IHC Term 4 EOY Examinations Notes Edited

HWA CHONG INSTITUTION
INTEGRATED HUMANITIES (CORE)
YEAR 4
End-Of-Year Examinations Notes

UPPER SECONDARY

Acknowledgements:
The author would like to express his heartfelt gratitude to the following people, without whom this set of notes would not have been possible to compile:
Mrs Chan Shu Hwee for her invaluable guidance throughout the past 2 years of our IHC journey, and for taking time off her busy schedule to help vet and look through these notes;
Brendan Ang, Darrick Poh, Alvin Fong, Keefe Ng, Khoo Yang Jin, Lin Yongqian, Matthew Chua, Travis Ong, Tan Giap Hum, Nicholas Tan, Tong Chen Rong, Wee Yensean, Yiik Chia, Yong
Jung Hahn of Class 4A1 (2015), for assisting in the compilation of this set of notes;
May the odds be ever in your favour!
Page 1 of 46
YEAR 4
Table of Contents
S/N
1
2
Topic
Korean War
Page Range
Reasons for the Korean War
35
Impacts of the Korean War
67
Spratly Islands
Reasons for the Spratly Island Conflict
8 10
Isreal-Jordan Water Conflict
Reasons for the Isreal-Jordan Water Conflict
11 12
Reasons for the Iraq-Kuwait Conflict
13 15
Reactions to the Iraq-Kuwait Conflict
16 17
Impacts of the Iraq-Kuwait Conflict
18 20
Reasons for Terrorism
21 24
Impacts of Terrorism
25 27
Managing Terrorism
28 29
11
Difficulty in Stopping Terrorism
30 31
12
Best form of diplomacy
32 34
Importance of ASEAN to Singapore
35 36
Importance of UN to Singapore
37 38
Military Strategies and Deterrence in Singapore
39 45
5
6
9
10
13
Iraq-Kuwait Conflict
Terrorism
Diplomacy
14
15
Military Deterrence
Page 2 of 46
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Topic 1: Reasons for the Korean War

Point
Explanation / Evidence
The Korean War began in June 1950 when a large North Korean army invaded
Reunification
As the Cold War began to develop in Europe, the USA and USSR were unable to
Korea and saw an invasion and capture of the North the
reach an agreement on the unification of Korea and what form the governments
only solution
South also compelled him to take action quickly and
were authoritarian and wanted to bring about unification of Korea.
launch an invasion on the South before it is

strengthened and was encouraged by the military
and he calculated that it was better to act than to wait for USA to build up the South,
imbalance that he will definitely have a quick victory
The desire for personal glory as a National hero also
Restricted documents showed that it was Kim who was the driving force behind the
motivated Kim to launch an invasion on the south so as
Norths decision to invade the South.
to become the leader of the whole of Korea
Kim of his intention to attack informed both Stalin and Mao in advance.
The speech also made the South seem defenseless

without the support from USA, convincing Kim that a
Thus, it was Kim, not Stalin or Mao who pushed for the attack.
Besides, Kim was encouraged by Rhees unpopularity in the South and the
quick victory was possible as the South will be too weak
perceived evidence of growing support for the communist party in the South.
to counter a swift invasion by the North
He believed most Koreans would see him as a national hero if he reunited the
country.
His perception of threat and fear of USA assistance to the
Kim undertook an armed conflict in which he deemed the method as a legal mean
Kim Il Sung of North Korea and the capitalist South under Syngman Rhee
just like USA had built up post-war Japan.
All this hence led to the Korean War as Kim firstly is a

nationalist who believes strongly in reunification of
Kims Nationalist ideals for
South Korea in the name of national re-unification.
should take.
Link
This led to Kims eventual decision to cross the 38th

parallel in June 1950, starting the Korean War
In addition, South Korea was not included in the list of countries that USA would
automatically defend against any communist aggression in Dean Achesons
Perimeter Speech
Ideological Differences
Truman was to be blamed for erroneously assuming that Stalin was behind the
Thus, US intervention in the Korean War changed the
invasion, the belief that Kim was not acting independently but merely as Stalins
face of this from one of civil strife to a proxy of the cold
puppet in his attempt at world domination.
war. The need for Truman to support South Korea with
Page 3 of 46
He acted on what became known as the domino theory

o
YEAR 4
the aid of UN troops was to contain Communist spread
If South Korea fell to the communists then the rest of Asia would follow,
and to defend the existence of Democracy and
with the Near East and even Europe next under threat.
capitalism in the world
His entire intention was to contain the spread and expansion of Communism
The Chinese involvement compounded the cold war
anywhere in the world. (Containment Policy)
tension between western democratic blocs and eastern
On 30 June, Truman ordered US troops based in Japan into South Korea. 15 other
communist bloc. The Chinese moved into Korea in the
UN members, including Britain, sent troops. 260 000 out of just under 300000 UN
name of self-defense, the Korean War became a proxy
troops were American. Thus it was mainly a US enterprise as most troops were non-
battle between the two different ideological camps. The
Korean. Both the UN and South Korean forces were placed under the command of
Korean War had evolved from an internal civil war to a
US General MacArthur, accountable directly to Truman, not the UN.
mega-war fought in the cold war context.
The Chinese subsequent involvement in the Korean War for the purpose of
defending the political integrity of China in the face of perceived threat and danger
to its very political existence.
The Chinese communists feared the UN troops would move too near to the Chinese
borders, which might threaten her territorial integrity.
o
They warned that they would attack if the UN troops crossed the 38th
parallel into North Korea.
By end of October, the UN troops reached Pyongyang and further north to the Yalu
River, the border between North Korea and China.
o
Dean Acheson Perimeter

