Sistani
irra(kruarters Naiaf, lraq
lvho listcDs to hiD?
Millions of follorrcN ir Imq aDd I|an
call hin their rrdilo dl raqltd or "object
of cmulaiion.": Sisiani also reeches lhe
world throush his nerworl( of ollices in
15 coontries and hjs \rebsite \t/Ie.al-
Ex.mptcs of his innr.'!:.1
In 2oo4, Sistani effoftlcssly orchcst.atcd
nassile noDliolcnt trct.sts dcnranding
Pastor Rick Warren
Hc^d(luafi ers califomia. UsA
t,rith Soutlrcrn Bantist Clrristirnih
\\ho li\lcns lr) hinr?
Walren is lhe lbunding pastor ol Lhe Sad
dleback Church, the 8lh lnrgest church
in Anerica with a 23,ooo strong coD
greg{tion. IIis 2oo2 book, T/re Pr?ose
Driucn rit , has sold nDrc than 4ll mil
lion cori.s wo.ldmdc. warr.D has spo
kcn at nat'onrl and iltc.national forLrnrs
likc thc lIN. lhe Wo d Econonia forurr
in Davos and the Aliican Union. 1?rk,
has gained mantWcsr.m srppo{ers on
hjs side ilr hjs light lbr'libetan selfdeteF
mination. Tibetan Buddhisrn lias becoDrc
a fashtunable relisbn in Hollllood and
..nv.,Js lik. i.rors Ri.lrrril c.r. ind
Stevcn Sc.gal havc b..om. local sL,p
porters ol libet. ln 2oo5 and 2oo8, the
DalaiLama ni.rde'li?ne N.rsrzine's list of
tlie \rorld's nnr most influeDti{l peoplc.
Hc has bccn gilcn honora+' citiz.n:hip
in six.ounties and many f ^\. most
notablr the Nobel Peace Prile i. rq89.
L \xnrple\ .'l hi\ influcnrcl'

dcmooatic clcclions in lraq. He elen mailazine amed Warren as one of "$ The Dalai Larnas ndmi stfttion ac-
issued a fatla telling nomeo Lhey were Workl Leaders W]lo Xlattered Xlost in knowledsed that it rcceived $1.7 nillion
religiousll obligat€d to vote in the 2oo5 2oo4" aDd oDc of "1oo I'Iost hrflucn a )car iD thc t96os f.om t|c U.S. Cor.nr

elections. even if their hus- iial Pcoflc in thc World in 2oo5 . He
bands had fo$iddcn also rea.|es out to people onli e \ia
I6v.rickwarren.com
ljxamples of his nrflucncc?
During the 2oo8 UDited States presiden-
Rabbi
ti,l electi{rn Ur,rrtsn hosted th. Cilil F.-
Ovadia Yosef Nm on Thc Prcsidcnc]' aihis churcl s'ith
rnent through t|€ Cenlrcl Intelligence
Aitenct (ClA). Because ol the ise of r
violenL anti Chira moverDeDl iD Tibet
under his watch in :oo8, there has been
speculation that the irflueDcc that thc
Dalai Lanu's pacifist political idcology
has oler young Tibeians nrai be wn.ing.

frcsidcntial candidates. Mccain and

\ list.ns t. hin,?
rhn
Yosefs influence comes
from his role as founder
and spiritual leader of Shas,
the Haredi (ultra-orthodox)
party- Hundreds of thou-
smds of Jews of Mid-
dle F,asrern .nd N.rJh
African origin follow
him. His controversial
weekly radio addresses, full
of criticisms ofpolitical leaders and
events, are widely heard in Israel
E\ini|hs nf his in tl ucn.c:)
Through Shas's 12 seais in Is
mel s legislative branch, Yosef
1..
infl uences Israeli politics
€sp€cially the Mnkue nast
peace process. In the
2oo7 Israeli Presidential
election, Rabbi Yosef
cndorscd |is lons tine
friend S|nnon Peres,
Obama. WaneD also gale the invocatio
Pop€ Benedict X\,'I
at Obana s presiden(ial inaugu.ntion in
Hc.dqudrlrrs Vaticrn Cit!, Ita\'
I.{ith Roman Calholicisnr
\\'ho listens to hinr?
,\s liead of the Romxn Catholic Church
Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso
Hcadquarlcr\'lihet
aDd SolereigD of the Vatican Ci\ Statc,
thc Popc iDllucnccs thc opinions of the
|.ilh Tibetan Buddhisn
world's r.1.+7 billion Cat|olics. Catholics
Who l;stens to hin?
rccognise t|e Popeas asuccessor lo Saint
Along with the 8o,ooo or so lbetaD ex-
Peler, sho Jesus named as the rock'of
iles tliat followed liin. the Dalai Lana
the Chrrch. The Pope promotes vrious
UN events and meets heads of statc rcgu
larly.
Fl\aDrplcs ol his i'rllnc'!a'?
In 2oo4, fro choicc prcsidential can
didate John Kerry- losl the sL,pport ol
Catholic voters lvhen Cardinal R-ttzinger
o.dered,\nerican bistiops to refuse com-
nnnioD to any Catholics who s pport.d
Kerryk stand on abortion.
*

the election. .o4,rsic1Lr,s?, &Lr; n+h!D

oa"o"oo"*noor^or*aoraa,u, ],
M "'-

5 THINGS TO KNOW

5 Most Powerfr{ Criminal Syndicates"

rhey hNvc dose ties to polilicius {nd Uain clans to lcar
The Russian MaJiya
( rr,r turl \inr. r9!'rs right wiDg pressure gio!ps. Also,I o!ng The Cosa Nostra ni.\'still conh ol Sic
11'h\ rreD t l1,cli.rr(d? Japancsc revere theru lbr thcir lhsli li illbul Lhc! hr\e bccn se\'ercl] weak_
c;Iircl ofr/1otli of ger Lattoos ard nrost ol lhc PLrblic lo.ks ered bfth. ar.ed of 2.1!,odfathers rnd
irire. rou lre in
o{its ecoDotr\ theothcrsil ts hng as the tal,uTi Lor).dppo Bemrrdo ProlenzaDo. Now.
Rnssjr s tcuitoJt, f'r mostlr 1cal€s thed: al{pe. itsupto lbe ro,ooqst.o P,'Ndrang-
rnil hrrc loredlLl dovernment officials
NI in r:lans to fear heta who arc tookins be\.nd c.nabrii
oD vour sidc,Iou d6 Dotneed tobc
Run by godfaiher Kenicii shinoda, the to the resl of thc $a.iil. B\' 2oo6. the
s.rrcd. r.ikc r rerl [t Gothan Cit"v,
'Ndransliela controlle/ 8o% of the
ItL,ssia is o!l.lcoDllr,l: the Mali)'a 39,ooo strong Yamaguchi-gumi em-
is Nilllrs 10 l,illrnvoire who sets in pire accounts for nearly half ofJapan's 99!sr!9rm!9119 ryr('ry--
Mrin illicit activitics
thei. \!i! ioum.liskr+oli.€nen,
- r.nsstcr DoDulation.
M.in illicit activities Traffi ckine cocaind and IeaDons smug-
polill.irns. the\ hatc llso thriiveil by
Blacltmail, illegal gambling, prosiitu-., gling, sknnninginonc] off large public
slolrrlisins their oryanisatid/r, bEtich-
tiol, smuggling. sork congin{ciiorl p.oiects, non€v
ing oni lnto Israel.rnd Nd'w Yorli and
lauDdering, blacknail. illcsat sarnblins,
ln.'''i"r- pa,tn"."h,r,s guogs rh"."
'"'iih prOsrit tion, conhibtnd, kidnapping,
rl.;;;t,,'"' t" r* '- The Italian Matra
exto ion, loars h atkirg, pornogr{ph\'.
The 5.ooo stro ng Solltsevskaya Crcatcd sincc t3th centurv Illegrl lrofits a.e Lhcn invesLed in lcgaL
brolhedrood is headquafte.rdin Mos lvhy aren't thcyscared? l rcal estal. and iinrncial {ctivilies.
.oN L!1 orcrate.-! rvotldidde. g/ith estinated rcveiues of$4o}i
i!lair illi ci t jidivities lion, the Mafia is one of ltaly's bigg,es I
NlLrlder, ertortion, drug traffi cking, business eDterpdscs. Strong taniil)' Mexican Drue Caltels
trrDrs trailickins, moDey laudering, conneciions and rigorous enlorccmeDl Crealcd sin(( 198os
rodtitution, hunlan tf affi ckjng.
tuau(1, f nf omerl, the listorical code of silcnce
\!'hv rrcn t thev scr.cdl)
pornogr;phy. Noh', the Mafiya is rsing for fear ofdeath - gn'e thcn colrlrol U.S. etlorts to control Colon$iaD d.ug
their illicit wealthlo take overlcgiti- over tile local coNnunitiei {rd au cadels and denand ftom Arnerican
mrte Liusinesses I'ke chemical factori€s, thorities. Big and smallbusinesses evcn drug userskeeps busincss flo\ains m
lind it casier to neSotiate agrcements Mcxican cartcls use hishlv sophis
with lhc lvlalir rathc!tlianto denounce tjcatcd w€aponry to iighti sroade
cxtortio. rackets to thc Police.
launchers, automatic rveapons, bod)
armor and even Kcda.hel.r.ts Tlie)
c, e,lcd sincir-tli
-!---+-rc,r't the\ .Urcdl' also knoa'how to wage:in elle.tiveter
rcrist campaign to sap moraier dccapi
\!oltl, runninc tations are br)rdcastcd onYou lube,
nal slndicat. ni the
body pads rosFeLl iI ru nrgfn luls 'nd
th.if show like an1
bannels declarine theirlictdies arc
profd \lNC with

on pnblicstrccts. The strnnge tralition
af nnrca..rtido popula. lolli sonss
rldtten about Lhe Mexican dNgtradc
also cel€b.ate fallen drusdcal.N as
herces.
lt,in .l rns to f.ir
The SiDaloa catcl.oDrmands busi
ncss acrcss thcAdTonn bode. $h;le the
Gulfca't.l.alls le\.s ils lrrt
ItaiD illicit actilities
l)rug traliicking
Chinese T{iads
Crerted sip(c l8th centurr'
$'hr arcn t thcY sca.cd?
Unlik. thc ItaliaD I'Iafia rich del)edds
o! strong taDrilial ties and a risid
hierar.h! lo siar' i. colltrol, tr;ads are
loose alllliatiors maldnr then harder
to t.ick.rnd dirnrntle. ]'hose lo$'cr oD
the ladder do nottpicrll! harc io gct
pennissidr f(nn th. h.ad of a hiad to
.ngagc nr c ninal activih or paJt.er
othcr dval h irds. Also. ivherer.r lhere
is a Chinalown in lh€ worid, lou crn
bel lhe ltiads tentacles worldhrve
r€ached tliere to tap irto ties - giiing
then rn uDprecendcntcd hugc nctrvork
ofotpoftunitics.
ltairr clans lo fca r
T|c 2s.ooo srfonq Sun Yee On is the
largest triad ir HonB Kong. The 1o.ooo
nrong United Itamboo tiad based
in t ainan iirst Dude its nrmc assas
sinatnig chinese dissidcnts for B.ijnrs.
Today. it \orIs intonation al\' a nd
ftadcs drtrgs in Nodh Korea i{jth di.ecL
affrovii fronr Xi.r Jong ll s re8irne.
Nl.in ill;(il acl;\ ities
Aparl fro the usual illicit activities,
rnajor sou.!es oftiad incomc todxy
comes from piratirg all sorts ofgoods
and crcating l.tcrnct f ornograph!.
Thcy also ftad. in .ndrdgered species
.s i{ell as boorleg tobacco and alcohol
!.oducts add smL,gsle illesal inni-
gra.ts ftorD lastAsia into the h"est.
5 Most Powerfrrl Corporatiorx.
l. HSBC (founded 1865, Headquartered in Ul()
As of 2oo9, the Hong (o.g .nd Shanithri Brnling Col])o.atlon is bolh tire
world s largen bankits s|oup an(l lhe $orld s 6th hrjresL (omrr{D\.
tblk lndustry Blnki.ij, lnan(e and nNurucc I linD lorQs :l 1!.oo, r
RrtrI erir,r \:' l,illi,!,,,' , r I r'r,,J,r., ., r \, l,:11i,,,,,'
,\ss.ts (in rls$,l)ill .s) 2,3.19.. I Ilr.ln t \'rLrc (in |ss billi("rs)
2. GE (founded 1878, Headquartered in USA)
i'ounded by Thonas Edison, ceneral El.ctric is invohed j. a !vkl. r.r.s€ ol
indnst .s from ent€rtainment to aviati.n to finance. ll is lhe lvodd s r.rnl
hrgcst compaDyin terms of matkel capilalisatio!.
l.dnslr\ Conslomerate I Emdoyccs 323,ooo
R.\! (in U\q hillio'r\) r.:.7 |Pr.'rir-rinls-l,illi, '.
',"r '.r
:\sscts (ir USs billions) 7953 |Nlark€t\',luc (i. trs$hillio s) 33..!
3. Bank ofAmerica (founded 1874, Headquartered in USA)
slobal hish yield debt. Once considered one of the |e.lrhicsl sur\i\o, s o1 the
:oo7 credit crisis, it pluns€d in market value due 1r pa.l l.r nrassi|e losses
catrsid by its purchase of Merriu Lrnch.
ir{'rece I LmDl''trt\r-r,5b-
nncnce and
llcrenuc (in US$ b lions) 19.19 | Prolits (nr Us$ l)illions) u.98
\r\il\riI I ssbillit,ns, r.-15.751 Marker\rldrtir'I S\jhilliuo\r
4. JP Morgan Chase (founded 1799, Headquartered in USA)
JP juorga. Chuse is one olthe oldest financial seNices fiDns in ihc norld. ft is
o e oltlie Llig l.our barlis ofthr United States witl B.nl ofAm.ica, a iligrorp
rrdu\l'1 l r"" lir, urarce ll
','tn.r]!1\2:8.4r?
Rrr.au. ('r USs billio.s) 11635
l)nrlirt (i. rrs$ billions) r5.37
a\s.is (in (rss biiliurs) 1,s6:.$
firrlietvahre (nr LSs billbns) 136.88
5, E)nonMobil (founded 1999,
Headquartered in USA)
Born lioni the merscr ofErxoD and
xlobil, Exolllobil is thc i{orld'slargest
prblicli tradcd coDrpaDl. It is lhe la4est
ofthc si\ oil strl)errnrjoJls, !rod!cing
3.e2r .)lllion ba.rels of oildaih.
In(lusLB Oil & sns opcrntnms
l<ercntre (nr tSs billn,ns) 358.6
Prolits (nr USrj billnms) 4().6
lssets (nr uss billiors) 24?.1
[I.rk.r v.]u. (i. Usg billiotrs) 46q.c
 FEATURE ARTICLE

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pOWFp __-_- \te-i st- '

O"""upon a time, we ."r*"a J"lves to the whims and fan-

cies of men born with the right silver spoons in tleir blue-blood mou*rs.
We believed a monarch's sovereignty was issued by Heaven itself or at least t]le qTant of hadition. And so,
individuals not corporations, organisations or institutions - once rcigned as the absolute rxlers of our lives.
That changed after 1789. Heads rolled in nore ways thzm one as the Frenc.h Revolution shifted sovereiSnty
ftom the rL er to the people. Frcm the 18th to the 2oth century, this radical idea of popular sovereignty top-
pled empircs like houses of cards. States evoh'ed into nation-states where a govemment's legitimacy to rule
no longer depended on one individual's personal claim to power, but on a bureaucraqls claim to represent a
nation of people who shared the same language, culfure, history, slmpathies and desire to nrle themselves.

I BROADER PER SPECT V ES thepower,ssue

 FEATURE AMTCIE

We belicved ou sovcnnnent s sovereign!, was issued by &e temational diplomaq.

people ficnsclves throush denocratic election. And so, for.rve.
tlvo centuries. the nation state reigned. Btt nation-states dc righrfirly neNous about external
inrerference: some of these oBanisations have tumed out to
A CRISIS OI LIIGI'I'IIL{CY be l.roian Horses, hiding their:gendas beneath a beDisn suda@.
But once morc, se are witncssnrg aDother significant shift in NGOS like USAID ed bilionaire iN€stor George Soros' Opcn So
sortreisn$. This is the ase of intensive globalsation: jnflows cict"v IDstitute conspired with loc2l activisls to bnng doen the YLr
dd outlos of noney, people and ide6 between @untries goslav govemment in 2ooo and helped coordinare the colours
have sroro henrendoLrsly in quintity dld @npldibr. Polin' revolutions" thereaften 2oo3's Rose Revolution in GeoBia, 2oo.1's
cally, new institutions and ini-dtrrctuE of pouer Orange Revolution in Ulaaine and 2oo5 s Tulip Re\o-
have been created to specific.lly challengc a sov lution in Ktrszstm. has from the INIF or dre
er"ign 5lJlF.d-ri. u1\. Ln \Vorld Bank sometimes rcquire gorcrnments io
the proiiferation of ncw imhnolosies and p.nnit foreisn econonrists to alisn domestic
p.ofiteeing oppotunities that€mpoi{ economic rcforms ac.ordinS Lo free trade
er indi\iduals to act against the state. ideals". Mosl disturbing is fie cons e.-
CultuElly, a markeQlace of ideas - , _
, able inluence transnatioDal corpura-
ra. pajtournahondl , r;rt
pa,lournlbundl sert orcr the agenda dd nlc of
:.;r ...
has Lppn lmpod d
b€Pn lmpoded tions
_
l,."ndrnF. , .nl:. ., .,'. "ih"i- it ,.
ro
'. n.nor. t'.. .! ,i) \r'
ttre it'oiaarade Oryanisation.In fact,
trer royaaes ro onr
,i!:.; ,.: ihe WTO'S Trade related Intellectual
?rbperty Rjghts CINPS) :$eenent
"
un , '-,
With the nation state clearly -.:-' was largelFwitteD by a consortirn of
d"reone a or .esirima\r.
hhodmonglhdqLFuoj2r.lirrrun r ,'
,.ii.i. kidi,l
\t
pouer plrrer.
ffi:.ffi;;-:;"',*
- "-'-
r, rul- - u% r"u
.
;.'.
, ,.'r:i.. ,i;l
.i
Nation-stares have become
in8 morc than convenient stages
noth

T OSnI(; Tr{r r-Al)At{ll lrr/ \rl fo! a transnational alrama to take

place between all khds of tr:tsna-
TO CONTROI, tional actors. Tlinlr of HN1, slobal dng
Obviousll, we need slobdl radrer rhm , trafiiqking and Wtill Street's meltdo$n. Transna
national or esiond soluJons rodav. ,+5 tion.l tenoisn nal<es tlis point clearest. Todal,:s
I
dr borders betlEen natioDs gl)w ei€r more porous, ter,rcrists de Dot likc thc Basque separEtist-s or IF-{ bomb
the fates ofnations becom€ eier more intemoven, no state ca ds of rorc - thcy no loneer care about nationnlisn or nation-states
'iut ile landless global clizens rvho fieht for a trdNnational ideol-
claim Lo La ab 4 lo.onlrcl F "l14hint, Lnil tu, ",n,qiin I. r"r-
riton. Ou 2rsl .FntuD proolFnF rir. L) .ur acrAst,n-a'-.. os throush transnalional means aiainsr a rrdsnational enemv
.lim I . hdgr md/ts-m-rr o sobJird (t.s. NA ro,le" or i UN ,',, .oo
lo q.erdle.^r
"h' r' "
nrark, s:d e,leple rhei
tion of natural resources, hesnational tanorism.lailed slatel.
'i
'n.'ion ii;,"...,r i', .-,1'",i*u.. o.ng iust -.,' n"rio".r
' ". 1
the cde of rcftgees. And so, we have created alternative ilv car b€come collater al damasc - Australian tourists in a Balinese
authorities to thc nation state regionaf and globdl sht-club, Souft Korcar nissionaner in the Middle East, Singapo-
inrergovemmental organisations (IGOS) drdtr:tsna- rcan guests in a Mumbai hotel. Your 2rst cent!ry insurgent could
tional or subnational level non-sovemental oraei not cnre iess about setting up a state or a pdJlel go!€mDent whcn
sations tNGOs), lDdeed, some oftlien prol€ better cquipped floating in a loose nehvork of small cels otreN far morc flcxibiiity
to taie the strain or pinpoint the problcn. The HN1 and SARS and adaptabiliry. He is mo.e interested iD dtatins staie failure and
outbrcals showcsed the World Hcalth Oryanisationt strategic snatchiru up whatmr lt caD $'ithiD drc resultani power vacuL,m.
impotance in nonitoring and coodinating the yarious nations Ijke a hydra, evcn ifyour securty units nanage to cul off one head,
handlins ofpossible pandenics. Regional olganisatioN like EU tlvo or more will simply spring up in its place preferably behind
and NATO have done a better job of stabilisins Europc's bor anodrer liiendlier state s borders. Hezbolldli has perfected this tac
derlands in the Bllkar1s. And NGos - those onc-issue fixated- tjq waging then guerila wd against Israel behnrd thc reluctant
self-appointed consciences of the world statesmen lor€ to hate sldrts of the ltrjbmese govemnent.
- keep our attention o! "snallcr" problerns that slip beb{een the
crack- creenpeace nasscd us into making tlna dolphin frieDd- Keepins tal's on everrthins wirhin one's borders has be-
ly. Amnest) Intemational reminds os not to forget prisoners of come so difrcult and comptex that some nation-stat6
illiberal laws. Should the NGOS be strppoded by e\ceptionally hawe consciously turned to out-soucing part of their re-
powerful individuals, ther cd be powertul paft1cN workins in sponsibilities to private cor"omtioN 6 a solution. when
conjunction with nation-states to soh€ global problems: think hatf of the wo.ld's loo l sest economjes are tansnational cor
of Bjll & Melinda Gates Foundation's impact on developing porations, it is e6y to uDde6taDd why natioD-states tum to them
\o d lralthde or tuchard Branson's The Elders work in in- for help. ceneral Elecbic, Bayer and Nestle are really yoLrr world's

DEMANDA BROADFR PFRSPFCTIVF

FEATT'RF, ARTICLE
newesL .righq statcs, accounting for llnost h{o thjrds of interna
tional trade and are thc kcy sourcc of forcign direct investment so
\ital to development. Prilatisation is sccn as thc fanacea for poor
prblic utilit] perfondce: free riarkel compcliiion lcads to lcss
.omplaccnry, loacr pices, better q!:llity, It1orc choic€s, less cor
ruption,less red tape aDd fastcr delivery. TINS. mtioD stales harrd
oyer their tladilional rcsporNibilitics ovcr fublic $dfar€ and pubiic
secuiq to pdvate co.poftlions brsed on th. asslnnption drat fiis
lowers the cost ol bureaucrnc] and jncrpases thc qualitv of scN'
icc ofi.rcd t{r d1e people. With sLrcc€sslirlcases 01p.ilatisatior likc
B tish Tclccom and Jrpan Post, public senices banfts, insu.ance
co panies. healthcarc, tunsl)ort, eveD driDkiry water - m.rt soon
But the more nation-states outsource their re,rponsibili
tics dd mordl authority to care for the people they claim
ro rcprescnt! thc more drey outsou'ce sovereignty to in-
stilutions who carc morc altort dre good of then' sha-re'
holdeN than the good of citizens. Sornc parts ofour sociril te.'
r!ir1 ought to be prote(t€d f.on the ftrtllessness of ilrc markc| For
instancc, lrisons, bdic herlthcare, basic education. \atd sulply
and dcfcncc rcqr € mrDagemert that ulrholds mo.al stervardshil
and legal ac.ountabilitv oler d1e amoril pursujL .,1 elllciencl and
ptulit nurimisalioD. Thc U.S. gorcnnent's corlt.o\eftiaL enillo)
Dient ofprilale securitv 6nns sho$tascs the problem ofprivatismg
public senice. Though the tiN has banned the usc of merceDdies,
ri
DD
,m
tMs
MUI
lhe p vate sccuriV iDdustry hs been booDiilg since lhe L99os.
Priute nrilitia noi{ do thc $()r* of guardnu enbassies and diD
lonuts, providing secu ry for aid $olkcF and cdrtins out hos
tage rcscue niissions. ln Latin Anr.rica, Dmcorp conducts a
coDtroYdsial opiun popp,v eradication progranrme agaiDst dre
Shiniug Path terodsls aDd dns lords on behallol lhe Ameri
cu governnent. Unlike siatc military &d polic€ lorces, thele
private compaDies operate be),ond thc realnl of public o\€rsight,
aDd they enable states to ergage in military operatioDs, seize
natural rcsouRes, tenoise citizens and overthro$' 8o\€nnents
withoui rcpmach. Wllen pivate secudly lim BlacLtatert eD
lloyees were ac.uscd of i{ar-crnnes like the gunrinit do$n of 11
lkqi civilians iI] 2oo7, th.y conld Dot be.!ud marlialled by ihe
U.S. go\€ninent becnuse they \€r. not pdt of an ofiicial nrned
forcc. Even ro$q nation siales harc scni fie nrssagr to othe.
oryanisatioN ald corporations that so\rrcigrb' - in the form
of permission to ue force rvithin national boundaies - eu1 be
boLrilhhathcr than canie.l or giyen. ln the Niger Dclia, Arncice
p wte rililarl cornlanics Doi! i{.Ue their o\!r prn'ate sa6 irr
the Ddneotdeiendnrsth. oil and sas coDpanies who hjrcd lhen
for lrotectioD. ijren NCOS likc th. pacifist Red ooss have begun
to liire fieil own ldvate mqcenarics io cscort their wo.kes in
dangcrus war-zoDes.
T OSTNGTIIIi ]\foRAI, RICH'I' O REPRESENT
Peopte have permittcd rhe nation-sttte to govern as
long ds they leel it reprcsedls rhen - their belieft, dreir
sympathies, their concq)t ofhomelrDd dd fights
for their good. And clea.ly hom all that \tc ha1€ disNssed
so far, drc i{ords nationilisnl and patdotisrn ha\c lost somc
of their lush.. Go\emmerts have losr tbeir boral
highg,round - somctimes volutdily and other times
involutarilv, sometimcs ro $'orthy opponents like
noble NGOS and lGOs and other iimes to seedier
compdies like geedy corporatioD-s dd oimiml
nctworks. No \ronder tndilional srrnbols of nation-
hood aDd natioDd education prognnrmes are seen
through jadcd c)es rudier dnn en$raced $,hole
headedh,. I'he dse of a 24'7 slobrl !e$s fttlvorlt
of political pundits, web 2.o s sclf afpinted vigilmte
joruriilists ard their'tuilte ng pea.ut gallcry ha!€ tur
rho cncou!8ed rll of us to look at polincians wi$ ryrj-
An] attenpt by the state to censor or enforcc scoccy
cisrn.
is moot: leak€d imases turn hmdphone cameras made
public the prisoner abusc that w6 soiDs on in Alu Chraib
and the last Dlornents of Saddarn H$sein's life before his
cxeorfion. Today s state censoN llnd ii n.ar impossible to
$araDtine ".tmgerous' ideas or co\€r up politicd enba.-
.assnrcnts. \Vhen there is a Web, lbere is a s'a,!.
for the nation-state's clairn thar it .epresents
As
one particular culturc. il rcems ridiculou\ in a
world shere culture looks inmcasinsly deterrito-
fialised. E\en the nyth ol a s|ared Honcled" hd lost
its shccn rvith die upila.dly mobile jet scttcr rlho could
lee.l at hom. in aDy ci!"* rvith a Sia.bLrcls round the comer,

uneb} Hs snle.'n'lr lG
hrs lu\eLl
d ,Phnnc ifhrs nrnd. Nd\ ru\dr,
-t ties h.!e ovettuned nationalisn:
the younger genemtion is more likely
thrn 6..h
rffilirt. thefrseh,es with, tur
cigr cultur€ than thei ox11. In 2oo7, the botched
attacks hInndon and Glasso$'Dudc hcadlincs bccausc dre
rlould be ten,rdsts $€re not forcign ladicnls steeped in for
eign cultures bu! Bndsh doctoN bom, bred and schooled nr
Bitain. T.aDsnatiorurl nov€ments of all purposes are makjng
their presence felt iD domestic politics: tlie hedl of Singapor€'s
rcccnt A1VARE nproar $'as an imforted clash of vrlues rooted
in -{mcrica's cultuul waN beh{ccD th. rdigious right did dre
libercl lelt. Snritaporeans l)assjonatelv tbug|t for bclicfs drat
they did not len.n liou some natne bom p}ilosophr-' but fiorn
foreign ideologies thal theyhad adopted as then oM.
1 HE FA',l O! N-.L'nONS
Fr
So mdy new actoF on rhe (arld stage exerrisnrg
so many kinds ofrlowcr vasdy complicare the ef-
fort to ffnd a better balance of influencc and
responsibility. ll you i{ere oplimistic, }'ou $ould
describe our rvo.Ld as "nultipolai and lind hope
sonei{here in the seeniDsly more democratic plu
raliil ofloices. Ifyou xrre pessnnistic, I ou \t or d say
oLrrwo d is no$" nonpolar" and sec uttcr doom nr thc
cicophonv and chaos ol conpetins poweB.
ID t]t r99os, bools Like :Ih. r"nis un.l tne Ollre Ir€e and ?hc
En.l o/,Ll6io?j/ popddised die idea that we shonld welconie glo
balisation's Fssing of solcrtigDty fiom the iiaDds of t]t state to
the individLral.In the early 2ooos, sincc Scptcrnbc.llth and the
fJlout frun1 Arnedcn s subprime tbllier, manv of us arc €l]nrs
for the reverse: Dlo.e goverrment intenention. not less. We s?ni
soneoDe to draw up n es contniring greedy wnll street specula
tors, Somrlim aarlo s- xlexicd dmg lo s, though \re struggle
to accepi that thosc n es r{ill bi the Red Cross volurteer, the
F,€e Nl}?nnar acti\ist, thosc bdlliaDi rnnrds on TED.con - aDd
rTth ceDtrry philosopher Thonas Hobbes predicted that witbout
sovernmert, ljfe NiI be "nas\, brutish tud short'. Ou. adions
would only be bound by their peNonal po\ee. ed corlscience.
Hobbes alsued that sinc. oujrdgmcnt is not J$'als enlishtened
enough to see i'here the conrnron sood lies, i{c nced io halc an
obj€ctive ruler to drali and p.opose laws thal all of us are sLrbjected
to. onl)' by gi\iDg up some ofour libeaies to thnt supranational
audion8 caD we achj6 e tme iieedom nl this wo.ld nnd lind the
combnrcd streDsth to fight $e nuljgndt forces that thn\e nl the
.|,ns ofonrind..isi.n
Nation-states ldll not perish as yeti for now, thcy are
headins into either implosion or integration. In Somalia,
Sudd aDd Siena koDe, the natioD-state is :dreao rel on its way
to chaos- Life diere is a dog-eat-dog andchy {liere widords, ter
rorists, soldicrs of fortune, ciminds, politicidis, NGos rud or-
*l '- ng.:
dina.y civilians battle out for a comcr to call their oM. We caD
only hope lhat more po$€r'ful nation stai€s can help contain ihc
politicrl frllotrt firrm these lailed states. vel, elsewhere, \'e also
sec nation-states rccogDising the gravily oftodn), s probiems and
giling up some ofthcir rights in the nane of cooleration. T.ou
bled though it is, sone believe thc EuroFaD Uniotl is dr fiture
nodel for a rew kind c,f dec€ntralised statehood $'hcrc autonony
is dclibemtely shd€d at between the national, regional aDd suf.a
national lcvcls- IDdifidud lation states cede some of their sov
ereignw to a union ihat m,les larvs, exercises justice and nakes
Inone! on their behall But the union does not cJl itself a state,
clainN no sorereigrty lbr itself and thus, docs not wagc nd ror
lsl t:des for their nenibers. xleanwhile. their menbes d.lolvc
morc oftheir iDtemd rcsponsibilities to subnational rcgjons and
THE WAY FORWARD?
Authority is sustained by two artcric.s: ihc insiitrtion's
sovereisn nature (whether you ha!€ rhe pos'er to rule)
dd the institution's sovercign chamcter (whether you
havc rhe monl right ro ra e). If Mtion-states and lGOs do
noi want to follow ihc fatc of monarchies, they otrglit to retum to
golemance as it always s|ould halc bccD: represeDtatilr, r€spon-
l]le answer ro problcms wc havc with the
sive, responsibLe.
authority ofour present nation states and IGOS is noi in
replacing, dismdrtling or reinventing them. lt is in run-
ning rhem a.s they almls should have been 1:u.
No longer should old power paiiems dictate fie leadeNhip of our
most jmportnnt lcosr lhe Wo d Bank is snl headcd cxclusildy
by e
Americal, die lMIr is stjll headed by a F.uropean and the
LrN Secuity Council's pennaDent nembeN ffe still the lictors of
World \Var Ti{o. No longcr shodd natiorl-states allow the pett}
asendas oftheir o$n or othcN to hjjack dr LrN Secu.i\ Cotrrcil's
reslonsibilig ro sen e and t)roie.i ihc feodc. Da.fur, Zimbabwq
M),anlnar and Rwanda hale aleady paid thc pricc. No longcr
should die UN C€nefnl Ass€nbly be the joke that it is now of kin
dersruter jealousies, stiff-miins, secret lobbynrg, dead locking
aDd sFnDcr-iossiDs. The G77t filjbusteins is just as reprehen-
sible as the G8's cosy cliqueishncss: both do not crcate the coop-
emtive culture needed to sohe our gr cat global problems.
A world without authority is not an option. \Ve unruly
hDus desperate\ reed to subniit ourselves to a moral aLrthor
iV bis cnou8h d sood enoush to trust a $'hole slobe of li\€s
$ith. One distulbing rhoughi rcnuins drough. SrpposiDg we
leale discussions of God out of ihis equation, thc UN is suppos-
edll oul grealesl supranational nroral authodv. T]ut this $rr
bol of our highest principles is so oten rende!€d blind, tooth
less md lmr by dle selishness of nation slates, corporalions,
criniDals, conrpt llN staffdd ou. o$n apatb should cb our
idealistic boncs. E\tn if we did fir1d a supruationil audbritl to
beljeve in, history seems to sho$'we $'ould rnuch rather crucii it
thin let ir do itsiob. aatt
BASE IMAGECREDJTS
The rrilton DiD\rh 1i9s, National alallerroflo.don
DLMANDABROADfqPLD-P' L I V( J
L
 ON 2ND THOUGHT