Speech
Feeling threatened, the Chinese troops moved into North Korea.
In January 1950, US Secretary of State, Dean Acheson did not include South Korea
Kim was hence motivated by this, to use force to bring
in his list of countries that USA would automatically defend against any communist
about the reunification of Korea under communist
aggression in his Defense Minister Speech as mainland Asia was outside the USAs
leadership as he believes that USAs strategies has not
pacific defensive perimeter
been very successful
Korea also posed little economic significance to USA
USA military strategy was to defend a crest of off-shore Pacific Islands including
without the support from USA, convincing Kim that a
Japan, Guam and the Philippines, which contains US airbases and garrisons
quick victory was possible as the South will be too weak
The speech also made the South seem defenseless
Page 4 of 46
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In proxy of the Cold War, USA also gave anti-communist forces in Asian states such
as China and South Korea substantial financial assistance but it became clear by
to counter a swift invasion by the North
1950 that it was ineffective as China was lost and fell to communism.
Kim also used the speech to convince Stalin to give his

approval for the invasion, which reassured Kim to invade
the South with the moral support from Stalin, motivating
him to carry on with his invasion, sparking off the
Korean War
Soviet Unions Indirect Role
USSR had always wanted unification of Korea under Kim as it would strengthen
Stalins indirect support to the North through supplies
Soviet security by ensuring a friendly state of buffer zone in the Far East as well as
and general support motivated Kim and reassured him
gaining USSR access to Koreas hydroelectric power and raw materials, which proved
with the courage to proceed with the offensive to
vital and significant in the Cold War context
achieve his Nationalistic goals
In January 1950, Stalin gave his cautious approval to Kim to invade the South
As a follow up, Stalin sent military experts to draw up plans for the attack as well as
between the North and South, assuring Kim that a quick
sent military advisors and equipment to the North
victory was possible
USSRs help also widened the military imbalance
USSR ultimately gave Kim the green light to proceed

with the invasion, which boosted Kims confidence
knowing he has the support of a powerhouse like USSR,
leading to the invasion of the South
Page 5 of 46
YEAR 4
Topic 2: Impacts of the Korean War

Point
Link
A Cold War policy that asked for an increase in military budget and massive increase
in military production
o
1950: Truman asked Congress to approve massive increase in military

spending
$10 million on armed forces
$260 million for Hydrogen Bomb project
$4 Billion in military aid for US Allies across the World
Helped to drive the arms race between USSR and USA
US had NATO while USSR had WARSAW
Competition for supremacy in Nuclear Amrs
Number of warheads US owned almost doubled from 6800 in

1964 to 11000 in 1982
NSC 68
That of USSR increased from 500 to 10000, almost 20 times in

the same period
In 1947, USA was spending 4.7 billion on their military. This increased to
209.8 billion in 1968
Hoped to be able to contain communism and was proposed due to a fear

of USSR threat
The war gave supporters of the NSC 68 a chance to gain acceptance of this policy and
its military implications
o
A number doubted that communist victory anywhere in the World posed a

serious threat to USAs global interests
After the North Korean attack, it proved that communism was intent on
expansionism and this is necessary for defending democracy
Page 6 of 46
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Affected developments in Asia

o
Japans economy greatly helped by servicing needs of large numbers of US

troops stationed there
San Francisco Peace Treaty September 1951

o
Restored sovereignty to Japan and promised the end of US occupation by

1952
In return, Japan signed the mutual security agreement with USA,

guaranteeing US military bases could stay
Asia
Japan signed trade boycott (Yoshida Letter)

o
Against communist China
Intended to bring about weakening and eventual collapse of Maos regime
Japan would trade with Taiwan
June 1950: Truman sent 7th Fleet to defend Taiwan from possible Taiwan invasion
and massive economic and military aid to Taiwan
o
US signed mutual defence treaty with Taiwan in 1954, recognizing Taiwan

o
Used Taiwan to block any expansion of communism China in Asia

20 years of hostility between China and USA
August 1951
o
USA formed a military alliance with Philippines in return for defending

Philippines
o
Cold War Treaties
USA would be able to set up military and naval bases on the islands
Anzus Pact of September 1951

o
Allay Australia and New Zealand fear of rising Japan as economic

competition and potential military threat
Treaty offered US support against any military aggression and promised on

the part of Australia and New Zealand to help USA against any communist
activities in Pacific Region
Page 7 of 46
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Topic 3: Reasons for the Spratly Islands Conflict

Point
Economic Claims
Presence of natural resources
Link
Thus, these concerns have created a compelling
Lucrative Fishing area with an annual estimate worth of 3 billion US Dollars
incentive for these states to seek sources of supply close
Large supply of oil reserves with Chinese estimates at 1 trillion US Dollars
to home
Natural gas reserves estimated out to be 900 trillion cubic feet
Countries also face an increasing energy safety concern

o
o
potential source of supply falling within the scope of
Rapid industralisation of economies has led to an increased demand for

natural resources and petroleum-derived products
Made claimants extremely reluctant to concede any

their own personal jurisdiction
Many of the countries are also facing stagnating or declining domestic oil
Caused dispute as claimants fought and argued to claim

the spratly islands to boost the growth of the economy
and gas production
China, Philippines and Taiwan are strong net importers of oil
United Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) established a set of rules
International law gave several countries like Philippines
which governed the oceans and seas
and Malaysia the right to claim the Spratly islands to
Rules established a specific jurisdictional limit on the oceans that countries may
make use of the South China Seas potential
claim
Exclusive Economic Zones

o
Legal Territory Claims
Made claimants reluctant to give up any islands within

their EEZ and this also sparked conflict as the
EEZ of a country spans over 200 nautical miles from the baseline of the
overlapping claims lead to arguments and confrontation
country and gives the country sole exploitation rights over all natural
over who should claim the island
resources and allows for mineral extraction in deep seabed
This law however, often creates overlapping claims, ambiguous boundaries and
protects property interests only after sovereignty is achieved
o
Louisa Reef is found both in Malaysias and Bruneis EEZ, leading to

tensions and confusion between the 2 countries as the law gave both
Malaysia and Brunei an equal right to claim the reef
Countries such as Philippines makes use land territorial claims to claim the Spratly
Page 8 of 46
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Island
o
She claimed approximately 60 of the islands in the region
Claims that the Spratly Islands were res nullius and that they were within
its archipelagic baseline
For example the continental shelf of Kalayaan is juxtaposed to the