Rethink the
United Nations
Itls time to rcalscss thc gnnd ole dame of irlter niltio nal pcitcc. by JOSELIN BAU

g.ound Lr courlties to brttlc o tth.st rg

"The Since its gene-
SlS, the United NatioDs
United lvas meanl Lo be a ne
Nations is t.al. objectjve ard hcDcc
legitimte internxtional
powerfuli' foruD for manasi.g and
sohiDg gcof olitical issu.s
NOT RFAT,T,Y.
rDd problcms. So brlogi
cal exter$ion, it should bc a po$crnrl rDd innuential
oryanisatidr with th. backing ofall nations lo. nain
tainiDg global stabilit\', be il oJ a economic, political
or huDranita an naturc. Yet as the world liDds itself
in morctrca.he.ous wate.s, with conplex aDd dirc is
sucs oD the rise.lhe U\ hrs uDfortunrtelv tumcd into
i lig}lning rod forcriticism ofits jDeffcctualDcss.
You only have b ldrk at thc $orld to see and u der
strnd ihe cost of its incfficao: Nuclear teDsioDs in
kan aDd Nortlr Korca rcDraiD leightened: Mildle llast
trlks arc soins norr|ere and the \ic,lence coDtnr es
unabaicdi cDvironmen al d isin€r lulis in the hoizon
I
with Do con.cf€d foliLicallrdjon hsight.
lls ntissi.m to do goocl and uDitcth$rorld ishaDrpcred
by churlish ard sqrabbhig natiols fightinglo pdect
tlreirorvntLrL{andbalancc offo$cr. Tte UN is also be
hokleDto domiDaDt DatiorN t|atcan t|rcalen to with
hol.l its brdgct and irlther' .ifp led by its o$ n rnassive
irggcrDaut ola b$eau.ratic nress sith the atteDrpt at
rcforD stopNd dead in iLs tracl$. So wliile the bith of
t]ris p. ianrent olcountries $.as hemldcd $ a coDrnrg
togethe. ol XI.rn. it has become a pal. shadon of its
orig;rali!tert.
ODe rerson $'h) tlie UN is $'cak isthrt ii is easil) us€d
as a slaging
gle bet{€eD sorereigDt_v aDd jnt.mationalism. As such.
the UN's inlentioDs for sood arc all too casily hijacl'ed
b) countric's with tircir oM lcsted and pnrochial in-
tc'rests aDd v.nd.tias. Tle UN Co,ninissioD of Iluftr
tushtshadtobc r.flaced because
iLs
1!o\t ,,l .I,l ,bb-.,.
eistence becrmc
rg
thc agcnc) to prolec( Lhernsehes aDd critjcise rival nr
tions. lhe.ew bodr, The Ilunan Rights Council, wrs
supposed to be a smalle. menbershif bas.d instead on
their hunan ights crcdcntials. Not o.lyis il nlmost.ts
open rsthe oldcrbod], a r.gionalquota ststen meaDs
tliat the grNf wiih thc nrost solid lrrnran rights record,
\\,. t.r1l,n.\. ll ,,-,n-n.r,.rJm-no-r .\iu-
lcDcc iddl.dAfi ica. l-he ne$ bod] alsostlDdsacc scd
of boilg jusL as coddling of esFsious humaD righis
almsers. and as poljticjsed rDd rs Ism.l'hatnrg as the
oid orle. lt has oDlr passed onc ..solutioD for hunran
.ights liolatjons, agrinst Isracl, of.ourse, Nhile onl!
erp.essirlg ileep concerD" abont Sudan. CoLrn(.ies also
strled awa! turn and walkcd out of the 2oo9 $o d
Conference oD RacisDr, .\frcssi.g disappoiDtDlent
thrt imnia! Prcsi(icnt ]hlnnoud Ah ll\adhqjad $'as the
opcDing sf.rt.r i!|erc he gay€ \lliat l..aLlce .iescibcd
as hrte pcdcci
sl)eech- . So $ hat Nas supposed kr be a
ofwhrt sutfos.d
tdllic rclalio.s exanple thc tiN Nas
lo do best tL,rned iDto an opportunitv for ccrtail D.
tions to express tlieir anti-Semiticli.\s.
Such Epexted failurcs to do th. ightthhg sfring liom
tlie liggcst bugb.ar of h'hl dre UN\ attempts to do
good ar. rcndcr.d hrtile and in ranL. r'oo often, thc
sccr.t.r1, Ceneral add tLe LIN are beholdeDtothc big
gcst nation conl.ibuLors and the Sec!.it! CouDcil. Ercn
inrpo{a.t global .esolutioDs thrt seen clear cut c.n
be Ijiaclied ard overturDed. Resoluti(ms to isolatc and

I BROADERPEB5PETTVE5 thepowcr ssue


runish Rrranda 3nd Sudan for gen
ocide, or Zimbabwe lor rigged aDd
liolent elections, or to deal with
Imns and North Korca's Duclcar
belligerence have beer blockcd by
the \€to nations. Thc sloMess or
failue to irteNenc iD conllicts and
injustice ha!€ mostiimes been due
to the powd fla), oftle Council.
Most eleryone concu$ that thc
CouDcilt permanent membership
and the hokliDg ofvetoes har€ be
come anachr.rnistic aDd patentiy
uniair. lc, ha!€ the finnacle ol
rrorld political nanasement gov
erned by the victors of \^/orld War
ll, ,^ne.ica, Russia, China, EritriD
aDd FraDcc is to igno.e tlie ditrer-
eDt Nrmutations of power, x€alth
and influence that have arisen irr
thc lvorld since ther To oriy have
these five nations hold such cxclu
sive powers to decide s.hat consli
tutes a threat to wo dsecuri9and
ilhat actions to take or disalloiv,
to grant any onc ofthe permanent
five the abjlit! to paralyse theworld
bodv. only builds mor€ resent-
mcDt and rcvenge nlib$terins nr
thc G€neral Assenbly or the other
UN associated orgaDisations $'hcn
olher decisions need to bc made.
$ro.s€, any attempt to cxpand the
Council canDotbe doDc withouL the
sx)-so of these lery n.tions who
would lose thcir porrer iI real
forn $rrc to iake place.
Pal1 of the UNs toothlessness
also has to do with the failinss of
iis peacekeepnrg force. Those bluc
helnels thnt used to be a slnbol
of salet] and reasntrance arc rnore
lil(ely used as shooiins practice
these dats. Kofi Arnun, the lbrner
UN Secrciary General, Liked to
say thatthc LIN rlas the onll fire
bisadc that needed to buy a fire
eDgnrc before il coukl respond to
an cnreryency. the UN must go
t|rough the Security Council fiIlst
rlho approves an opeEtion and a
budget. Therit mustplcadwith na
Lions to coltribtrte forccs. As such.
it cannot always dcplq, the troops
where thev are necdcd most no...n
they alwa$ do so qLrickly enough to
stop conflicts fuom spinning otrt of
conirol. Fxen when they are able
lo procu.e peacekeeping troops.
thet don't liave any control o!€r
tlieir behaviour, as the sex
scaDdals of pcacekeeping troops in
abuse
Congo and West Africa testit. The
proposal io have a standing perma-
ncnt force hale llc,undered nostly
because nntions obje.t to sivins thc
UN too Dmch power xDd bccausc
ol the practical difficultics of main
tainirg sucli a force.
Another intractablc obstacle to the
r^'s strccessfirl i{ieldinit oi pow€r
is its un\ieldy internal organisa-
tion. It is a colossnl burearcuLv
with |undreds of specialised asen-
cies and offshoots. lts r{o*ings
arc structured arouDd a minuiiae
ol laws, coDveriions, rcpolts, dec.
larations, nandates and trcaties
\rithiD a btzaDtnre maze of depart-
meDts. IDtcmal o\€tiight and ftiI
nidepeDdcnt audits of its agencies
d€ not mandatorv. the Secretary-
GeDcral does Do! have eDotrgh pow-
cr olcr budsets iDd persoDDel aDd
pcNonal neldc,ns are easily built
lvhich can turD to corupt or self
serving prrposes. Thc aftcnrath ol
the lraq oil-fo.-food scandal only
put such slack oryanisational pftc
tices in the spotlight- The $1oo biL
re lion progrannn€ set up to alleviate
the suffcnng of the lraqi people
\zs loaded with bribes, kickbacks,
smusgling and other ilicit dcals
and dogged b)' waste and inemcien
cy. The UN s credibility rcsts on the
perceptjon of its compctcnce and
hon€sb. Witliout that, ihe]'lose any
moral atrthorit! io administer ftr-
ture prosrammes or hold corntries
acconntable for lheir actions.
At thc end ol the da)', the LrN's in
flucnce and power cones frcm iis
charter ot highjnnrded frnrciples
and its abilifi to nnitc nations to
wards a better eDd. Ifit shows such
feebleness to$€rds q,rannical Da-
tions or thos. who floot int€rna-
tional trcaties wilhout c.rmpunc-
.q
While instant chanse
cannot be exnected
the UN will riever
fulfil its canacitv to
proiect real inflirence
and heft to make
the world better so long
as rancorous natlons
ooison the workines
bf the uN...and "
other nations let them.
lion, it will only continuc to slide
into an irreversiblc n.clevance. The
UN $'itl nocr have any rcalauthor
itj and lcgitnnacy as lo g as it is
vier{cd and manipLrlaled as a patsy
ofnations. ils cledibility is at stake
and withoul it, this flawed but po-
tentially impc,rtaDt bo(t will not be
able to do nNch sood in thc r{o d
when it is needed rhem.qt
UDfortuDately, evcn anridst mount
ing coNensus about the l^|s short
coninss, thc c|ances oI real reforDl
are slim. The lorturous beginnings
of t|e rcto.m of the UN have bccn
half hearted .rt best aDd held back
again bt bickering govennncDts.
Elen the fouier anbassador to
th€ UN, Jolin Bolton, a long time
critic of the LrN. conceded behre
he stepped do$n that while it is
easytoblanre the UN as ar institF
tioD for sotne ol the problerns $€
confront ioday, we nmst recogDise
that trkimaLelt it is menber statcs
BASEIMAGE
ihat rnust lal€ action and thereforc CREDITS
beal lhe responsibilit)." $tile in
stant change caDDot bc eape.ted,
the UN s'il] Dcler tul6l its capacitl
to project r.al influence and heft
to nakc thc wodd betler sr,long as
raDcor.us nations poison the work- ISSUESIINI(ED
ings of the tl{...and other DatioDs
tci them. aatt
l'1)ltrns
ln[ i!r],.,1R. 11.r
a o,rLH .n
Laofonnl !
( l,)l,rLs( f,i\
DEIVANDABROADERPERSPE'TIVF ]5
rr{)R s()riF 1'IM(;s.
CULTURE WATCH

Props to Propaganda
It's not easy to collvince the labble that they are actually a nation who needs to stick together
and work iogether - especially during times oftrial That! why all iations dig into fhe srme
trcasure chcit oftriecl and tested proPs rl1 propaganda. NADfA MAH looks at the various
ways in which govelnments havc tried to rally the People.

ffig---:il= #ry
Flags
whydowe make such a tuss when flass are
shreds or burni into cindels? Thougb just a
flowl upside doM, noM at halfmast, torn into
piece of fabdc, the national flas is lhe most com
mon anii thus sisnificant slmbol ofa nation, revealing the ideals that the mtion has adopted
use red, white and
for itselt Someinnes, flagsjust reaeal shaEd history:the USA, Australia aDd New Zcaland all
blue rcflectingtheirjoint Britishheritage. Austmlia andNewZealand even feature the Union Jack ind the Souih-
erncross'^sthefirstflags'!elcused|oassistmilitatfcoordnEiiononbatt]efields,flagsareusuallydesigncd
Mi d dle F'2stem
arounal the most poicnt symbol of what the nation will fight and dic for' For nanv, religion is key
nations mostly stick to t!Cl, white,b]ack, andgleeD aS wel] asthestar aDd crescent because these s].nlrols repre
scntlslam.saudiArabia'sflageveninscribesThereisnosodbutGod,MohamnedisHisMessenger"htuabic
scriptonitsflag'IsraeluscstliestarofDavidandnanyEuropeannatiotis'vithchdstianroots(liketheScan
dinaviaD countries) use the cross. Sovercisnry is anoiher common theme- Irdia pui the svmbol
oftheir grcatest
Liberia Nas
ancieni emperor, Ashoka the Great, on their flag to cclebrate independencc fiom the British SiD'e
founded by freed American slalcs, tliey imitated the U S flag in an efforl to embody what they fel o he rhe true
idealsoftheU.s.Intcrestingly,couDtrieslikeLebanonaDdCvpfuschoosetoputpeaceastheigrcaiesthopeof
iheirnation,throughiheuseofBiblicalsymbolslik€th€cedartree(sturdiness)andolivebnnches(peace]'

EII,IHA'
POCCl,lt
The nation is cssentially an intellectual con
Personifications cept, an abstractidea ihat may betoo cokl
and nDpersc,nal for laymeD to conncct
with. Sornetimes, raiions inveni apersonificationforthe naiion that is first-
]y, easier to connect wjth and secondly, conjures up a far nore romaDticised
lision of what the count[' stands for''lhe older nuropean Dations tend to
use goddesslike images of beautitul wa ior women from Antiquit$ Brit
ain has fair Britannia, FraDce has Maianne and the EU uses Europa Whereas,
 *.-;.jlS#'

II=l [iril-:li**
=II-I
Colours Colours have a psychologjcal impact on us - xr ascibe certaiD values to certain
colours and visLralb. some colouE just draw nrorc attcntion tl an others. Nowonde.
that naLionspayclose attention to what colourstheyuse on theirposters, uniforms
and especially, their flass. Red is thc most popular colo{rr, belng folnd on 74% of all
tlie Mtional flass ofthe lrorld today, follolved by $'hitc on 7r% offlags and blue on 5()%.Across all ctrlhres, red
is sencmlly se€n as intense, e\citins, passionatc and stronS. llre calm colotrr blue, liowever, is us ally associ
aied $'ith peace and freedom - littlc s!r.l) se thai the United Nations flag is a p ryos.ful gcntle s}ade ofsky
blue. The lius flas has also chosen lhe same shade.rfbhe rs tliat nsed by Francc to simbolise freedon1. Eut
some countries use colours fortheir hist.,rical significance. Li th. Nliddic Easi, rnost nations use green because
it is belieledto be the colourollslam.

Somctimcs, lealiDg thirgs unsa can be even morc poient than saying
Svmbols too rnuch belter to let the people rcad $'hatever romantic notions theJ
want inio the sunbols. Abstract slrbols are powe.ful tools for prcpa-
gandists to use becausc thcy evoke a wealth of memories and vahcs
drawn fiom relisious or cultural experiences without sayjns a
sinsle word. Thc Cornmunisls combined the hammer and thc
sickle as an clocative sratenent ofunib'between thc indus
tdal proletariat and the agrictrlhral peasantry. Ihey further
nnbned these hunble tools with an airofnobili!, by puttins
then ljteraly nr the haDds ofmagnificent statues ofgod-
like peasants. Thus, thc Communists \{€re abLeto create
worthwlile replacement icons 1br a fornierly relisious
societyto channel their need tc, ivorsliip. The Nazi Partv
also chose to rebrand Gernany with the aDcient swastika
slmbol &hich they appropdatedfion Aryan India sVedic
tradition, believins that the Aryans oflndia were a modct io be imitated and a warnins of
the dangers ofnuliiracialism. Recasting the swastika as a s)mbol ofracial purity, the Nazis
succcsstully injected religious undertotresto their anii Selnitic ideolos/.

H'f',*"ffi

It is a clich6 but it is still true; a pictu.e is wofth a thousand words. Visual inpres
Posters sioDs are erlreDely sbong and overcome conmunication barriers oflangLrage and
education. Newspaper articles andpanphlets can bethrown away unread, websites
simply clicke.t past, mdios andtelevision s€ts turnedotr, andfilnN orpolitical m€etings not atteDded. B t eve,
ryone at somctimc or other eventoaliy walk or dives past posters that shout or whisper their nessaSe agalr
and asah fron every wall and bulletin board. No wonde. that even in a web 2.o world, this srand daddy of
vjsual propasanda still remains popular andpowefful.

orvnuoagnoaornpensprclvt tq
"F.!l. i".. *
HOW TO...
Stage a Military Coup
Fed up with having your hard-earned morey taxed away? Want to wipe away that fat cats
smug grin? Take notes frorn some ofthe classic corlps in histoq', strap on your plastic lVIl6
and put on your Che Guevera t shirt. Viva la Revolutionl l',! Nrdi.1 Nlirh
Give Peace
a Chance
srared olstaininglour
dny laLigu.s? It's possi-
blc lostag,eacoupwith-
r. )take sure the publi.
rop military officials and
govern n ent o flicials do.
2. Wait for him io leavc
the countrj, {othcMisc,
]otr havc ro inprison or
3. Quicldy, secure all
hent Duildinas. fhe
crucialtoyonrsuccessl
4. Control the mcdia
so you can manage the
5- Imposc martial law
]]LATIPLI]S
rtailand:20o6 oust
Thaksin Shinavatk by
PalistM: 1999 orsting
of Prime MinisterNawaz
sharil by tb e Paki stari
Aimyto i$iall General
Stock up
on Weapons
hignest levels of govern
dnid€d, the. yor prob
ably a.€ going to have a
bloodbath on rou hands
rcbcls. or pulrlic hate fo.
your leader could snntly
bc so intense rh.t noth
irg slofi oftnblicd€ath
can alpease the 1€ngeful
nob. o. horo.ofhor
.o.s yon deposed on!
nonster, only to install
his pldcc.In tlat case, ! chile: In r9n,Augusto
r]).{MPLES
Nicolae C€aNescu and
his wife Elend vere ex
ectrtedbyiring squad,
helped Captair ldi anin
depose Prnne Minister
Milton Obote peacetully.
Idi Amin turned out to be
a savage kill€r vho dur
Cut a Deal Create a Martvr
with the CIA Tleres nothing a hmgry and huting populace Nalt
m..e than a charismati. hcro to Lrelieve in. ldeas are
too nnp€rsonal to caphrc thc inagnration. Brt give tire
people a ronantic hdo ot mlthi.al propo|tions and a
win th€ r€vohtion? Eavc t. .nf r' r.'r-n'noli" y, d..aug\")"1-r-\-
!o fear tne world is lull lutionaries s o nco nc to ralll around ard erren die for.
of op portunistic sharks
vho$ouldlovcloned-
dlcrviLhtourcouniry's Cuba: r9s6 Medi.al student Che Gu.vera bands to
politics to neet th€ir own gether (ith Fidel Casttu to ovdthrol U.s.-bached Cn
shado$y agendas. rahe ban dictator Fulgencio Brtista. Cbe is viewed as a saint
the b€st: ly Chis i\e figuc by the ruml For i. llolivia lvhere
tou.lick6om
h€ was ere.ut.d and has becone the nost (in)famob
Mossad, B.itain s MI6, slnbol olr.bclion lor idealisticyontls.
Thc Philippines: ln 19a6, whilc rcturninS,lrom exile,
Fillipino opposition l€ad€r Betigno Aquino Jr. was
a-.a".'.d"d: rh"t\41n.lat)l"rn. o rl \''to",.
F.pdl) b\ h"n Pr.srlpnl . pr. 1r,. vrr n- lnq- .. .
seat ol Dower thaDks to Thoush tic couD led Dy SeMto. Gresorio Honasan and
S€crctaryolState Juan Ponce En.il€ faiied, the pcoplc s
drger olcr Aquilo's nurd€r iDspired them to sere as
hunan shields to rrotect Honasan and his nen fron
other cL{-instigated I{arcos forces. Thtrs sparked the 1986 Pcople Power
-"d
coups: Iran, Cuatcmala Rp\alu,:.n Ld lo l4aros iall Lon pow"r in I ')'"
installation of corazon Aqlino as president.
..,Or Just Burn an
American Flag
It's a cheap tdck. Blt ifall else
faih, disi.act your people by giving
rhem something €lse convcDient
hlrrP Iil. Am.rim tlie
creat satan. or globalisation,
Starbucks, Holltavood. Anyole
but yoursell and you. messed
READTHIS
 .{ p]w F

COMPREHENSION

Starting Over

DFMANDA RROAI.)FRPFRSPFCT VF 2]
 W\ee.'E;

Starting Over

1 lf we observe every defining mornent in the evolution of the global order, one of those vivid instants
when human history teetered between one choice and another, we can conclude that there was
always one object that mattered most, of which the possession (or lack) of, marked the bloody line
between success and failure. Take the tank during World War one for instance; forAllied France, this
object meant survival, and fo. Germany it meant defeat. You can run through each pivotal technology
or resource history has to offer: nuclear weapons, the compass, abundant timber. They all tipped his-
tory one way or the other. The more important question is however, what will be the totemic survival
object of our time? What will that object teach us? And while history is honestly not always a useful
guide today, it is at least helpful in framing this questjon: what matters most now? We are living in
what feels like a revolutionary moment, and I am willing to bet that 100 years from now the object that 10
will turn out to have been the most important for navigating radical change will be this: a completely
blank sheet of paper.

2 We have to face up to the fact that our struggles are just not as reassuringly simple nor even the same
for that matter. Today we are facing challenges that are new in human history not simply in content,
but in scale and complexity. We stare at a global order that is exploding in granularity. There are more 15
actors, from hedge funds to NGOS to terror cells, than ever before. Each of these players, and each
of us, now has unprecedented choices about how to live. To add on to this, we are all more intercon-
nected than we have ever been. The result is an explosion of disruptive innovation. Sometimes this
innovation is for qood, for instance when a smali team rn a lab in Singapore masters new genetic
cures for cancer. But just as often it can be disruption for the bad: unregulatable financial trades thai
sink markets, terrorists who combine benign technologies into dangerous weapons, political leaders
who invent nationalist ideologies that mix history and fascism. Our only hope for dealing with sucl'r
constant, border-pressing newness is completely fresh ideas of our own. The innovator's instinct to
say, "Let's take out a completely blank sheet of paper and think out what we could do," has become
the most essential tool of survival.

What we need to do now, uruently, is to generate new ideas and create new institutions. This is
certainly true at the governmental level; that at the heart of it, it is every governing entity (whatever
the shape or form) that needs to man the helm in in;tiating innovative change. Developing nations
need to find new ways to help reduce the astronomical numbers of their poor and unemployed by
fundamentally studying and understanding the origins ofeach person's economic behavior in orderto 30
eradicate the problem at its very core. That certainly cannot be managed with any old organisations.
And this need for new structures necessa ly transcends to a truly global level; they too need to find
ways to alleviate the destructive impact of financial contagion on the populations of poorer nations.
Yet, unlike governments, they relook the overarching systems we have pui in place and ascertain how
these systems compromise the ability ofgovernments to build wealth on theirown terms. Orwe could
simpry do what we have always been doing...

Even now, we stare at a list of fundamental problems, some old and some creations of this new
disruption, that cannot be managed with our old models or institutions. You can find signs of this eve-
rywhere, such as Alan Greenspan's bashful 2008 admission about the way in which his world view
collapsed: "l was shocked because I have been going for 40 years or more with very considerable
evidence that it was working exceptionally well." And it is in moments like these when our best minds
confess to bafflement, that our own anxiety begins to expand. On some dark days it really does feel
that if we are not asking Napoleon to play with new toys we are at least using his old rusty ideas about

BROADER PERSPECTIVES the power lssue

 .f "*d -+"ry

states or powers or armies. This is a useless and dangerous pursuit.

Thankfully, this actually points at something quite hopeful: we get to invent a new wodd. This is the 45
wolk of the next decade or so. lt is work we have to do - by which I mean you and l, since our govern-
ments in many cases will be too knotted up by confusion and old priorities. Asking them to jnnovate
would be like asking your grandparents to go snowboarding. No treaty we have today, no foreign min-
istry and maybe no political leader can hope to corral this whole mess into an easy-to-address set of
priorities. We know this because the evidence speaks for itself: we have not had a single new interna- 50
tional agreement in nearly two decades on rnajor globe-changing issues such as nuclear proliferation,
food trade, chemical weapons, or the rights of migrants. lt is apparent that it has been impossible to fit
the demands ofthese problems into existing frameworks. So howdo we as common folk even begin?

Well, it begins with the boldness all pioneers begin with. You and I have a responsibility to manage
this world while the Greenspans of this world wander in perplexed haze. Yet, how does one who is 55
clueless even start addressing problems of this scale? The first thing is to make change a priority by
starting to identify something that we as individuals care most about and begin dreaming of what we
would put on a blank sheet of paper for an ideal solution. Look at people dying without access to pain
medication. This is a common problem and it should bother us a lot. lt is not the sort of problem - this
idea of global access to hospice care - that most international aid organisations pay attention to. So 60
we can begin exploring ways to address the problem: we can develop home-grown herbal gardens to
provide teas and soups for people in pain. We can find ways to form small businesses which provide
for fundamental needs in both the developed and developing world. We can do almost anything we
set our mind io.

Certajniy we cannot be sure how these problems will be worked out in the end. The odds are that
whatever we are able to do wili look quite different from what we first wrote out on that blank piece of
paper. But that change from our initial idea to reality only highlights why, exactly, the blank piece of
paper is so impodant. lt is a license to dream, an impetus to start, to begin stroke of the pen by stroke
of the pen, to sketch out a plan. Revolutionary ages do not simply destroy the old order. They also
create new fortunes, new historical champions and turn dreams into unimaginable realities. 70

You think this is impossible? All we need to do is travel the world and hang out with people who do
understand this need for innovation. Live with Chinese officials who know that without innovation
their country will explode. Travel with Hezbollah guerillas who instinctively unde.stand that constant
innovation is their only hope of survival under the ceaseless pressure of lsraeli attack. Learn from the
heads of giant new internet companies, from American officers jusl back from inventing new ways to 75
fight in Afghanistan. What distinguishes all of them is a relentless search for fresh ways to see the
world. These are people who wanted imrnediate change, and indeed even relied on it. And they all
wielded, with astonishing skill, that one essential weapon of mass disruption, the tool that makes the
unthinkable real: the blank sheet of paper.

Extrdcted and adaptedl onl Neu Warkl O ler,Joshua Rann Moiocle" Ma! 09
 Y?qF. BF

Comprehension Questions
1 What does the word teetered' (line 2) tell you about the evolution of human history? (f )

ln the opening sentence of paragraph 2, the author makes two claims about the challenges
we face. These are repeated in the second sentence, which further adds two more. Using your
own words as far as possible, explain what these four claims are. Number your answer 1, 2,
3 and 4. (2)

What is meant by disruptive innovation'(line 1B)? Suggest and briefly explain one other in-
stance how this can happen, otherthan what the author has akeady mentioned. (3)

According to line 26, we need to 'generate new ideas and create new institutions'. What are
ihe similadties and differences between how governments and global institutions do this? Use
your own words as far as possible. (3)

5 What is the auihor suggesting by the three dots {...) at the end of the third paragraph? (1)
 -X lot "r*-

Comprehension Questions
What kind of'new toys (line 43) may the author be thinking of, and how do they support his
point about 'Napoleon'? (2)

The aulhor believes lhat reinventjng the world as we know it will bring hope for the world's
problems. Using material from paragraphs 5-7, summarise why there is a need to do this, how
this should be done and the benefiis that thjs can bring.

Write your summary in no more than 120 words. Use your own words as far as possible.(8)

8 What do you understand by asking your grandparents to go snowboarding'in line 48? (1)

Explain in your own words as faras possible what the author says are the differences behrr'een
us and 'people who understand this need for innovation'(line 71-72). (2)

10 Give the meaning of the following words as they are used in the passage.
Use one word or a short phrase-

vivid (line 1)
lotemic (line 7)
confess(line 42)
impetus(line 68)
wielded (line 78)

11 ln his article, the author argues thatihe besiway to address our many problems is to staft over
as our current systems do not work-

How convincing do you find his arguments?And do you consider the merits of starting over to
outr /eigh the disadvantages?

ln your answer, develop some of the points made by the author and give your own vjews and
sorne account of the experiences which have helped you to form them. (7)
 Comprehension Answers
What kifd of new toys (llne 43) may the author be ihinking of, and how do they support his
point about Napo eon'? (2)

The author is rcferring to new tays in the form of new technology, tike bialogical weapans or
cyber weapons (1). He is trying to suggest that although a grcat strategist anc! military teadet,
today s new loys' are loa saphisticated for Napoleon and he would therefore naI be able to
understand them, much less use them effectively (1).

The author bel eves that reinvent ng the world as we know it wili bring hope for the world's
problems. Using material from paragraphs 5-7, summarise why there ts a need to do this, how
thls should be done and ihe benefits that thls can bring.

Write your summary in no more than 120 words. Use your own words as far as possible.(8)

From paragraph 5 (why there is a need):

Our governments are toa caught up in old ways of daing things. (tine 46 47)
Because afthis, na existing glabal leadership (line 18-49)
can callate our problems into ane unified agenda, (line 49-50)
as old mades af operation are inadequate in addrcssing new concerns. (line 52-53)

Fram paragtaph 6 (haw thts should lte done):

We can bring change aurselves by first recagnising change as impoftant (line S4-SS)
ancithen highlighting one key area we are most concerned abaut. (line St)
By first envisioning haw this ptoblem can best be salved (tine 58)
we can mabilise grassroal effotts ta bring change (line 61)
ot starl small enteryrises lhat address these prcbtems at the core. (line 62)

Fram paragraph 7 (benefits that this can bring):

Thankfully, this alsa gives new oppoftuni es for wealth (line 70)
as we become pioneers in new fields af progress. (line 70)
This endeavau will hring our vision of a better day inta fruition. (line 7A)

'Any 1A points wil be awarded full matks.

I Whatdoyou undersland by'askng your grandparents to go snowboarding inline48?(1)

Just like how asktng grandparcnts la snowboard wauld be an impassible challenge (1/2), the
author is suggeshng that asking governments ta innovate wauld also be a daunting and unre-
alistic task (1/2).

Explain in your own words as far as poss ble what the author says are lhe differences behveen
us and 'people who do understand this need for innovation'(tine 71 72). (2)

Liftedi What distinguishes all af them is a relentless search (1/2) far fresh ways to see the
warld (1/2). These are peaple who wanted immediate change (1/2), and incleed even reljed
an it (1/2).

Paqphrcsedi Unlike us, they are committed to unceasingly seek change (1/2) ancl gain inno-
valive outlooks abaut the world (1/2). They demanclect prompt reforn (1/2) far they clepended
on the change far suNival (1/2).

*" i$,.a,,,
 1Z lAlLJldSUlns:ovOssvcNv!\l:C
I

Comprehension Answers
1 What does the word 'ieeiered'(line 2)tell you about the evolutlon of human history? ('1)

It tells us that the evalution of human histary was wavering and unceftain (1).

ln the opening sentence of paragraph 2, the author makes two claims about the challenges
we face. These are repeated in the second sentence, which further adds h/vo more. Using your
own words as far as possible, exp ain what these four claims are- Number your answer 1, 2,
3 and 4. (2)

Lifted: ,of as reassL/r"mgly simple (na.1), nat even the same (no.2). challenges that are new
(no.3) in human history, nal simply in content (na 3) buI in scale (no.4) and complexity (no.4)
Paraphrased: The author claims that lhe challenges we face today are much more compl
cated (1/2), and may not necessarily even be lhe similar kinds (1/2) af prablems. He alsa adds
thatthese challenges are unprccedented (1/2) and have grown significantly in size (1/2).

What is meant by 'disruptive innovation' (line 18)? Suggest and br efly explaln one olher ln-
stance how this can happen, other ihan what the author has already mentioned. (3)

The author means that aut ingenuity can bring genuine progress (1/2) but that prcgress can
alsa undermine and upset the stable balance of how things initia y operated (1/2). One othet
instance of this would be modern transpan (1). Although bringing us unprecedented benefits
af speed (1/2), ils use has a/so been a major contributor to out current envionmental lmbaL
ances (1/2).

According to line 26, we need to generate new ideas and create new institutions'.
Whal are lhe similarities and differences between how governments and global institutions do
this? Use your own words as iar as possible. (3/

Lifted: fslm/arlties) Develaping nations need to find new ways to help reduce the astronomr
cal numbers of their poor and unemployed (line 29) they tao need to find ways to aleviate (1/2)
the destructive impact offinancial contagion (1/2) on populations (llne 33).

Liftedi (Differences) by fundamentally (1/2) studying and understanding the origins of each
person's economic behaviar (1/2) in ordet to eradicate the problem at its very core. (line 30)
(Yet, unlike gavemments, they relook) the overarching systems (1/2) we have put in place and
ascetlain how these systems campromise the ability of governments (1/2) to build wealth on
lheir own terms (line 34).

Pa ra ph rased : Ihe slml arifies are that both governments and international institutions need ta
focus an how Io lessen (1/2) the econonic troubles (1/2) of the everyday man. The difference
is that governments will do thls by camprehending the basis (1/2) of each person's economtc
choice (1/2), whereas global institutions do it by revamping umbrella financial structures and
regulations (1/2) ta help governments achieve greater economic gtowth (1/2).