Palawan Province and extends some 300 miles westwards into
the heart of Philippines EEZ
China, Taiwan and Vietnam claims that they discovered the Spratly Islands first
China claims to be the first country to discover and exercise control over the Spratly
provided by the different countries led to conflict as
Islands
nations argue and begin opposing the claims made by
st
th
Past records of the Xia Dynasty from the 31 to 16 century BC that have
shown interaction between China and the Spratly Islands, and this practice
Historical Sovereignty Claim
One example will be the military confrontations Vietnam
Records from the Ming and Qing Dynasty from 1367 to 1644 AD and 1644
unwillingness to accede to Chinas claims
th
Evidently, Historical claims sparked off disagreements as
Seen through fishermen using the area since the 15 Century, hence it
each nation has their own evidence and supporting
deserves the sovereignty rights
claims which conflict those of other nations
took official possession of the islands in 1946
nations
and the Philippines posed against China, showing their
Taiwan also claims all islands in Spratly region as they believed that the Kuomintang
o
Due to various historical evidences and reasoning
was continued until the Shang Dynasty (1644 to 1911 AD)

to 1911 AD have mentioned Spratly Islands geographically
o
Each believed that as they discovered the island first,

they had legitimate rights to claim the islands as their
Taiwan also believes itself and the Kuomintang government is the true
own and giving up the island would infringe upon their
china
national pride, fuelling the dispute as they are all
When Japan surrendered in 1945, the Kuomintang government sent a
reluctant to give up the island
naval expedition to the islands and took formal possession of it in 1946
Vietnam claims part of the island because the Portuguese and Dutch map drawn by
navigators in the early 17th Century identify the island as Vietnams
o
Claims that even if China was the first to discover the Islands, this does not
mean they were given the jusridiction to rule them
Page 9 of 46

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French had also annexed the Islands in 1933, giving Vietname soverign
rights as they are the inheritors of French possessions
Countries in the Asia-Pacific depend on seaborne trade to fuel their economic
growth
o
safety of their naval trading routes which vital imports

Hence the Spratly Islands which connects the Indian and Pacific Oceans is
thus a major sea trade-route in which about 80% of Japans and 70% of
such as oil are transported to their respective countries
Taiwans oil and raw import pass through en route from Middle East to
Japan and the US
Strategic military value of the Spratly Islands has been known for a long time
o
Claimant countries wish to control Spratly to ensure
During WWII, Japan used the Spratly Islands as military outposts for both
Allows them to assert military dominance by seizing a

strategic position in the South China Sea
Thus controlling the sea routes and resulting in the

dispute of the Spratly Islands as claimant states fought
to own this military asset
invasion and blockades

o
Near the close of the twentieth century, Japanese military analysts

theorized that whichever nation controlled the Spratlys would gain
Strategic Military Value
regional hegemony in the new millennium
Therefore control of the Spratlys could serve as a means to impact global and
regional trade both in South East Asia and the rest of the World
o
Ownership and control of the Spratlys provides sovereign rights over the
adjacent waters
Spratly Islands are located in close proximity to sea lanes, which are vital to the
generally resource-poor and thus import-dependent major economies of East and
NE Asia
o
Because Spratly Islands are located near the sea lane of communication
carrying seaborne energy supplies from the Middle East, Africa and
Australia
Page 10 of 46
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Topic 4: Reasons for the Isreal-Jordan Water Conflict

Point
Scarcity of Water
Link
The scarcity of water in the Middle East region contributed to the conflict
Connected to meteorological, geographic and demographic factors
issue and a lever, which could easily cause the different
Arid climate and low precipitation rates make water scarce in the region
states to go to war with one another over water
Throughout most of the Middle East region, rainfall is irregular
Short rainy season between 6-8 months a year and annual rainfall varies between
which is essential for the livelihood of the people and
250mm-400mm annually
the development of the country, a conflict may easily
Insufficient for basic agriculture, which requires at least 400mm of regular rainfall
arise, which led to the breakout of the six-day war
Scarcity of water in the Middle East is used as a political
In such a situation where there is insufficient water,
and ensure livelihood of people are not threatened
Countries need to tap onto the rivers for water to sustain countrys development
There are few major rivers in the Middle East: Jordan River and the Nile
Jordan river is shared by Israel, Jordan, Palestine Syria and Lebanon
Issue of expanding population in the Middle East further exacerbates the scarcity of
water
Jordans population increases due to birth rate and Israel due to immigrants
Israeli War of Independence was rooted on the fact that the Arab countries had
Conflict was not simply a matter of low politics that can
considered the State of Israel to be illegitimate
be easily resolved even by increasing water supply to the
The countries were unhappy that the formation of Israel led to refugees residing in
region
the borders of their country

Grudge against Israel
The Arab countries had used the issue of scarcity of
Hindered the development of their countries
water, which is in itself a matter of low politics, and
They refused to acknowledge Israel as a country
politicised it into questioning the legitimacy of Israel, of
Issue of gaining water access from Jordan River no longer just for survivability of
which is high politics in nature, thus giving rise to the
Jordan and other Arab countries, it was an issue of national pride
conflict
Perceived the water issue to be part of the Arab-Israeli conflict
However, for Israel, water is just an integral resource for development as she was a
Page 11 of 46
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new country.
Both Jordan and Israel attempted to develop independent alternatives in order to
Perception of few alternative choices to solve water
provide fresh water to their people but these methods were expensive
shortage problems, led to the need for preservation and
Any alternative solutions were just temporary solutions to the issue
self-protection, and this heightened the tension and
For Jordan, main projects include rehabilitation of East Gohr Canal, repair of
uncompromising behaviour in the region, leading to the
Yarmouk main canal tunnel, construction of the rock filled damn on Zarqa River
conflict and culminating in the six-day war
Lack of feasible Alternatives
(King Talal Dam)
For Israel, they tried to apply advanced technology and environmental research such
as drop irrigation system, which delivers water directly to the root of the plant, cloud
seeding, and also the process of desalination of the Mediterranean water
The need for water and continued hostility between Israel and the surrounding Arab
States and placed the Jordan River as a bargaining chip
Israels Expansionistic
Behaviour
Arab states have persistently denounced the unilateral division of the Jordan River
issue of water resources
This caused other Arab states to view this as aggressive
as illegal, as they refused to admit Israels legitimacy as a country
expansionistic behaviour, and Syrian Artillery opened
Israel felt that the surrounding Arab nations were never willing to let her exist in
fire on Israel
peace
Israel was forced to take an aggressive stance on the
Expansionistic policy of Israel had led to the displeasure
Hostility between Arab states caused Israel to perceive others surrounding it as a
of the surrounding Arab nations, heightening tensions
threat
in the region and predisposing the countries to conflict
Israel had to take an aggressive stance and undertook and uncompromising stand
and ultimately causing the six-day war
over water as a scarce natural resource in the region
Created a National Water Carrier in 1950s to transport water from the Jordan River
and the Sea of Galilee to the Negev Desert
Page 12 of 46
YEAR 4
Topic 5: Reasons for Iraq-Kuwait Conflict