5 Whatistheauihorsuggestingbytheihreedois(...)attheendofthethirdparagraph? (1)

The author is suggesting that should we remain stuhborn and nat change our autdated insti-
tutions (1/2) then the results will just stay the same and the prablens remain unsolved. (1/2)

t
 snss rsModaql
slAt-Llldsu:dNtovouE

Comprehension Answers
the followins words as rhey
'o "f are used in the passage Use
one word or a
"n;:it;;3"'"tn
vivid (tjne 1) memorable, dran atic. strikino
totemic (tjne 7)
tive. hattma rk, charactl nsnc
di stt nc
acknawledqe admit
imperus(tin;6;j inspiratian, motivation, stimut
wjelded (Jine 78) us
comn anded, exercised, controlled

11 ln hts articte, theauihorargues thatthe

b est way to address our
as our current systems do many problems
nol work is io start over

How convrnctng do you find

h/s aroumen ts?And do you
uurwergn the clsadvantaqes? consider the merits ofstarting
over to

ln youranswer develop gome

ofthe oorr oy hc a.rhordnd
som. aceounr of rhe eio";;;.
;il'nl:::oe srvp yorrow. v.er{b ano
lave hetped yoLr to form them (7)
This ts a suaBhtfarwald appltcatrcn ot)c!
a,s.umenro in c66n p6rls"r;;; that tequres the \tudeot ta identity
.simplv the
ret \ ur! rtts dtgumAnr ";;;::"liid"!t:.: \ \/aliddton l@m the o,iset iip ar,tho,
o, J!".,oulho'
pte.e of papei . sn*n "uoour,,no ,n",'', obiect at au, hme is a btdna
),Ili7,iX""2,j!^",i!':!
- e ""
",i.",i
'omolelely ahe\h if A/c deslre
tng t.unher ateds ofcanr^,"ii.i",
ro so/ve thc
tvttt uns potnl t e lhol a. .h^utd
'rn*!l'! s ptobtemc. then thev witthdvc p,obt;ns sla4
studcnls ma,e Lhdn
i; iscp4antv opnonareo ana
ttnd
eno"ni,"i)orJ sniub gtre
^ri.i.""'"s'dgc
Agood hnowtecJge of cunent at'fa
s shouh ,",,
di LnclA are pEnI ot e^amplps ta dra^ ,,' .';n"'n,, "ro"nts,n thi\ dptztrcatian aue.tion
susqcs,ns baLh on Lre r.;; ,;":;, the.'adn at 'hanse thdt he ;uhal is
ins .ttention th. pAp s ,;,;;.,
;;; ;,::':sdtlns tcvet ubama . dpatism dnd
;;b: ;f pragmdttsm is oftw,lq, are gaod
:"r'Iond.t the nc, eas
"l;; ptacpc 1o ,tot7.
Possible arguments that can
be raised are;
Are the author s prctlrchons convncno?
h wortd trutv rcached such dire
shouta aegn 7s6ultd1tis i.l;;:;";:;;i.|] ,li ''e straits that it
ls the increasing camplexity af
the world too much for aur
current institutions to address.l
Whrch cauntty ot person can
be inftuenttal
we..wa,^.sotnatwecaopetate;;;;;;Z:,,=:'::':!:d1'dnl's.t4tesattanarrhpwdv
v\]r
\ufi;cr.nt n b,tngtng !he *",t rci.,'n",) 'uftFnt raLa of globaxsal,on dnd ntegrdtrc4 qal

Have hte indeed tast faith jn

our current leaclership?

ls a new wartd atdet nttiated

by ndivtduats *ise endeavaur? can grassraots grafuh
fechve in deattng wtth ou, """'"
iitLrii " be ef-
Ii thc duthot Uavetv pta4-e,,ng
in what he B nuggesttng? Or simptr tao
dedtistic?
 :.::--..'->-.''€+r-'

A MATTER OF OPINION

Is itgood thatthe individual holds

so much power in today,s world?

F
a

CoI,UMN

Et": :
&&,.

I low \^'ould.\ NE( )Ct( )NSHI\A fl\.f (.( )NIMtNt A-i

OIt and A I_1i.it-RAL NCIO i\(.TIVIS I
respond to dris qucstron, considering tlieir (littcr.ences
in political .[.1"*rl,ra 1","f,
socletv? ( )ul writcrs gct under their skins to
filrd ollt. "bo",

lL is a ncs workt oftter (od.y. rDdiliduals s,i.kj

far T&\MPI-[S TISEI) FOR OPINION PiECI]S
.n',", \- i,t",ri n.,.,n^r...ru.,.t Lrd.
.l,r',r.^E^t,.,i""ti,.,.r,o rF, ., hi.,.,,t,r,...r,.s 1.1h. runrltn.ss ot lhe .rob: clashes beta.een protcs
t(rs and strt. securih.forc.s in Indo.esia, Thailand
toda)'s indjvidual crn effccr ctrangc acrcss ttre
\.rtd rnd the Philippircs rhrr disrLrpt.lnity life.
beca se tc.hnolosv lis siven hnn a touderloicc ard ?.Thewis(krn !frtre cnrrdi Barac} Obama,s
lirltlo re.ch. I.diliduats $4ro have chosen ro bard oricasceDl to rhe presidency of the UniledStatrs
mcte_
o:, '1,- I.pt ,.d.,,.,rn n^r was
buili ou miUions of sma iDdiliduat donations,lhich
t.,. r', . o, rn rFt. .- eddc.lur to an iDprcssjve 953 nitlion.
jrdi\i&hl a.not lak. doin rD instjlution, "ii..,,
a sftrp 3. i h. irnnhratnr oi ttr. nrob: xcnophobic ots exhib
of indjviduais .speciat]y one that sp.rns Urc
slob. ited;n South Africr and Atexandra. Atrica
stands a vcD go,rd chance of.toiDg so.
But rr, \,hnt ,1.The c.rlxreDn.nt oJ il.tiridnrt ofniorr throngh
crtent can we trust the r\isdom ofthe crorld?
Stroutil Iech,roh :rhcta rishiDg of Domin o pizza,s .eDU r,-
$'e bc hopeiul o. sorried that Le have
so !rncir rjorc Io, 1,..,,., uf ,,I.,.n,.r\,Jt rt,,rdaui\,to.dori.
abilirr- to rcsh.pe ttre rorld to our tikins?
"'twitter Revohrtion,'.{as orsanjzed solch thmurh
','.'....ln ti |. .u.r ,..o,.,\..t.",n.,,.,.

or"o"o o r*oooa^ orrrora, u, ]r,

 ,a ,ji.n.. *

A MATTER OF OPINION

Is it good that the individual holds so

much power in todavs world?
A Neoconseivative The world is just so much more unpre-
Commentrtor Answers
dictable now. This is largely a result of
conceived bv YUEZHI LEE
individuals having more power now
than ever before. Such a change may
seem desirable, but can actually prove to be more
destructive instead. Governments are losing au-
thority and now have less control over what peo-
ple do and say, as well as how people choose to
express and act on Lheir opinions.

This might seem lilG a vast improvement for individuals, a sreat leap for
humansocietl oradenonstrationof alevetof maturation,ifyouwi,that
individuals crn now be trusted with decisions greater than simple da!-to
day afiai$. However, rhe sreater power that is available for individuals
now can easily be abued as wel, leading to socill unrest and general

It is a geneftl belief thar people in large groups can make good choices.
eveD if a pafticulrr individual within the group is uneducated or nakes an
unwise choice. This is because a large group has the sheer number to balance
ABOUTNIO-
CONSTRVATISM out the bad to fonn good decisions. The ele.tion of the curaent United
States prcsialcnt, Barack Olr:ma, is prime example ofthe'wisdom of
a
the crond', as it is called. The faci that Americans as a group $€re able to over-
cone racial preiudice to make a choice that would probably sreaily benefit thcir
natioD sho$€d emotional and intellectual maturiw, on the palt of'the crowd'.

However. the wisdon of the nasses should not be olerrated nor shoLrld the
dccision made epected to be a flawless one. Rational thought can be easily
ovenidden by cmotion aDd a sroup of people can be swayed \€ry sinpty by a
powerfol. effecfi'e speaker or th€ir oM indifiduat prejudices. For e\anple, the
xenophobic movement that overtook South Africa last ycar was not based
on rationri tliotrght. l,arge groups of people destroyed proper9, humiliaied, as
saulted ard kiled foreigners not because theyhad reached a losical conclusion,
but because of aDser asainst perceived inequaliry between them and the foreign
crs. Thabo Mbeki, president of south Africa, could have exerted his po'{er and
stopped the crisis $tren it filst staded in 2oo5, b t his inaction granted his peo-
ple the r{herewithal to continue the atrocitics conmitted agaiNt the forei$-
ers. This is one scenado often repeated throush historywherc cenhal atrthonry
loses power to the people, ofa mob mentality gone hoftblywons.

Rcsardless, the '$'isdom of the crowd has ahlays been the basis of govern

L*ooor*or*ror., urr-*"oo*",
"","
 AMATTER OF oPINION

anceforolderandrichodereioped nations nnnn,son

deDlocmtic principles of indi\idual ghrs and ctroos
ing its leade.s through popular vote. Now more rhan
ev.r, denocracyis seen as an idealpolitjcal ryslem for
'. P1 i rr ..r') ,o r1 r , . ilr,.rilr,,
to altenpt to change thcir golemancc to lblo$, thc
democ.rtic model in the hope ofimprcring the politi
calorsocial situation in t]reir courtry.In the systcm ol
democracy, everyonc has a choice and equat ofporru
Di! to decide.,ls such, this slstcnr is larselybcnellcial
for a cou try's cjti?ens, as govcrnments rdl trave ro be
accountable and demonstratc ro rhe citizcns thft they
can heb the counLfrprogrcss otheNisc i]ret,s.ottd bc
voted out at the nerr election.
Sadly, the atlempt to gne leople Drore po$,er in
cidiDs t]reir ruleA or nroMieans
to \oicc rheir opiDioDs seens t"
be backllrjns iD some countdes,
causins sreater social un.est and
rffecljns utlcr lorieties elobdlh.
;;";*ffi;;";.-*1";il: has a voice has
easily subsumed in a rasins mob
avenue tO be
meDtality that lash€s out whcn _ of Domino,s pizza. The v eo
govcnmentscronotacceitetothe heard, the result
dcered sbhcs ot the rft^\d n.
. rs eunfUSing
sal ther rnav be. In'r hailand, rhjs Overwhelming nOiSe.
social discord got so orr of haDd
thrt demonst.ato.s sci?ed rhe Su,
nrnab|uni international airyof ol Bangkok lare last
ycar and lorcibly closed it doM. In April this !,€ar, the
opposition partl protesters, sirniia dy angercd by what
they perceived as an jDtraDsigenL governmenL srulp-
nril on their dcnoc.atic ights. invrded r|e annual,{s
sociatioD of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
held in Paltala, Thailrnd and forccd irs caDccltario .
UDfofuDateiy, reith the heightcDcd scate ard su(ess
of such politjcat dcmonstrations, one can oDly erpect
that sLrch incidcnls will.ecuriD the liLturc in orler ar,
cas ol the world as citizens conre ro thiDk r|al
best way to wield the por{o rhet :ire Sivcn.
Ol'.u,p nn-r'.nr ,nl,.Jt r'g wlF t. r it i. r ',n
provcment tor indiliduals to halc norc pow.r rhese
dais o.e caD nev.r ignore the influence oftechnolog).
The rapid advanc€ment of tcchnolo&r has ch.Diledthe
r{a} rve live or li\es. aDdhas also greatly conlributed
lo l. qlj IJhu{.a rr"no$-r.l rrlIor...r;.
stitutions to indiriduais ol ilroups ofl)eopt€. Technol
og,v has nade iDfomrarim more acc.ssibte to aD nrdi
vidual. but is a.torble edged sword i. the seDsc thar
individLrals noi{ also hnve the ro$€r to prllide ialse
rrLr,r'iun.I xt L l' Fr, -. o L. n.or'l-.'no n-A .r:..,.
There are al$€N meits to the adyanccm.nl ot tech-
Dolos/. The use of technolo$, norv sircs indj\.iduals
the polrcr lo brordcast obse^,atioDs and opinidN to t
other pcople and can also sen€ to garner suppor tbr YE4Ch
a causc. For corporatioDs, people ca. rerurn feedbaclt TEILTHT
and opinions about services and products. Tc.hnol CoVERNNlINT
os/ has made thc sharing ofinfonnarjo! quicker and
casier aldshould, by risht, bc used to rectifvrrobiems
in socie$todr!'', rot to erac.rbar€ prcblcms that sten
hom peopic haring too Druch po\rer and not eDough
Unfortunareh, it is a facl that the po$e. oftechnology
de car bc easiLy abuscd b1 peoplc. Negati\€ or enode
ous opmons can be srread alt too
ctuicHy by j ust a handtut ot peollc
.nOW that ISSUESLINI(ED
Dd reach an auilicnce ol a raw TOTHIS
everyOne WhO hufdre,t ,ni ,uD rsth rhe click of
an l"::l'$1,:'i,::.,*""T:::
that was posred by employees
;;,;;;:;;0iff".",",,,"r,,,"
and ,t,, .uprhairr,u.,.Jr,dbLuls
" $i ,d ^L\..-r Jv I I tt,dr {-s bc
ins 11ppJft, t i, tr rtre cust.rmer. rtre
\ideo was rie\cd norethana nril
tion times bcforc it was rcmov.(r
and althotrgh the video drators later said rlar the
video was ajoke,lhe reputatioD ofDomirot pizza $6
subs€quentlv tamished. It is lhis Hnd of r}ouglitless
action on the parr of iDdiliduats that strowcases thc
dangers of letting individuals hav. too nuch po$rr.
Nmmir Although manr peopl€ rlill use thc adlanrrse of tech
nologt, to make iheir liyes bettcr, there nill alivals be
1..t, ",\nu l .t, ,.,r,Jt Inh .t,ol, ri. ,r rt .Fil
-4.11 in all, Do$'t|at e\€ryon. sho has a loice has an
rhis is avenue to bc hea , the rcsllr is coDtusing and over
ul. rllc,o"".['lJI J,,e.u,i-r'|.ib:tinr-q' -,.
a delicate interplay betr'een leadcrs, th€ p btic and
etonal to.ces. while snnply condennins individual
pow.r is Danr and ove.ly snnplislic, there shoold at-
w.)s be a basic ruling hstitution to lay doM gr.rund
nnes for pcople lo folloi{, l.st more troubie is caus.d
by the iDcrcased po$rr t|at people ha!e. With thc
,
!o$e that irdn iduals hale right Dow, soci€ties c r so
iD anv direction that a suflicient nunrber ofpeople can
irrtigate, e,hethcr it be the proSrcss olnaDkind, or rhe
desceDr of human socierr- into chaos. lllt

DEMANDAEROADERPERSPECT]VE 1.,
 A MATTF,R OF OPINION

Is it good that the individual holds so

much power in today's world?
We have seen much progress with regards to the concept of power
and sovereignty over the past centuries. From ancient dictatorial
monarchies to the electoral democracies of today, the notion of na-
tionhood has undergone a vast series of changes. In particular, we
are witnessing a lessening of governmental influence and instead an
ascent in power of the individual, a sign that people are maturing
and able to make decisions for themselves.
Yet, the r€ccnt financirl crisis and lons-denied nghts. I.'or the
has throwr the whole $orld lraqi womaD who cd finally
into a tizzy again, as we epe- vote and havc a say in how her
rience the dangerous eiiects of country is run, for the If,baDese
ser-seNing individuals br"n pnsoner who js finaly libcrated
dishins their power to achieve filnthe secret detention cenh e
unscrupulous ends. Suddenly aDd can live as a frce nan. this
eleryone is callins for sovern is fight for po$e that leads lo
a

ments to play a biSger and more a real bettennent of their lives

enensive role than they fonner-
ly did. Some people arsuc that
this plienonenon of rising in'
dividual power is nerely part o{
IIBERAL! the natrral cycle of nse and fall
of th€ state. But in this modern
age oI the Iniemct, this time the
individual s clout wil continue
to srow and I say. $€ should
With incrcsed power, an indi
lidual is granted the ability to
choose bis oM dcstiny and ctrNe A Liberal NGO Activist Answers
the path he desjres h life. Tlis is
a dght we often lake for granted
conceived bv
in developed countries, but as
a hunan rights activist that has worked in rc$oN
such as AJrica, the Middle Dast and scattered pafts of
Southeast Asia, I have witnessed nany people th€re
who do not even conpreheDd or dare acquaint them
selves with such a lunrious tern as 'clioice'. lhese
ppop F harF bFFn exploiLed and ntnress-d b) dJ rori
ianan rcsimes their whole lives. sufic ns without any
reason or necessity. Hence, it js very heartening for me
ro.ee l.ar Lnp ris- ul rhF ind:virual N nos ) 8J'n
momentum, with people .allying for their descn'ed
and the generations after theni-
The wisdom of the mass€s is an-
oiher case in point 1br in$eased
individual power today. Some
times, it is rcally the peopie who
know best, as it is only liom
their view of erycnencins thniss
on the grcund level that best de-
ternines whal needs to be done.
A strons example would be
Barack Obama's meteoric
ascenr to the prcsidency of the
United States. FIis electrirying
campaign of chanse rvas backed
SONIA KWEI( prirnarily by milions of sN l
individual donations. which to-
taled up to an imprcssive, st.onornical $$ nillioDl
This bears testimony to how no contribution is ever
too small, and that when individuals say no to politics
as usual and break throush thc barier ofpoliticalpar
tisanship md race, great change can be effected. "Yes
we can" hdced, such is the grearDess of silnrs power
r! Such wisdon and action has .tlso been aided by thc
advent of technolos/, which hs increased the avail

BROADERPERSPECTIVES thepower ssue

 AMATTEROF OPINION

ability oiinfo.naiion to people across rhe world. Such tcsts are uNally comnionplace in countries plagLied
I r"wlp,lge h:. h..r' irnn-n..1\ bFnFt:.inJ t.- rha in- by problematic ])olitic! ud conupr bodies ofsovern-
dilidual. For oDe, he is equiDped with thc knowhor! arce, or traDped withiD a conditjon of social unrest
andmeaDs to ensu.ethat froblenN arc addressedand and econonic instabilitl'- These peoplc no lo ge. feel
that he is not being taken advantagc oi An eramplc is safe and secure nl their own countt, and rhus feel thc
how Anazon .ecently faced a massive online backtash need to take actioD to show their unhappiness against
{hen its onljDe catalogue disciminared againstbooks the gor€rnment. Sornetimes, they resort to unruly and
with homosextralitj then1es, classill,iJrg them as adutt .owdy behaviour only in response ro brutat sovern
material' and thus exc.luding then froni its bcsrsellers' rncnt crackdowN. 'l'he lan$ase of violence may well
iists. l his innnediatel)' triggered offmore than roo,ooo be the only one theJ loiow, and they associate it as a
posts with the tag 'anazon lail' on social net$orknrg quickra)'of assuminspower and elicitinsresults. This
site Twitter.lhe colossal danuge inflicted on its,cl)u \icious cycle can only stop when govcrnnrents team to
tation $€s not lost oD Amazon, as it |uniedly is ed a listen to lheir citizens and ot nde roughshod otr
statemcnt blaming the change on a computcr giirch th.ir gh ts and dcsir cs for a better life.
aDd fixed the problen witliin 24 hou.s. Therctore, the
collectile power of individuals is definitely usefut in e)itreme, individual po{cr can be
helping to keep an eye on cranr problematic too, as it can be used
institutioDs and eliciting a frc pr ...the individual's to nanipulaie othe$ for less than
solution to sce arios of nrjLrsrice or altluistic reasoDs. 'nris is clearly
discinination, thus guaranteeing voice serves as a sccn frcn lobby sroups with ques
the iDtegritt md t.ansparency of tionable motives and skervercd nr
powerful reminder
tentions, a bugbear that I l)ersoD
that in consider- ally condenrn as well, for they are
In additioD, t|e accessibility ol lhe giving non govenucntal organi-
lntemet has pro\ided a plalform ing the macro, we satioDs (NGO' ovo the world a
for likc minded peoplc to gather
should never forget bad Dame II lowevcr, while it is dis ISSUESIINI(ED
and lnite. ltchnolosl has ush- turbnrg to see people abusingthcn TO IHtS
ered in a nen era of nehtorkcd the micro. l)ower in stiring up other pcople
protest', where thc ilxlividual can for discrininatorypurposcs, at the
easjly aDd rapidly mise awarc.ess fc,r a ca se rhrough heart ofthe natier, it appears t]ral such behaviour aris-
the soci,l media landscapc. EftlcieDt e-comnurication es out of fca.. O1ien, such lobby groups rvanr to safe-
linls halc facilitated a rapid, :ilmost nrsranraneous, Suard thcir o$n iDtercsts but unfoftunatelv do so by
dispn ,a io., u.
n a narion ,1o.s h,J"
'p-r rrn8 exhor-ting tear among ot|er s against a common ene y.
netr{olks. enabljng protests to be casily o.chestrared An. ,imple$u,.J n" I F anti-immisrarion dotsin
with swili nobilisation and activarion of indi\iduals. AlexaDdra, Africa last )ca., where artack wcre or
This was evidcnt in lhe Moldovan protests aganrsr the chest.ated by natives agaiDst the foreigDeN. One way
govemment, popularly knorn as the <,Trvitter Revo- to lackle this problen corid be th.oush education -
lution", as it was organised solely tllrug| a rh.ead of man reacts, often savagelv, to proted himsellibut ifhe
posts taggcd with "#pman" whicli stood for Piata X{a i I 6d, c.r F-r , hoh ro
.Jr.d rr4 vi"td I N los-r I
AJ,rnlr' Nil:orJl-. l. L'89- r rqra.p in a1 . .u, prope. and responsiblc manne..
Moldova s capitJl. Thc facr rhat snch an event actuallv
took place beaN tcstimony to holv the cjtizens will oo ID a nutshel,I bclieve it is erideDil]'clear that ihe p.os
loniterdeigD to sit about aDddo noihiDg about rhe dis- of dsing individual power still oulweish the colls. Ds-
salisfa.tioD they leel irith the \ray their countrv is ruD. pecially in today-s moderD sociery where things are get-
AeJ:n. I I Jros' ,us n,ire in, i'idu no$pr i. i, ti g morc conplicated, wit} new breatlhroughs md
v:iluable, as iL helps to keet) goyernins bodies j! check. new problems sprinsiDs up each dar the individuat's
voice scrwes as a pow.rtul reniinderthar in coDsidcing
.\dTrhp ll\
risilB irdi\.,1u.'i r'nw.r tlie macro, we should neve. forset the micro. Lltimate
bing about son. negatiye effccis. Th€ .ampant chaos ly, \€shc, d ah{q s bear in niDd thar "with srcar poiv
ofrhe protesting mobs iD counrrjes tikc Thailand cr cones great respoDsibility", whoever thc possessor
and the Philippires resulted indestruction otprop- may be. Yes, it is a clich6 - fi.oln a tloilivood movie Do
ertt, disotderand death. Howeve., such ploresG would ress bur looking at the $or.ld roday, r thjnk we can al 3Jllli|.ll?ilii
not havc taken place if nrdir-iduals had nor feh fo.ced to afford a renrinde. of the powe. of the individuat. altt
exp.ess thenselves iD such a way. Afto all, such pro

orroroor*ooor*or*rrra-,u, ] r,
 LOCAL VS GLOBAL

BROADERPERSPECT VES the power iss!e

HowPowerful is
Singapore Compared
to Other Countries?
On the global stage, some countries stride like modern day giants, wielding power that
matches their physical size. Singapore has shown that size doesn't always natter in the tace
for international clout. Year after year, this featherweight is still loocking out all those critics
rvho evcr thought she would Dever amount to alything more than a little red dot.
bv LORRAINE CHNG

the intemational stage, what nations care about is po$'er. From Nodh Korea's missite

On fia]s io Beiiings sraDd stasing ofthe 2oo8 ollmpics, there are nlriad ways in which
counties make their presence felt. The stitr naturc of competitior in the world and con-
plicated dynamics ihat play out in relationships between co ntries require counties to
assert thenselves and gain ascendancy in order to have tlie power to brins about situa
tions that are favourable to their interests.

where does Singapore stand in all ofrhis? wlile previously dedsively called ,.a little red dot,,, someiimes
nisiakenly thought to b€ part of China, or rcnembered mostly for the chewing sun ban or Michael Fay,s
caning, Singapore's slobal standing has taken time ro develop. It was thus a feather nr our cap to be ranked
7th in Foreign Policy's 2oo8 ranking of the world's Most clobal Cities, rassed as
one ofthe "Esional gateways'and "efficient economic powerhouses ofrhe reorld". Following an exatredlist of
New York, London, Paris, Tokyo, Hong Kong and Los Angeles, Singapore surpassed Washinston and Beijing,
clearly rubbing shoulders with the besr in the worid.

Foreign Polic!/'s mnkins, oeated in collaboration wirh A.T. Keamey, and The Chicaso couDcil on clobdl AJ-
fairc, makes for aD interesting study ofhow Singapore measurcs up against other powerhouses in the worid,
with its rankingbased on 5 areas: Busin€ss Acrivity, Hunan Capital, Information Exchange, politicat Engage
ment and cnitural Experience. Sinsapore ranlcd 6th in business activity targety because of the
goodsthatflowthrough orr ports, and boostedbythevalue of our capital Darkets, and the number ofFortune
Global 5oo firms headquarlered here. Sinsapore ranked 7th in human capital because of our in-
misrant population, Dumber ofinternatioDal schools, residenrs wirh university desrees and 4th placing
in the world for the number of internationaf students who atteDd ourtop universiries.
While ledos goes to th€ government for implementtug policies thar make Sinsapore attractive to busiress

DEMANDA BROADER PERSPECTIVE 35

t
il

The Foreign Policy zoo8

Globalisation Index
ranks Singapore...
7'h 6'*h
Musl Glubxl Cit) for ausi"ess A(livit) in lluma[ ( apila]

The worid s rs most globali5ed countries it is clear thnt singaporeans lhemselves play
es and foreisr students.
a pad in nakhg innigrants feel welcon1e in Singapore and providing
btrsinesses $'ith a clear reason to rvant to hire them and be based here
dcspiic highcr costs. It is pcrhaps thc fonner that we need to inpro\r,
pa icularlt- since rcpofts about nrigrant $'orke$ bcing ircatcd lcss v{ll
here and Sinsaporeans still }arboudrs prejudices to$'ards pcoplc fron
other Asian count.ies who come to sLudl, and work here hav€ recentlv
surfaced. hkiDg a leafout of|rance, Mala)sia and Australia s books in
terns of migrant or minoritl polulation-related issues ilould serve us
well siDcc bcing ablc to attmct the bcst to live in one's countrywill con
..
"t " d".r"4"ld
d" '.,J
I.r r'.'u
r d._e"s r, .' !.' d
iinue to be a key feature of global pwcr.

Ranked lsth and 16th for information exchange

oecoiond akca apor'li@
and political engagement, we do less well in rerns of recei\-
The world'e r5 leart globalised couniriet hs and conntrnicrting news to the wo.ld, or in influencing globai polj
clmakins rnd dialosue. uhile the runber ofbroadbard subscribeN is
signifi caDi and Singaporc $'as 3rd iD confcr.Dc.s hosted for ifi ernational
associatioDs, $'c should rc cxamirc somc aspccts of these two rankiDgs
h'|ere we maybc falling shoft. Singaporc's rcfutaiion as a tlacc whcre
free speech does notthrive and ourspaccs for media competition, public
djalogue and dissent a.e tightl)- controlled maybe limiLing ourpower in
this respect and \ehiie the government has given sone signs that things

I c' '*,J ;"-r' .' ir,J I

{illevcDilrally loosen up in o.der to facilitate greater social nuturitj and
. o" 4d -"" ,! / +"" a"" siimulatioD, Singaporcans will still havc to frolc that i{e arc mady for
Jr "- "
r' such change. The recent AWARE saga has casi an nnfavourable light on
^!' -*
social aclilists. our religious hatrnont- in the face of cjvil distutes and
rpoilica En$n! dala
th€ nedia's ability to harrdle debates. Many also contjnue to argue tur
the need for social stabilib aDd clear limits in ord€rforeconomic activity
'I1,c
aDd traditional values to be protected and may be intolerant of the ness
KoF lndei ol clohdlisrLion n n,xitr es rh. rh d r irD lltrru
{.n\,,1!ll)h sril)r.i.n.rn in rlr ]!l'!,rl DrrA1\rLrLL. and skthai opcnncss oftcn nrvolvcs.
on i \( r r hrr\ l(n l53,.unriL!,\ri il,f l,o l L9-ll lii0a
'l'he one rankirg that sticks out like a sore thumb of all ihc 5 is Singa
Th.n. I 8,rp|\ r.pni rg rh. Lii ds n.{ r.l,rLi!.d,oLni .r rtrd
rh. \.trnl! n,.tri gll)1., ni lonnt .r 11 h(r i.r Il)Fs lrntrrrr pore s 37th rankingfor cultural experience. h'hich siilnals
l1)1r9 pr1$ tr,1,.!. \rr.rJ rg [i l(OF S ]tj.,t a x rl,. .lrh the range of attractions p.ovided lbr people visiting or nigrating fronr
rr,\,tr.1 'rnL..l
m& g.xlL(.1,.trntrr r
iLroJd.T\' rrlLJ-s l -p-rf"ili.nJ.'r.."po11ir Jr,r.,.s inlFrn-l.ur'
r,()R M)(L OLJt\lLS IND tElORTs al shows and our c inart scene. While Sinsapore mry have increased
hrtt, glnbr|zinf n k.t.thr.h' t|e nunrber of $'orld class fcfforrnaDccs hostcd hcrc with iniernational
singing acts like Coldtlayor The Pussvcat Dolis, ihe Singaporetuts Fest,
the MosaicMusic llestival and tie Bddge Project, it cannoi conrpare wiih
the .ich cultural scene in other coLinldes. Thinss hale looked up since
tlie Esplanade thertres were brilt, d.aivhg nore nttention to lhe arts
sceDe here, brt it $'ill likelyt{ke more local talent and suppoft in order
for thc aris sccnc to rcally take o{f and gaiD the credibilitv it currentll

rsrloreignpolicl:.ontstory/cnrs.php?stoq id=4s09
w{N itkedre}ron/index php/l'LDl(anontresearch rcports.htnrl

BROADERPERSPECT VES thepower ssue

 1S'h 16th
for Political for Cultural
EnAagement

In the sportins arena, Singapore has increasingly soughr ard won bids
to host intemational sporting events such as golling tourDaments ljke
the Sinsapore Open and the HSBC'S Women's Champions, marathoDs
like the Standard Chartered Singapore Ma.athon, and rnorc recenrly, the
F1 racing circuit and the inaugural Youth ol)Dfics to be held in 2o1o.
Thcse have all boosted Singapore's profile aDd provided opportunities
for Singaporeans to watch and get excited about sports. While hosiilg
ce{ain events is inpossible at the momeDi, technoloB/ has also enabled
many fans to follow football leasues in Europe, basketball champion
ships h America and the sunner Ollnpics whenever rhe seasons roll
around. A greater raDge of sporting activities and the strengthening of f ,; i. i-:1!i!ri!,,i,
sports leagues could alsohelp, though Singapore is quire severelylimited EcoNoi!llcGLoB,\LtsAt t()N (stNGApoREl t9t0 - 2006
by the availability ofland and the pressuEs of work and study that keep
its people from ensasinsmore seriously in sports.

I.rom interest and support to involvement, the final area co.sidered in

ihe cultural score is th€ culinaryscene and this is one area in which nei-
ther interest and support nor involvement caD be questioned given that
Singaporeans love to eat and the varietr offood you can eat here is aston
ishing. Cosnopolitan Singaporeans have also developed a taste for fine
dining. With the world Gourmet Sunmitand the standsrdofrestauranrs
here becomins more recognised, things maybe lookins up for Singapo.e.
In 2oo8, Iggy s made it to Dumber .+5 on the S. Pellegrino World's 5cJ
ia!!q!i!iiii!:1i3:!!a'!ii!!i!!:;;;9:l
Best Restaurants list while Les Amis ranked 60 on a secondary lisi. yet
l'ol ITICAI-GIOBALISAI(lN (SJNGAPOREI l9t0 - 200,i
rnost stil prefer their hawker fare and that is perhaps where otrr culinary
scene needs the most improvement. After the mass fbod poisoning scare
in Geylans which highlighted the poor hysiene standards n1 some food
centres and the srorring sense that true blue hawkers nay be a dying
breed as fianchises dilute tlie quality oI culinarl otrerinss. one wonders
ifSingaporewill become a food capitalto wliich people will traveljustto
eat. It remains to be seen if the cuisine here can be so markedly ditrercnt
o. bener from what is available in neighboudns countries, where the fare
is more culturally authentic as in the case ofThai or Vietnamese food. or
more s1t'lised and well paclGged in presentation and hysieDe as in the
case ofJapan€se food.

la t,, :zrt,\t,t,.l
All in all, it is .emarkablc that Singapore is powerfut as she is today
as
aUTTLTRALGLOBALTSATl()N (STNGApORt) l9i0 1006
and efforts to make herso should be lauded and celebrated. yet, a simple
analysis ofhow $'e compare io the rest ofthc $'orld suggests deas for in 'lhese dndcgrtrphs ri. n The (OF lnd€r olcl{'balization sh.\y
provement ud a stronger sense that life and power are multi-faceied. tn Striglporeimrinsonrhc!obrlisrL.nnlllertrnnr 1970 2006
addition, the slobal economic crisis also suggesrs that power will depend
on an ability to adapt to conditions and thdve in difficulty. How well Sin-
t()RMORF DITAILS r\ND iLl()li IS
htrf ,rl8l,,bil,zanon kof ethz.hl
sapore does and how much po\€r she wietds in the tuture will come fron
not resting on herlaurels or limiting her possibilities. At the same time,
with the examples of North Korea and China, the parh to power shoDld
be chosen caretuliy and the responsibilirylies notjust in our leaders, but
inthe citizens lvho ete.red rh.m !(tt

DEMANDABROADERPERSPECTIVE 37
SKILLS MAIGOVER

The
Introduction
lnsitahtful samples ofthat vital opcning paragraPh. by TONG YEE
par*wo

F.vent People Reactions

IMAGECREDIT

Hopefully, you would have arready rea. the articre we wote in the previ
ous issu;n how to \e.itteffective introductions. We explaiDed that the primary flinction ofan
introdu.tion i. to hy our lor our reail"\ a ..-ar dafiniLion n" a I i-.,rF br fr-5.h
"'t,rrlrrg rhe
rhing. rhaI are hatneninr:n rhF horld. ar d rhen.hodinp \o$ rh s'"d'l' ro.onrenrron bPthc r
the key players ofthe world. we explained how assumpiions and definins the perimeters ofour
arguments could be neaily explained without aidiward sentences thai interupt the flow ofour
rntroducrior.