Point
In 1961, Kuwait gained independence from the British. Iraq refused to recognise
Link
Therefore, it is clear that there was animosity between
this, claiming that Kuwait was originally part of Iraq and both were once governed as
both countries that existed long before the invasion and
one territory.
war in the 1990s. All of these bad relations predisposed
Iraq also tried on several occasions to exercise authority over Kuwait, even sending
them to conflict and eventually led to the war.
in troops in 1961 to take Kuwait by force.
Historical Baggage
The Iraqi forces only turned back when Britain and other Arab countries sent in
troops to intervene
In 1963, Iraq finally gave up its claim on Kuwait, after pressure from Arab countries
as well as receiving a large sum of money from Kuwait.
Iraq still used military power to threaten Kuwait over several border disputes.
Despite all these, Kuwait still helped Iraq out during the Iraq - Iran war, by loaning
US$14 billion to Iraq. However, this was out of national interests as Kuwait was
afraid of the threat posed by Iran.
Iraqs Economic Issues
After the war, Iraq was severely in debt to Kuwait and owed about US$80 billion to
feels that the surrounding Arab nations were waging an
war torn infrastructure.
economic war against her. Iraq perceived a no
Iraq intended to pay off its debt by earning more revenue from the sale of oil.
alternative situation than to invade Kuwait in order to
However, the prices of oil were falling due to overproduction by countries such as
protect its own economy.
This led to the price of oil dropping from US$18 per barrel to US$7 per barrel at a
point in the 1980s and Iraq lost US$1 billion from oil sales each time the prices
Both Iraq and Kuwait inherited their borders from the British and this led to many illdefined borders.
Hence, Iraq felt that invading Kuwait was only an act of

retaliation, as Kuwait was the one who started it.
dropped by US$1.
Territorial Disputes
As 90% of Iraqs income comes from the sale of oil, Iraq
its neighbouring countries. Iraq also needed almost USD$230 billion to rebuild its
Kuwait and the UAE.
Therefore, the economic issues that Iraq faced also led to

the war.
Therefore, it is clear that there were multiple territorial

disputes between Iraq and Kuwait in the past. The
Page 13 of 46

o
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One such example would be the Rumaila Oilfield that Iraq shared with
Rumaila oilfield issue angered Iraq greatly as oil
Kuwait. in 1990, Iraq accused Kuwait of illegal slant drilling and stealing
production was one of Iraqs largest sources of revenue.
oil from them. They claimed that Kuwait was drilling and obtaining oil from
Iraqs side of the oilfield.
tensions between both countries as Iraq was worried
Iraq hence demanded a compensation of US$2.4 billion, which Kuwait refused,

denying that they had stolen oil from Iraq.
The Warbah and Bubiyan islands also led to great

that their oil sales might be affected.
Therefore, all these tensions predisposed both countries
Another dispute would be the Warbah and Bubiyan Islands. After granting Kuwait
to conflict, which was manifested in the form of the
independence, the British gave these two islands to Kuwait. Iraq was unhappy with
invasion in 1991.
this, as the islands were strategically located off the Iraqi ports of Umm Qasr.
This port was the only direct outlet for Iraqi oil to the world markets, and by owning
the islands, Kuwait had the potential to block off Iraqs access to the Gulf, which
would affect Iraqs oil exports and threaten its earnings.
Iraq had also used military force on several occasions before to try and claim
ownership of the islands. in 1978, Iraq also wanted to lease the islands from Kuwait,
but they failed to reach a suitable agreement. Kuwait was afraid that giving in to Iraq
would open the door to further territorial demands from Iraq.
Failure of the Arab League
Iraq had turned to the Arab League to try and reiterate that Kuwait and the rest of the
The Arab league did not play its rightful role of
Arab nations should write off Iraqs debt as their effort in the war against Iran was for
forbidding its member states from the use of force
the good of the whole region. Saudi Arabia agreed to cancel the debt and Kuwait
against one another; they were also neither consistent
later did the same.
nor persistent about the settlement of the issues
Iraq also brought up the issue on overproduction of oil. OPEC decided to bring the
through peaceful means, their soft heartedness let to the
price of oil up to US$21 per barrel from US$18. However, all these negotiations
disputes being left unsettled.
broke down when Iraq walked out of negotiations. They were unhappy that Kuwait
This gave Saddam the courage to wage war, knowing
still refused to compensate them for the illegal slant drilling.
that the Arab League probably will not have the ability to
Even though there was another meeting scheduled on the 4 of July, Iraq invaded
stop him.
Kuwait on 2 July.
Therefore, the failure of the Arab League indirectly led to

the war by encouraging Saddam.
Page 14 of 46
Saddam saw himself as a great leader of the Arab world. Kuwaits repeated refusals
This led Saddam Hussein to push forth the attack on
were seen as defiance and a personal attack on him, provoking him.
Kuwait in hope of preserving his place of leadership over
Saddam was also afraid that there would be an uprising in Iraq to overthrow him,
Iraq.
especially by the Shia Muslims. The Iran Iraq war destroyed the economy and the
Role of Saddam
YEAR 4
This contributed to the attack as the peace talks were
country, and people were unhappy with the sky-high prices of basic necessities due
proceeding smoothly and could be resolved but because
to inflation. Saddam was also afraid his million strong army might turn against him
of Saddam Husseins insecurity in his control over Iraq,
if the situation did not change.
he decided on making a move by attacking Kuwait to

prevent the situation from turning disadvantageous.
Thus Saddam Hussein role of controlling Iraq caused the
war.
Before the invasion, Saddam met with the US ambassador April Glaspie. Saddam
expressed his grievances against Kuwait while promising that he would not invade
Kuwait before one more round of negotiations. Although Glaspie expressed concern
Misreading of Position of
USA
Saddam then mistakenly assumed that US was giving

him the green light to invading Kuwait.
From the meeting, Saddam believed that the US were
over troop buildup, some people perceived her answers as giving tacit approval for
sympathetic towards Iraqs situation and were not likely
an invasion.
to go to Kuwaits aid. This might have encouraged

Saddam to think that he would not face severe
consequences if he invaded Kuwait. Hence, the
misreading of the position of the US also led to the war.
Page 15 of 46
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Topic 6: Reactions to the Iraq-Kuwait Conflict