]'his issue, we !eil]be maldng oler three sample introducijons, each one deiiberatelv chosen to
lF,e1l rurrl'er rnrricdri's oi LvdtinB ethc'i\ p in.rudu.rjon.. We qll oc cnowne \^u I04 ru sa)
what you mean rather than using geDeric sentences, how to slant your introductjon to nore
firm1y state your Stand aDd liow to write a thesis statenent that Dore effectively introduces
\our drSLmFnl.

I am sure you have heard this a tlrousaDd tines but I will have to say this asajn of the tens of
.houiands ot s.uopnrs rl,ar hlve lalcl .h" CP F\dminalion. lh" o[- lhing thdr r, mair .. "n"isl
ent among us GP teachers is the fact thal we will at least sins ihe same tune wh€n evaluating
the ones who improved the nlosi. Every siudent that has pass€d our way that ultjmatelv did
well, p t in time and thousht to improve thejr witing. They found out for themselves what
wolked forthen and what did rlot and then looked for tutelage that helped ihem correct these
mistakes effectilely. We strongly encourage you to notjust read these articles but to practise
the skills and see liow thev work for yotr. Hopeluly, thc following fel' peoplc !s nNpire you
to start wolking today-
 ESSAYMA(EOVER

4kr&Str tr;s ;s a 3--J -?";3 sc.lene

ltt<l 3hqa d'rt-rsta't;,J
-f ltE ;55'e,
cheeAb 3h&/z 3ha.r . t43 </'
From:CHENCHAN
the z.at/y:n a63anl)ar.tuter lr' //P
Date: April 19, 2oo9 1r:16:lr1 ,\lrl SST
@tJ 61;// . fhB rc6 lhal tlE 3e.-
'rb; <yee@scbool of tbought.corn>
te she/J l" .4jrst"/ t- 31r"'5th".
Subject: CHENGH N'S iDtroductiors
th. 56e of 1Ae pa31 ;. ft/alo. to 1,+

Does the book still have aturure?

&3.ys 4ke rqs +. t-// ofrque 51.1e-

{ I hc r dr rD.cnNrt rn(l Mpi(l intcgrxrion of ir.hnolog\ in o! r
n./n3 k" thB /hn 3&"r ..<J l,t etu-
so(i!,lr lrrliLr I(,iLi15 llirl Nlrn Irs brlD. e) o\d r.lirrt (D a//t' ,r- h.1 a"tu ar,th;f. /r. a.r t- e;te
tc.hnologr thrt thcrc N sigDs thrt nrnt unilchll Ldrls ol t,tp&/u/ ./a3"s tkn ,+/p t,+ r"at"t
storli,g ltro$ r(lgr su. i rs lnrl.s d r,'te61a.\t e\a1// ah.l 4 a.d.
bcornrc o|solL:ti.) {II
ar {\'cr.hrDsing hndj.r|c n!h!}, the book does not satisli

tuture needs such as an incrcasins dcmaDd for visual siimula- r',lde ).nt&[j;t43 reer prdti.e ar
tion wheD it comes t.r acquiring loorrLedge, {the (|rlitini de ;.
thaa3ll a,ler 1a ?hrde t/@ ?rop-
rrrnd ,)fi, t|\s,r,irLrL,{I 1rr\l,1,hlmNlrt.tiLir]rrng aly. fikse ./a13e3 a3e.q*r tihs /;+e
'
?,r5;c../ Fnk"t .J?t t.lL.due pt&pat3
mg !r! srt of itulilnluxh n'll) h\oLr u\rcr o1 Lrtnlls oler
"44 r' a / |r'j'e
b.ol5 rr(l ltrc prl ,LIi\{ t)r{,s|111i} ofthe mass production of 4;hr3-13 /4 rct te.//y *p/a. dhal tAc.//
books. {Tr{ditulalists.urt $ril.r!} inay do whatever t as.r 1- L a,r -'4,a U.| o" *
can to ertend the e\Tiry date ofbook usage, feeling that books

till now possess a psycbological f€elins oftulnllmeDt and still D- ..h d5. L|tt 3,&?3 ,'f?"-/" 1-
retE3cn the ;kerats at l@k a*a-
renain a uDiversal slmbol of knowle.tse due to its historical
cate3 ott' lhee ga'6t leNs At d
value- IIowever, {prlgmrtic rDd lrarlieL rlri\rr t,e,)!1"} feel /e.4 ?h.6e tz kzler 1a aa(e ;t aete
that the book will soor be abolished due to its damaging en .d,a)j. Mde ;npdlo y, h3 ).tkta.-
vironmental hazards and the slow dechre ofihe book markct. t;@ hd rc1 5u1J61ee ce34 p*o*/
a?;,;@ lot 25 1a Jeleta;E D4d 4k tos;-
{So,)n...r h1r , books likc mrD\ othcr n!)ls. {dr rs rr{lio. or tia;5 -. the zitlt
th. fcn. do lrr\c u, .\t)ir\ rhle. b!1 ll\ irrt)r,I r rd hisl.rj.iL
\ uhe 1{,n |,.ls .rN.llnil .innot l). ncgl(t'tr(t.}
c/ke4@ B 3a;.j 1- ,rde 3a-e 3a;e/3
pral/eas ;1h 1lr3 the43 a3 ;1 d// le
J;t4.r/1 1o,9./ cd)n)e ex@?/e3 1o
kc+ ut h;s ;J"6. !- lrazh,1/E 1..*,
ra4o a,t ?eh, au.A lke LAE ahee/, ;//
a/alys hde that p/dz D ay satelyj
rtjo4e33 al z."ta;/y .r /creJ .t'eatth
EVENTS REACTIONS

DEIVAND A BROADER PERSPECTIVE 39

 ESSAY MAKEO}'ER

suAgcsted edits iI rcd

I ,LL
lDoesltheLbook Ftilllhave alfuturerl
The advanccneni ard rapid integration of technolosy in our
societt' today means that MaD has become so over reliant on
techDology that there are signs that cvcn eleNd,Ll tools thal
$'e havc sncccssfully used fo. cenrr .s nay become obsolete.
In thc light of tlic massive cha.ge LechDoloE! bdnss to infor
malion disscminatior, the book se€ris lo .o lonsct satisry fu
ture eeds such as an increasing demand forrisual stimulation
when acquning knowledge, th. preference 1b. multitlc sourccs
ofinfomution via the lnlemet, t|c changirg drnamic ol a nerv
knonlcdge-based lirtual eco.oml, and cleD the potentialll
damasiDs cflects the mass production ofbook cxtcts oti the
environmcnt- IIedia traditjonnlisls ind book adlocacI groups
are doing whatever they can to extend the expiry date ofbook
usase, belicvins that books still b.jns a psycholosical feeling
ol fLrlfillment and remain a trniversal symbol of knowledse dne
to its historical\?lue. Ihis is tNe despite the profit driven and
fnturisti( positions o1 those lvho frcmatueh announce Lhe
dcmisc ofthe liDted irord. Sooner or later, boolc like Inany
oiher tools, such as the radio or pen will face declirnrg popu
hdo iD many parts oflhe developed world, but ihcir fuction
ality is nltilratclvtimeless. Thus, I \!ouklinsist t|ai noi{ aDd iD
tlLe lilurc, l|. book n'ill still hale its intact in lhis talt ofthc
world, rLich less the dcvclopiDg i{ori.L thal leeds jt e\en.ror..

The introduction should show awareness ofany assumftions that we need to contend
with. In this case, ihc question uses the word still" to suggest a comparison between
the past and the pres€Dt. Notice the fers times in th€ jniroduciion when sentences werc
changed to show a$'areness of the past.

A full explanation of the dfiernis opinions requires us to iDtroiluce the players in

volved, represent thcil stard and also their rationale for believins what they believe.
These three steps ale vital in explaining the key arguments we have on each side.

'r'he introduction should also gradually develop ideas, jDteDding to culminate in a more
convincing thesjs. A thesis is not simply a sentence r{Titten at the end ofthe introduc
tion but ratherbuiltupthrongh an explanation ofdiffering opinions, tactli suggestion
oflour own opinion and takiDg alin position that is convincirg.

BROADER PERSPECT]VES the poweT issue

 re3 thk .fe;Z se,nae
Q/L.1 /.i/2-
lri.S 1- tlE ,,lkea.l;-a SzrJr, a.-4-
zo ph,6e /,ke 1*;5 .er'f,l ;4press .,t
Date:March 28,2oo91:c)4:23 AM SST dlieve ltE ?at?4e .s;.1r.tuc;j .zte,n
To: <yee@school-of t|ought.com> turs. De./;, e/r hde r4 Lter ,t/
strbject: intro (\{en ln, Zzil;aj lhs ?htde ;. . se.1e4e 14at
).n,eJ2.4 a ;894r'/ 1tu.\l
Nowadays, the pleasure ofreadina can ne!.er com,
pete with the pleasure ofvisual cnrertairunent.
7/1;5 s.,ta. )3 stR/"J..,//y LiZ as"J
To what efent do you agreei 1a inr-J4.e llE ad|. p;ds that Den:.
t 3;j 1- zalt../dZ ;. hB 4iq. aLd :/
{I piriL!c ntls a rhousrnd $o,is } This exactly reflects rhe 4are tha23// 3 ;*4t<r ;. e'P/d;j
'.'1
ll.-& F.13 .fe+/y tha ltE ,@ <>f ;da'
sentiments of recent gencrations, who feel thar boolts are al-
ltL.l /t ;5 try,.S ta ah'ere ,+te ;// .x,1
rcady inferior to wiat visual entcftainment has to o1Ter. {Thr l" ">"/;ot ej4 ,-r th tuat4 t- ?;.k
!n id .\pressi(D ofi.lcrs, aesLIeii.alh . t) p.r ling risurl c.d.lics ut a. aar thaelort cteJ;t
a, rsRrcirtnrn r!ilh shnrNr) have shown that \isual enrer-
tainmcnt is indeed a strong exponent asainst rhe old school
Sate/y th3 rel1te )3
',njz31 le.@
pasl time. {l.itd!ture frn{rics} drgur t}Jt nrer qen- '/;teR1,te /ibat;4 an4 1/ka1'e d;r-.,
sationalised visuals are nothing jn comparison with beautitul 1-Ls 7Ve s.-p" -//a/a
te z4.h ;' 14s ;Etd. a^J B ftn .ta-
$'ordplay ard dcpreciates thevahc ofclassics with poor screen
;a5j23d.e L 1he .u?ctut pais 4.d
pedo.mance. Yet, {studi. r, Lherhc dir..Lors} would re- Du/;. ;.1e/As lo J;6uss /.ter.
but that {thcir l jsrLfls e.s{gcs th{i rLi(liq,(e rn{l boolts prte in
(onrr.riso.) in ternis ofillustrations. {rh.ln,Llr r! rh.rr rN,
L ,r" *"1t. k td,1- dl5,r4 aru aryu-
ils ur irdc.i brsinlirrg to or.rslrrdo\! thrn. ll.d.c,r\!rrs, z..t d e cr./ude;ssz-s di .qc to
bnt tlr. absrrlct ideokrgi.s i.(i room ibr crcrri\ it) aird nnrgi a .a/udq 'rE ftx e,/e 31.ter tEte ;s
.rrjoninfookscrslferl)atitstilllasrrediteoir rt\,, eat 'ta '14' @' /e+n ercu7i a??d;-
) /a,'aj"q-a

I
I
I
, ' air' +d'-
|
:ta t-,

A
L --
e33q6 1A<1 4 -r;1e. 1;dhers 4.,r ;t
3a/et 1a te.ez'd a /u/// la/a4./ fq.1

t.Et
@
el r;e,! j so az.h 3a 1/tu1 ?etse/ 6.e

\7 EVENTS PEOPI,E REACTIONS

;/.to /--e ot
@* 7h;3 ;h1r-,,!u.1;@ .t63;..//r, Jez-
a3lrala 1,1;s .1.{dt..r/e/y l4:s ./ia
r;3p/a/3 hu 14e /di .fp+soxl/ loce
a.*4 ;1 t;t4.2,2 1. lo.eJ @ a7/z-/n .

Hjlff.:j'**-*.

DEI"lAND A BROADER PERSPFCTTvF lo'

r

suggesteal edits in red

asure oflreaililelcan lnever I

pleasure of visual
what extentftId votr aeFe-E?l

'lI.
-T*
old shilboleth ihaL a pjctrlrc paiDts a thousrnd i{ords"
suJt)risingh rnniates eve. $.i1h tnhvs IIV lo\i.g, book'
loathi.g gen.ritioD. lhis reflects the sentiments of rece.t
generaiions of]'otrth who feel ihat book, tht nediu r ol ).s
ttrye!., are already infe.ior to what visual entertainment has
to offer today. llic lhs|y cditing aDd urn.lgrmatid ot ileas.
aesthetically appealins visuals, and olcoursc, lisnal cDtertain
reJrl s rssociati(lr wilh cekbiq xn.l glaDrou r have shown that
jt is indeed a strong exponeni against the old schoolpastine of
reading. Advo.rtcs ol readirs. $h.t|cr th..l" le publj. erlool
loards oJ sinrf\'Austcn night arsue thai over sensationalised
lisuals cherpen the beautiful wordplay of wdtt€n tert and
might even depreciate the value ofclassics ot othcr boolis with
poor screen pedormances or iroor direclion. Y.t, kel niedit
i.drstl] f]rve$ cite the r)otulatjit ofaward \!innnrg filn ad
nDlalioDs aDd arr.le the nd!.nlrgcs oflearri.S lhronsh vimal
niod.s ilhilc bcirg ente.Laj..d. Thc! miglit even .rlicrlly itl
sist lhai .vcu if timrl eute ,rinnr.Dt hrs no intellecluil laluc,
!o!.g peo0l. still fird pLern,rc i. it as compued Lo.eidnrg.
The truth is that although visual entertainrnent is jndeed be-
ginning to overshadow the pleasures of reading anong the
young, the leeleJ lr.rhncnt of conrlle\ jd.rs aDd thc ()onr
ftr crcltilitv ard inrNgnr.tnlr in bool\ e.sL,.. t|rt it still hrs
rn cdg. over its riraL in oldcr tnd nrre disceuriDit n dicn.es.
\\lt|onta doubt.lhe !lerslLrcofr.r.Lirg (!r ce aj.ll .omfttt
{ilh, il rot sin. ir the licli of th. afptrl oi vlsurl lit.rtrnr

Openins with idioms or quotes may not be strong especially if the phmse does not
bring more insight into the issue at hand. Always aim to integrate your opening sen_
tence with a trend that exphins ihe background or prcnise ofwhy we ar€ discussing
this issuc in the first place.

One ofthe most importantthings you need to erTlain is the rationale behind why there
is even contention in the issue in the fi$t place. Running weak rarionale on eitherside
removcs the tension from the arsument and of course also naturally lowers the interest
level. The rationale does not even have to be one main reason but it can be two or three
nain reasons expressed jn a morc complex sentence-

It is a fine line between expressing personal voice as a means to show put?ose and
direction in your essay and nakins your €ssay persoDal, therein removins objectivity
from the arsument. Usually thc word'l'is onlyused in conclusions. Yet, ihis does not
mean thai you, oryouropinions, are sudd€nly abseDt from the argumeni lndeedyour
voice is Dccessarfto resolve the argument, so let it come through.

BROADER PERSPECT VES the power issue

 /ba;., L tula/ d;th ltE c/usa y&
a5.. Make sate 1tr.+/4e@ Dh./ ye 4@l
1.ta 1o rc@. tr th3 .6e, ;l ;5 51ta3e
1a /ca.t;l< a 3aL+ d 4d;.5
'a;a/

Date:Apri]05, 2oo912:26:46 AM SST alr. s-/.;Z s.,nd- )3 ../3. ,erry,,-'

To: <y€e@school-of'thought.com> as tlpe;3 tu )/,4.ada.1h<l )3
Subject: essay intro(:
'ap@e
@e ol D.r.t ltE .e1a./ a3une.z )3 7'
143 cee, )z '3 a/ftat @ a33uaf1|@ ltLl
ltE pd L;// le a lealute of 6a;et, the
Are the poor an inevirable featur€ of any society? ;5 o{.dtk, 4h.1,+r th;s ;3 ;.
?aca-1t@
ldt d;r.l/e ot .rn De Eel 1a aa(e )t a
lE l t- alt.ss d3zh/,ae an lE naj"
?z.n;a.;' .a, a7*t;1 3e:ze*.3 3a u
i r "l I .l,r; j
I
Lxrir). However, {rcrram sor.rnDrdrG} may believe that the
t- E ;s usra//y the se.-.,J *.1.8e th.a
;5 aser 1a |nr-Jz.e t,+ ?;.8 y.a D//
poor are not an inevitable feature of any societybecause p..tl/y ra;s. ;. the La/ ary-zt essat,.
ar€ able to provide financial benefts and assistanc€ to the lo$er .k *p/a;rer ;. tlE ?d;&3 ;3sze a/ aP,
tlEse t;.t3e brna/// *?rts&e as
incone groups to raise theirfinancial capabilities. Yei, {roorcr
ttd!3 ;h 3han./@s4. Za th;s ea'e,
ind j!i.l,,rls !,rl lirrrrrial rDahsts) may feet otherwise becatrse h.<3 @/y M;seJ @ rt.6@ a4r'
'at@ k atcdzte;. sa)ety She a;//
pdetly
it is difiicult to break free from the poveriy cycte when ihe in
rccJ 1a ?tdlre za,e t..6as .
come gap is enensive and wide. {Hcn... il is intl.re.l ine\ iLa
ble) that any society will consist of th€ poor community {bui
'ca,ta, Sderhrc/* ;s ra3le a.,l '<1
tlr.r. rr. .rr.rsrres inrl)lrmcDtc.l ivhiclr .rn ]r.lt rlkai.te lhe
,re/7/a/ ;. 4h;11,+ reraet 2zs.*laza
iiDaD.irl l)trr.Lcn on tlLis. 0.1),, {,irrrrrltles} L,1o ae 1/E ?/qes ;*a1t r ), thB bS!1-
aeln ',4d;.,/ adF* ;s dzaa//r, the
eaj /a/.r 1. ;.t,4'ra.e. pr.lrl/y ;"
th3.ak zead 4@;s/s. 'tE

'laa M th.t thae b a /.4i./ .--

.iz';a /e.14aj ). lraa ttE t,cr;es asiet-
dQB.le1, )f t& te,e 1a th.( thr&sA t,+
re6* 1,rd 5u84*) lAey te
'u?@c tar zs |a.g.e Dilh
haz ce&a;1erc44
ttE a3za",1 14.1 ltE p@ )s i,.ra,r ;.-
d;late ths aa* ttkt he. ;.1r<>11c1;q
46 ^.t ah;././ the pztp& ol setz;,5
EI'ENTS PEOPLE REACTIONS rte.[d ,ot tlE rtal+.

;r a 3,'.'J .d.d t- r.B. 4d

n1;5
"tu/r
;.1tunu.. laki. ;. lEr /lEsis td thert-
aqe zz/. ;1 a;er ta .d;de 1,,E ftalet
! ol ha p-'n . /"/-,1uha/"/y Aet na;. s1.rJ
renaB da*. De d// 4a*c llE a/Ja.tt-
aea* 1a 34@ ye Aa' ths..b L d,;t-

DEAlAND A BROADER PERSPECTIVE lo,

 suggested edirs in red

rll
d"t'.f "".--l'"m"--*anaf r.r.-O"ndls;a;na
-^ly soci€E, rcsardlcss oftheir staDdrrd ol ljvins,lcvcl ofde-
velopment, or efforts to cradicate povefty, will have an uneven
incomc distribution throughout the population. This is due to
the different and vaned capabilities that every individuat pos-
sesses an.l also socic,-poiitical ta.tors tlrat exacerbate their
statc ofpore(v. Whether it js llle hornclcss in Ne\t York City,
or thc castc bound paiahs in ltjndLr nations, or eveD the aD
Li $'ellar. hobos i{ho .leliaDtly .oam lhe sLreets of LoDdon, it
se€nrs thal there $'ill always be a reasoD s,ht the poor .xist in
aD) societr. Howeve., ottimistic golerDDreDts a d idealisii.
iDtemrtional ?id orua I isations believe that the ponM rp n ot , n
inevitablc fcature of any society because, on r polic) level, fi-
nancial bencfits andassisiance to thelower incomegroups cat
bc pro\ided to raise thcir firancial capabilities. Yet, individu
als from lower incone sroufs and elen economic analysts may
feel otheNise because tley witness, on Lhe grcund level, hoiv
difficult it is to breah free lron the poverty cycle $nen the ir-
come sap is erteDsive andwide, rnd socio-politicrl barriers re
main foftilied b) unchangnrg culture. Should t.aditioD r€n'ain
andpolitical c.,nllict and rumoil prcvail, it is ind€edinoitable
lnal dny so. ery Fl \avc i i vif imr JFspire l}F mpi5ur\ rnl
plenented, which caD onl) hclp alleviate the financial burden
on these poor communities.

Notice how the points that lie intend to raise jD the body ofour essay is aciually e\-
pressed in ihe forD ofexanples. This is an intcrestins way of presentjng intbrmation
and is elTeciive as long as the writer is aware that the exanples ar€ not the points and
ensuing paragraphs should be based on argumentative categodes, not examples.

Balance is aclieved by inrroducing perspcciives aDd represenling all sides fait\. By

aI ncans,lve are encouraged to have an opinioD, as long as thal opinion is srcunded
in a fair cvaluation ofthe issue. Notice hoN the final thesis statement is usually uscd
to brins in all sides of the argument and tbereforc results in a strong balanced thesis
stateme|t. Trust us when we say that developing a strong thesis statement needs prac
tice and claiiy ofthought. Hopetully we have denonstraied all the nore intricateltays
you can wliie more accurately.

,*oooarrrrroralur,,nfoo*r'r-"

SPOTLIGHT
We Are All UnA\WARE
Hou,localorgilnisation A\XARE beciDre thc hottest NGO to join ovcr.night
owoIe.
\\,'hv thc fieht?
'lhe electnD rcsults caught the nL
cumbeDts bysuprise and thejr oust-
iDg camc across to them as calcu
laied and sinister. Their alamr and
s spicion escalated ilhen thc ne!
conrnritte€ nienbers \cre ar 1ircr not
lbrihconing abont thcir aseoda and
motives, and thcD weels later, an-
nounced thcir nrtenlion to .eclain
AUI RE as it had swaved too far off
its original purpose and occupicd an
unacceptable vier! on sexnalilt.
This tElslated i to the public sphcrc
as ove. sinrplistic polar positions
liberals veruus consenativcs:
ple had to choose bctwccn a secular
lro evertone gro p t|al delanded
the right to make indiridual lifestile
choiccs or a traditional faith-bascd,
aDii'homose\ua1 group.
\Vhat did societl.
thinli?
Staid SingaporeaDs x€re eithcr.lec
inned o. put off b1' this siaDd olf.
So'ne ernb.aced this .vcnt as a sign
lhit SingaporeaD ci\il society ilas
mntLing aDd Dot apathetic as foF
nerlv fcarcd. Phrralism and sec
la snr s'er€ lhe catchphrases ofthe
monlh. Others felt tlut it was jLrst
an organisatioD's internal tolilics
},VEN I
'Ihe by-r,ow nfarnous dispute over a lcadership power grab in AVARE
(Association of Vornen (br Action and Reseirrch) whercby most-
lv unknou'n faces ousted vclcran members unexpectcdly. This epi,
sodc ended in an acrino ous and all,too public cxtraordinary gen
cral meeting wherc the forrner leaders wrestlcd back control ol the
organisation.
th{t hrd bcen ilnlimed for the wmng
reasoDs and played ort in thc public
in disconcerting ard enbanassing
It also se.ned as ifeveryrncnho was
had to rveiSh in on the issue.
an,v''one
The govennent was mostly silent,
prele.ring to lct the orgaDisation
settle it iDtcmally but issued lett-
play ce plrblic statements about
tolemncc and leepnrg religion out of
'pctB folitics. lhe National Council
of Churches of SinsapoF rnd other
rchgious leade$ asscrt.d tbal no rc
ligioLrs jlstihrtion should gel i vohed
of
peo
i. lhis dispute E!.n lhe natiolrl
bank felt impcllcd to slep iri to issuc
a press rclcasc to dno.ce itself froDr
the n.ssincss aDd otfer a shf on t|c
\Tist for lhe new PresidcDt, on. ofits
licc presidents, at the samctime.
Likc it or nol. ttLe l,liDistN of Educa
tion aDd lhe Straits Times \rre also
.nrbroiled in the chaos. MOE had lo
delend its sexralitj a$rrcness pro-
grarnnes aDd irnplene t Dew neas-
ures to assurc.oncerned pareDts ihat
$roDg valucs $'ere ot being disscmi
natcd in schools. Press edito$ had to
dcf.nd ihenselves asaiNt accusa
tio'rs ofbirs aD.t irrcsponsible coyer
age, and sho$'thai the.!'' d id what thel
could toircat bolh sides fairlv-
\
b,v ELIZABETH I(ON
\\'lrirt lessor.r crn u,c
clrarv lronr tlris?
This episode opeDed up an inpoltan1
debate about ryhrt it m.ans to be a
sociaLl) corcerDcd ciiizcn, a ci!il ac
tirist or aD advocacy group il a nNl-
ti-rcligious and lln,lti ftcirl socier]*.
1\'}cthcr all parl ies invoh€d conduct
.d thenrselres in an opeD and trans
farent manrer or $,hether thcl acted
.s posilive eraDiples of accounlable
and .espoDsibie cjtizcns is a.othe.
js re {ltogcth$. C|aracle. assassina-
tion, hrtcful vit ol, unsubstaDtiatcd
Nmours, nroral poshtrirg and ugl,r'
ihrcats that dorninated nllch ol thc
conlcrsation leaves nuch io b. an
Singaporeans na1 need to lcanr rvhat
it mea s to pafticifatc iD public dis
.ourse on divisive issrcs and balance
pnssionlte personal opiniorr with
mairtajDjDg sociei accord at the samc
time. Contcntious issues tendto bring
all sorts to the lahle rn,l thts r.,l r.qr
of a deleloped societt is how citizens
lcarn ro deal wjth otnrions and ne
goliate ralLre slstems drat arc some
limes complet.l! antithelical to thejr
oivn. This is nrcrcasinsl) crucial in a
\rcrld i{hcrc a snrall illobalised couD
trt likc ours is at tiie iDterscction oI
disfarat€ beljefs, friths aDd conric
tions. Iatt
DEMANDABROADERPERSPECT VE 45
r-
rWHAT'S THE POINT?

Fear

You cannot imagine how long it took to write this ar-

by
TONG ticle. The ideas churned in my head for weeks; good
YEE ideas in themselves but with nothing to string them to-
gether. Or so I thought.
lmage
credit ,^s it turned out I did have an idea to pull all my in- I hale siudents and ex studcnts rvho hare staricd to
polina sights togethe.. ltiurns out that ihis cotrld have been read this colunn reLigioosly. ADd with each $'ord I
finishedtwo weeks ahead oftime. Bui Ijust didn l do comnit to paper, $'ith each paragraph I conplete,
it. because I niade mlsclfbelieve that I had nothing ihc ineftia lo writebccomes greater. The pressure to
ro r ri-B lr'Frn lugFlhFr. I \c bi;, r qLr..'i.r .h-1 : slitc something sensible, nNightlitl and ovemlltrue
iustkccps mo!nting.

I bavc sirce discovocd that

The rnonent the Ii took me some timc to figu.e out
I am a coward- Nol the kind fear ceased {br me, wht' I was behaving ihis $'ay. Wlat
that refuses to help others was the moment we lear may not alwals be appar-
in distress, or the kind that when I decided for ert to us simplybecause the human
gives up slate secrcts the mo bmin is ingenious r{hen it comes to
mcnt lie catches a stinps€ oI
myself that it was shielding us from $'hat we want to
a brandished iron. Raiher. the
more oroductive to avoid. A recent conversation with a
knrd ihat caDnoL face up to tie brave. siudeni rcvealed even nore insight
the trut|. The worst kind. The 1o this. She had not donc so $'ell in
\dting of this afticle was not easy not because I lack her 'A levcls and for months we talked and I watched
abilitv but becausc of a lack of courase to receivc her behaliour become more and nio.e irraiional
criticism. I have vcry bight colleagucs and friends. The options thatshe chose justto get into onilersi

BROADERPERSPECTIVES thepower ssue

 !.TH AT'S THT, POINT?

\'"became virtually random shots in thc dark, dnveD
by an insatiable desi.e to gain affirnration for cross-
ing that next necessary hurdle in her path to suc-
cess. ParcDis and sometimes friends only rnade this
x'orse by validatins the senseless behaviour; adding
1u el to an out of-control fire. And Nith each mon th of
non news from the university, and each letter ofre
jection, the fear kepl mounting.
So rvhal nakes us similar? What is it we are both
pretending not to know? Thc solution to these ques
iurs, JmF jL'l ,".lF, Ja\ $len I r.id J , rmJil ttun
very close, btrt recently distanced. friend. There $'as
a
running lessons and loling it, it woukl not matier
where her degree came from. The only thing that
.hnuld nal .r rs ti l shF is Cpdi.alpd n i prol-r"iun
sheloves. She does notthinkgettingto that point xill
bp a \y.l,ur 'r q.s !roo.b ) molp pro,lucl v4 n n\ ng
lorwa.d than beiDs scared.
The.evelation does not mal(e ne comptetelyfea ess
though. Just nrore practiced ni bravery. 5 paragraphs
,lo{n I dm Mrri,g l-,r" "nr.l'hil} d lo nor" iov.
and surprisinsly a lot morc speed. I let go ol the fact
that my friends are gonrg
to judge s.hat I write. It is

fear bcfore I opened it. To say the least. it was not

what we fear mav
morc irnportant to trust
aD entireiy kiDd enail. lt reas harsh, at times angry, that our fiiendship and
not alwavs be '
but because I know she Mote becatrse she cared, it their approval soes beyond apparent to us
ultimaLelycarne across as truthful. I .ead it andtried more than a seven pam- simolv because
nr) bF\l r.ot lo reip.l rr. ln no' ii'. lu Frrn hom graph article. But corne the hrl#nn hrain is
what she had to say; and although jt was exceedingly nerl month, I am surc it
diffictrit to accept, I emerged from thc erTerience so- is possible that I can be
ine.enious when it
bercd, clearer and above all, less scared. The rnoti- scared all over again. I cofires to shieldine
lation for me was clear. If I cared enough about thc know that ii is true because us from what we"
fiiendship, i sould stop avoiding thorny converca of a lot of other tliDgs I want to avoid
lions, skirtnrsissues and should listen. And I leamed struggle with. I wish Dy re-
that I had genuinelyhurl my fiiend and she wanted lationship with my father
me to learn from it and ncver do jt again- rvere better, were closcr.
But I am scared to do anlthins about it. I wish I had
The tro ent tbe fear ceased for ne. was the moment rnore integrity. But I an scared to trt' lcst I disap-
when I decided for myself that jt was more produc point nyself. I wish to love the people arcund me to
birs. Bui... goodness, so marythings could gowong.

So whai about that 'headless clicken" student of
nine? Well...she found herhead. And becane far less
"chicken". I was happy; for the firsi tirne in a year I
heard sone clarity. She decided tbat sbe loved math.
She dccidedthatshewants to teach. She realised that
she wants to contribute to herstudent s lives. \^fteth
e. she did ihat througli an NUS nuth degree or SIM
nath degrce did not really matter anymore. She con
cluded that somedaywhen she $'as in the classroon
Why do I spend so mtrch time fearins? It would be
obvious thc more tnne I spend fearing, the nore
practiced I would be in it. So the question is, do I
\rant to be an experi coward or do I want to go up
to my father, hug hin aDd tell hin that I wished we
talked more? I can imasine the look oD lis face as I
pptu4 h hinr ind l'oq r'raid \. rn 81. b' ... ll,e:rc
ny is often we fear the good things in lifc nore than
ihe bad, laryely bec.tuse good things may reveal who
wetrulyareandhowfarwefallshortof it. fatt

DFMANDABROADERPERSPECTVE 47
'l'
'I IlFt !i,!:i 'r'
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W'here do the richest people

in the world come from?

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32 hiflionmines

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school of r,r,L

THOUGHT beer corsrandy Elning orr core 'A' lcvel and O level trrition programmes to help stu
dcnrs drink nore ticallv afd broadly abour bodr nationrl rnd global affairs widr
our sacrficing good grades lf the etaninarions Part ol our prolits go rto suPpoft
ng an inhouse Financill Aid Scheme that strtlcfts nay apply for if dreir fnm lies are
expefcf.ing severe nnancial djfiicultics and cafnor afford dasscs Joif our novement to chnfgc lh. wofd one Nind, ofc hcarl, one
ncp at a rime Drof by for r vist ar 42o Noth Bridge RolrL *0612, singaNre r33727, or call 6114 8771 r!!,rNrir!rl)l:hlrL!l:!.. rsg

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