Point
Countries was afraid as they saw the ease at which Iraq annexed Kuwait
This might have gave Iraq even more courage, knowing they had military superiority
in the region
Fear amongst Countries
Internationally
Arab Solution
Arab countries were unwilling to adopt a Western solution, as they were afraid that
The rest of the world was fearful of the economic control

that Iraq gained.
economy.
Saudi was especially afraid of the imminent military

threat.
Iraq also controlled 20% of the worlds oil production, giving them the ability to
control world oil prices, giving them the ability to directly affect the worlds
Economic and military power that Iraq gained after

annexing Kuwait terrified countries all around the world.
Iraq had troops on the Kuwaiti-Saudi border. Saudi Arabia also knew their army was
no match for Iraqs.
Link
Hence, one of the first reactions to the invasion was

worldwide fear.
Even though the Arab League was quick to take action,
Western imperialism would return.
their measures were largely ineffective and had barely
Kuwaiti officials appealed to the Arab League to organise a joint force to counter the
any impact in restraining Iraq.
Iraqi invasion, as well as condemn their actions.
The Arab League then called for a vote to condemn Iraqs actions and call for them to
withdraw from Kuwait.
However, the vote was only passed by a slim margin, as 8 members did not agree.
In view of the large amount of Iraqi troops amassed at the border, Saudi invited US
troops to help defend against a potential Iraqi invasion.
American Response
The US were more than willing, as they knew that Iraq was becoming more and
Hence, the American response was one of the more

impactful ones.
Knowing that Iraq posed a threat economically led to its
more powerful with the amount of oil production they controlled.
involvement and intervention. It also led to many other
They did not want such a ruthless and unpredictable country to control one of the
countries coming in to help Saudi Arabia out.
worlds most important resources.
Hence, the US sent troops, navy ships and planes to support the Saudi Kingdom,
under Operation Desert Shield.
Britain, France and other members of the Arab League later also followed in US
Page 16 of 46
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footsteps, sending in troops, military equipment as well as money in the fight

against Iraq.
The US took the lead in condemning Iraqs actions and forming a coalition of
the UNs resolution justified all actions taken against
The UN security council also passed a resolution unanimously, demanding Iraqs
Iraq.
90% of its goods. Not being able to profit from oil sales
were also frozen to prevent Iraq from making use of them.
also affected the country greatly as that was the main
Furthermore, economic and military sanctions were also implemented. Iraq was
form of revenue.
of food and medical supplies. Iraq also could no longer profit from selling oil.
Operation Desert Storm

(Force)
The sanctions were also very significant as Iraq imported
negotiations immediately and settle their differences. Both Iraqi and Kuwaiti assets
banned from trading and importing goods from other countries with the exception
The international response was particularly effective as
countries to help defend Saudi and get Iraq out of Kuwait.

immediate withdrawal from Kuwait. It also called for Kuwait and Iraq to begin
International Response
When Iraq did not respond to diplomatic attempts, Operation Desert Storm was
Therefore, the international response was one of the

most impactful reactions.
Therefore, Operation Desert Storm or the use of force
implemented.
was one of the most impactful reactions as it led to the
The UN security council also voted to use force against Iraq when Iraq failed to
resolution of the war. Iraq also agreed to comply with
withdraw from Kuwait by the deadline, 15 January 1991.
the resolutions that UN proposed. Hence, the use of
Strategic targets such as communication centres were destroyed and the Iraqi air
force was an important reaction.
force was crippled by the bombing campaign.
When the coalition forces retook Kuwait city, a ceasefire was finally called and the
war ended soon after.
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Topic 7: Impacts of the Iraq-Kuwait Conflict

Point
At the onset of the war, the environmental impacts were felt immediately.
Link
The war had a significant toll environmentally on the
Land was abused greatly through transportation of heavy weaponry and movement
Gulf States, especially Kuwait, whose citizens were
of troops across the desert soil. Desert vegetation was uprooted, trampled and
subjected to heavy air pollution as a result of oil fires.
destroyed.
Marine wildlife was devastated and coastlines were
Solid wastes polluted the ground and contaminated the groundwater.
contaminated by oil. More importantly, the ecosystems
The smoke produced from explosives and chemicals polluted the air.
which were destroyed would take decades to recover.
While Iraqi troops were withdrawing from Kuwait, they were ordered by Saddam to
Hence, the war had a devastating impact on the
set fire to over six-hundred oil wells in several Kuwaiti oil fields. The damage caused
environment
by the oil fires to the Gulf environment was enormous and weather patterns were
Environmental Impact
disrupted as a result.
The smoke-clogged air dangerously impacted people with respiratory problems and
also resulted in the formation of acid rain.
o
It was estimated that the air pollution would indirectly kill 1,000 Kuwaitis
the following year.
Furthermore, 11 million barrels of oil were intentionally released into the Arabian
Gulf from January 1991 to May 1991, making it twice as large as the previous world
record.
800 miles of Kuwaiti and Saudi Arabian beaches were oiled and marine life was
devastated, especially birds and marine turtles which used the contaminated
beaches as nesting sites.
Economic Impact
Most economic costs were incurred by Iraq, such as losses in military equipment
This greatly affected both nations as they were left in a
totalling $50 billion while the time and effort needed to repair the damage and
state of poverty and resulted in them having hard times
build replacement facilities will take a long time and greatly stress the economy.
after the war as they struggled to pay for the destruction
Kuwait also suffered repercussions as the retreating Iraqi soldiers had set over six-
caused by the war, hence negatively impacting both
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hundred Kuwaiti oil wells ablaze.
countries economies.
The most costly damage was the environmental disaster caused by the oil slicks,
which cost more than $700 million to clean up.
As a result of the invasion, oil prices rose from $20 per barrel to $30 per barrel.
Kuwaits oil industry also deteriorated and suffered a massive drop in production
due to destruction of oil wells.
o
This put a strain on the economy as money had to be channelled towards

military spending and reparations after the war.
Iraq went from being a political and military regional power to a state of disorder
The war created instability in the nations as the
and anarchy. The country was stripped of much of its sovereignty and remained
aftermath of the war left the nations in a state of
under a comprehensive system of sanctions which was never before seen in history.
disorientation and tensions between the two countries.
Iraq was ousted from the international community and could not export its oil and
This was detrimental to the rebuilding of both countries
thus could not rebuild its economy.
and dealt severe negative impacts to the political
landscapes within both countries.
The sanctions left the country vulnerable to political and military

penetration by its neighbours.
Political Impact
Martin Indyk, a director at the National Security Council, declared in May

1993 that the US would not lift its sanctions on Iraq until Saddam was
overthrown.
Kuwait remained disorientated and traumatised 3 years after its liberation and the 7
month Iraqi occupation left Kuwait struggling emotionally and politically, making it
hard to rebuild the country. The royal family of Kuwait was forced by the new
parliament to abide by the constitution.
Kuwait took a long time to return to the pre-war status quo and maintained a will for
revenge against Iraq, who existed as a permanent threat on Kuwaits border.
Positive Impact
There can be said to be some positive impacts from the war, as the United Nations
Hence the war successfully showed how member states
was successful in maintaining international peace and stability.
of the United Nations managed to work together and
The war serves as a good example of the capabilities of the UN to gather its resources
cooperate and their success showed that they could be
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to deter aggression. Its success depends on the involvement and support of the five
effective in their efforts to maintain peace and stability if
permanent members of the Security Council.
and when the permanent members of the Security
The Cold War had just ended and both Russia and China did not vote against the
Council agree to work together.
resolutions proposed by the US, hence the five permanent members were able to
agree on the appropriate measures to be taken against Iraq.
The US played a crucial role in gaining the support of the Security Council members
and assumed the lead role in providing forces and equipment to counter Iraqi
aggression.
The operation against Iraq involved tremendous numbers of troops and equipment
and only powerful Western countries had the resources for such an operation.
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Topic 8: Reasons for Terrorism

Point
Rapid modernization creates economic changes which creates strong globalizers
Link
and weak globalizers
This leads to an income disparity between people
Unhappiness in those who are poorer
o
o
Economic Reasons
influenced by the terrorist organizations to join as they

are driven by the motivation to survive
Weak globalizers are states that are unable to keep up with the growing economy
o
As people face a situation of no choice, they are easily
Terrorist organizations can hence continue to thrive as

they are constantly able to exploit the people in these
Suffer in poverty and are very vulnerable to terrorist organizations as their
failed states who suffer from a large income disparity
survivability is threatened
gap
The governments are usually failed ones and are unable to give the people
Able to get more terrorist to join them to fight
what is needed
for their ultimate goal of calling for political
Vulnerable to terrorist propaganda, as they join the terrorist organizations
change through violent means
in an attempt to call for political change

o
Mostly youth as many of them face insecure employment prospects
The terrorists share the same end in mind, which is to call for political change
Revolutionary terrorist movements such as the Chechen rebels and Italys Red
Brigades see themselves as economically marginalized
Militant groups choose terror tactics in the expectations that the government will
increase repression which would lead to a shift from the publics support to the
terrorists cause
o
Bloody Sunday shootings by the British soldiers in 1972
US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003
Religion has been used as a political tool to legitimize violence and to motivate
Religious Reasons
violent activists and followers

o
Religious ideologies, goals and motivations are often interwoven with

those of economic, social and political ones
Religious inspired groups more likely to transform their

innate feelings of conflict with the existing order into
something more dramatic, violent and confrontational
o
Feel that they are being marginalized and
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Religion can be inherently polarizing

o
It contributes to a culture of violence where violence becomes a defining
threatened
issue in the identity of activist groups

o
Failure hence becomes a prevailing factor in the turn to

violence
Members become intoxicated with violence as it is essential to

demonstrate the existence of an imagined war
Non-negotiable position of religion makes it possible for religious activists to

identify as enemies
o
Obliterating secular distinction between combatant and innocents
Religion plays a pivotal role in terrorism where religious goals have been primary,
such as in terrorist groups like al-Qaeda
o
Jewish extremists attempted to blow up the Dome of the rock
When religion enters into a socio-political conflict, it makes negotiation difficult

o
Justified as rebuilding the ancient temple on Temple Mount
Conflict becomes rigid, radical and militant
Political and economic reasons catalyze the conflict, and religion becomes a mean to
legitimize violence and exacerbate
Terrorism is a strategy rooted in political discontent
They target leaders of a nation
audience that may be associated with a social movement
Require huge reforms or setting up of a new government to resolve the
or political party
problem
Political Reasons
Highly contentious policies and societies are likely to be associated with terrorism
o
Typically associated with the prevalence of other forms of political violence

as well
Terrorists legalize their actions by using a popular
Transitional or new democracies have weak government and lack enforcement of
Pressurize a legitimate government
Make use of political weaknesses and exercise violent

actions
o
Attempt to overthrow the government
Believe it is a justified move to improve the

lives of the people
authority
o
Allows the terrorists to act more freely and easily without getting caught for
their actions as surveillance is poor
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Terrorism has the potential to jeopardize democratic transitions

o
Terrorism caused movements away from military rule in Argentina, Chile,

Uruguay, Spain and Algeria
Terrorism persisted throughout the process
In unstable democracies such as Sri Lanka, there is a greater risk of terrorism

o
Highly contentious policies and divided societies
Led to the formation of the Tamil Tigers
Globalization facilitates the operation of transnational conspiracies and spread of

terrorism
o
Advances in technology enhance their mobility and their ability to

communicate internally and externally
State weakness, whether collapse or involvement in extensive civil conflict, also

contributes
o
Failed or failing states that cannot maintain control over their territory or
populations often become hosts for radical conspiracies
Impede stabilization and export terrorism to other targets and

audiences
Prolonged civil conflict and instability produce many refugees and

immigrants
Psychological Reasons
Terrorist groups may find shelter in, allowing them to expand
Leaders draw followers who are largely alienated and provide an unifying message
that conveys a religious or ideological goal
and lead them to believe that they are facing with a
They help to identify the external enemy as the cause and draw the followers into a
problem that they must defeat
collective identity
o
Osama bin Laden has become a positive identification object for thousands
of alienated Muslim youths
Hence, leaders are able to unite the followers together
Convince them that it is a severe problem
Require violence to resolve
Lead to terrorist groups to fight for their cause
Conversion to radical ideology stems from the perception that the powerless gain
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power to get revenge or to gain a sense of significance
Charismatic leaders can persuade their followers to utilize violence even when
pursuing a secular cause
o
Tamil Tigers recruitment of members and usage of violence in the Sri

Lankan Conflict
Terrorists subordinate their individual identity to the collective identity, placing

priority on the groups purpose
Functions as a culture of martyrdom
Terrorism arises in response to a culture of alienation fuelled by cultural conflict

o
Social isolation of a particular culture group may lead to
Culture of alienation provides an environment for the process of
the radicalization of them as they constantly remain
radicalization and extremism to thrive
suspicious about the outer world
Social isolation produces a longstanding and deep cultural conflict and underlying
Filled with hatred and mistrust
condition for terrorism to flourish

o
Under hostility, groups do not feel the injustice in using violence to fight
against the isolation that they face
Chechans during the Soviet period were isolated
Culture Reasons
Led to the development of two ethical systems in the Chechen

society
Only have internal interactions
Hostile and mistrustful towards the world
Chechens have do not feel the constraints in using violence

against the outer world
Only have trust with their own people
Terrorist groups capitalize on this culture of alienation, leading to

the radicalization of Islam in Chechnya
Jihadist culture may provide a new perspective to life for those who may feel
constrained by their social traditions
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o
YEAR 4
Globalisation helps these people to be induced into the movement
Global Jihadist movement serves as an expression of the era of globalization

o
Increasing pool of people who disagree with social convention and

believes that radical ideology are more appealing
Young people interested in global Jihadist movement are less interested

in maintaining ties with the cultural norms of their ancestors
Seek an identity in a new radical Jihadist culture that deviates from their traditional
ones
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Topic 9: Impacts of Terrorism

Point
Primary goal of terrorism is to disrupt society by causing widespread psychological
Link
damage
o
o
Through acts of terrorism, fear is aroused

o
Public may have psychological trauma from witnessing the act and
and this leads to stereotypical perceptions of
devastation caused by terrorism
certain races or religions
Give rise to suspicion among different ethnic groups and nationalities
Shun members of the community and they thus feel disliked and
discriminated against
Bombing were carried out during normal commuting hours
Suspicion and fear of other groups
Increased racial and religious

tensions
London and Madrid train bombings in 2004

o
Public realizes that terrorists live among them
This xenophobia may adversely predispose

both parties to conflict
Persistent threat of future terrorist attacks led to the permeation

of fear into normal daily activities
Social Impact
People no longer feel safe riding the subway
Locals started targeting the local Muslim population and blamed them for
the attacks
Britains multiculturalism policies came under fire for causing terrorist

attacks
Singapores arrest of members of the terrorist group JI

o
Non-Muslim and Malay counterparts may feel uncomfortable in the

presence of Malay and Muslims since the JI members who were arrested
were Malay Muslims
Weaken social fabric and harmonious ethnic relations that underpin Singapores
existence as a nation
Economic Impact
Government has to spend extra money on relieving the economic hardships faced
by the locals
More money has to be pumped into reparation works

and for insurance to pay the family of the deceased
Page 26 of 46
Increase spending on security and emergency procedures
Strain the economy
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Terrorist acts will scare people and lesser people will

want to visit the country that have been recently attacked
Death as a result of acts of terrorism causes the death of great leaders and minds,
Affect tourism
leading to a decline in a countries prosperity
Businesses will close down as lesser tourists
World Trade Centre bombings on 11 September 2001

o
Many lives were lost, including those of top executives from public traded
will be there to patron their company
More people lose their jobs
Pressure on the government as they have to step up on
companies such as American Express and Morgan Stanley

o
Insurance companies lost US$40 Billion due to the lost of lives and
damage to property
Airline industry loss business as people were afraid of flying flowing the
incidents
Government had to provide bail-outs to support the airline

industry and prevent airlines from closing
Many airlines cut down by retrenching staff or cutting down

orders for new aircraft
Tourism industry greatly affected
Bali Bombings in 2002
Many foreigners were afraid to spend their vacation at Bali
Greatly affected tourist industry with tourist arrivals

falling by more than 50%
Tourism is Balis main source of income
Reduced income led to many businesses closing down

and many Balinese lost their livelihood
Government pressured to help relieve hardships to prevent any social unrest or

protests that will exacerbate the situation
Political Impact
Government has the responsibility to keep citizens safe from terrorists

o
More comprehensive checks at custom which results in longer waiting
security measures In the general public
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times
o
Laws that are passes as counter measures against terrorism may infringe
infrastructure are protected from the threat of
upon the privacy of the public
terrorism
When measures fail, citizens blame the government for their inability to prevent
such attacks
Adding more guards in ensuring that public
Madrid Bombings in 2004

o
General Elections were held three days after the bombing
Socialist party won majority of the parliament from the ruling conservative
Governments must take the blame for not being able to

defend the nation or manage terrorism well
Face difficulty in balancing countering terrorism and

maintaining public happiness
party
o
Citizens felt that the latter failed to fully disclose information about who
was behind the bombings and were protecting the ones responsible
Led to political instability and eventual demise of the government
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Topic 10: Managing Terrorism

Point
ASEAN views terrorism as a direct challenge to the achievement of peace, progress
Link
and prosperity in ASEAN

o
Countries can share information on the activity of

terrorist groups
Governments pledge their determination to cooperate against
transnational terrorism through joint police and intelligence measures
o
Regional Cooperation
prepare for contingencies
ASEAN pledged to enhance information and intelligence exchange on terrorists and

their activities, helping member countries to disrupt terrorist activities
Regional nations can better anticipate and
Better combat terrorism
Ensures that there is no safe haven for transnational
In January 2002, Philippines authorities arrested JI bomb-maker Fathur
terrorists in the region, rendering them unable to hide
Rohman based on information provided by Singapore
and making it easier to capture them
Fathur was involved in the bombing of the Light Railway Train in Manila in
December 2002 where 20 people died
He was also a lead character in the Al-Qaeda plot to bomb western targets
in Singapore, arrested in possession of explosives
In January 2007, Southeast Asian leaders agreed to measures committing to

national security and law enforcement
Convention on Counter-Terrorism was signed by ASEAN leaders at their annual

summit, which is the regions first legally binding anti-terrorism accord
International Cooperation
United Nations resolutions are able to

o
Freeze financial assets of terrorists and their supporters
Deny them travel and safe haven
Prevent terrorist recruitment and weapons supply
Cooperate with other countries in information sharing and criminal
Tighter cooperation between international nations will

disrupt the plans of transnational terrorists
Render it more difficult for them to successfully execute

their plans
prosecution
Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) monitor member countries adherence to

resolutions as well as to strengthen counter-terrorism capabilities of UN member
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states
o
Provides technical assistance to countries that require help in

implementing counter-terrorism measures
Counter-Terrorism Centre was establish to foster greater international cooperation

between member countries and to develop a comprehensive database of counterterrorist practices around the world
o
Give countries access to more resources to support their counter-terrorist

practices
More than US$200 Million worth of terrorist funding frozen and more than 400
terrorist suspects arrested through information sharing
Terrorist narratives are typically founded on ideas of hate end enmity

o
Nurturing an Environment
If societies firmly and actively reject these ideas from
They glorify the usage of violence as well as instigate people to commit
being propagated by terrorists, they will not gain
such acts
legitimacy or take root in society
People in all societies must be clear that all such teachings are immoral and avoid
Every individual has a role to play in denying terrorists a
them
place in society through our combined intolerance
JI arrests in Singapore
towards radical ideology
that Censures Terrorism
Calls by political and religious leaders in Singapore for people to remain

calm and be committed to living in harmony with other racial and religious
groups
Muslim leaders unitedly condemned JI and emphasized that it

did not have the support of the Muslim community
Successfully denied JIs of spaces in society and dispelled any form of message
within the Muslim community to help their fellow racial group
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Topic 11: Difficulty in Stopping Terrorism

Point
Terrorist groups usually have close relationships between one another in which they
Groups
These examples show that terrorist groups are able to
aid each other during times of need
continue carrying out attacks even without their leaders
Al-Qaeda is able to maintain a network of connections to other terrorist groups
or base of operations, because they have alliances and
around the globe
affiliations to other terrorists groups
Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) in Indonesia
Abu Sayyaf in the Philippines
eradicating all their associations and influence will be
Armed Islamic Group in Algeria
very difficult
Movement of Oneness and Jihad in West Africa, a splinter group of Al-
Survival and sustainability is very likely
Qaeda, claimed responsibility for an attack in Northern Mali in March 2015
Thus, terrorist groups are able to continue to resist
ISIS receives help from many other terrorist organisations

o
Links with other Terrorist
Link
Each group has the ability to be wide-reaching, hence
attempts to crush them, as they have links with other
Boko Haram, based in Nigeria, pledged alliance to ISIS in March 2015,
groups which allow them to sustain their ideologies and
saying that they would hear and obey in times of difficulty and prosperity
ensure the continuity of their agenda
Several Pakistani Taliban affiliates have pledged alliance to ISIS in

November 2014
Sharing of locations between terrorist groups

o
Sharing of training camps, for example, there is one located in the Sahara
Desert shared by Al-Qaeda, ISIS and Boko Haram which has been known to
train recruits from USA, Canada and Europe
Sharing of expertise, transferred resources, discussed strategies and even

conducting joint operations between groups
o
Receive tip-offs from many other groups which allow them to prepare in
advance
Presence of safe havens
Training at bases belonging to other terrorist groups
With safe havens, they are able to keep themselves safe, lowering the chances of
Safe havens exist due to ineffective governance on
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them being eradicated and arrested
international borders as well as corruption, poverty and
Syria
poor civil service
Al-Qaedas largest safe haven with more than 1,000 fighters, who
outnumber the terrorist networks core organisation in Pakistan and its
exploit the country to use it as a safe haven to create a
affiliates in North Africa and the Arabian Peninsula
new base which they can coordinate future attacks from
Provided the terrorist organisation with a new base from which to attack
Western targets, attract recruits to its jihadist doctrine, finance its

operations and expand its influence in the Middle East
o
Terrorist groups take advantage of these factors and
Terrorists will also be protected in these safe havens due

to the absence of counter-terrorism activities in the area
Their survival is ensured when they have such safe
Obama has limited counterterrorism tools and USA cannot use drones
havens as protection, and makes stopping them and
without violating Syrian airspace, and cannot deploy special operations
their activities more difficult
forces in the country without joining and escalating war in that region
Trans-Sahara region in North Africa has provided the Malian terrorist groups with a
safe haven for recruiting, training and smuggling activities
The FARC operates safe havens on the Columbian borders with Venezuela, Ecuador
and Brazil in which they hold prisoners and hostages and train for terrorist attacks
against cities
Osama and many of the top Al-Qaeda leaders seemingly disappeared after the
Afghanistan invasion by US coalition forces

o
Ability to evade capture
difficult to locate them when they are on the run
Taliban founder and spiritual leader Mohammed Omar still remains at large after
more than 20 years
borders to evade capture and disappear, making it very
Travelled across weakly guarded borders between Afghanistan and

Pakistan countless times to avoid detection by USA and evade capture
Terrorists are able to use vast areas of poorly guarded
Allow them to operate and launch attacks while avoiding

detection as their location is not known
Ensures the survival of the terrorist groups and make
Al Qaeda commander Abu Anas al-Liby managed to avoid capture for 15 years
stopping them difficult as we are unsure of where to go
before finally being seized in a commando raid in a Tripoli carpark.
to
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Topic 12: Best Form of Diplomacy

Point
Allow Singapore to develop diplomatic relationships and ties with many countries
Link
worldwide
economic and cultural ties and speed up economic and
Singapore has been actively involved in expanding bilateral relationships with many
social development
countries since its independence and has benefitted from it
Singapore sends aids to other countries in times of crisis

o
o
Doctors, nurses and teachers were sent to countries such as Vietnam and
In 2004, Singapore also sent humanitarian aid to Indonesia when it was hit
Red Cross provided medicine, first aid, food parcels, water and other
Help to dissolve conflicts in a peaceful manner
Allows countries to achieve maximum benefits from

each other as it narrows down the parameters of concern
supplies for the victims, and ambulances with medical supplies were sent
More countries willing to help Singapore when

in need
by a massive earthquake and tsunami

o
Establish long-lasting ties with other countries

and gain recognition and respect
Nepal during their natural calamities
Bilateral Relations
Bilateral relations allow countries to promote political,
Promote common interests and resolve conflicts at a

more personal and direct manner through negotiations
Helps to promote and ensure national security as with
Allows close-door discussions
good bilateral relations, countries will be safer and will
Increases the possibility of mutual understanding, allowing countries to
be assisted during times of crisis and this will ensure the
reach to a state of common understanding and interest
stability and safety of the country
Singapore-Malaysia dispute over Pedra Branca was solved

bilaterally and was submitted to the ICJ for binding settlement
Singapore and Malaysia also use bilateral diplomacy to discuss and solve water
shortage issues
Regional ties and alliances provide Singapore with a larger political standing in the
region
Regional Diplomacy
Regional relations like ASEAN can help promote

common interests and manage conflicts through
Better cooperate with larger countries
collaborative efforts, compromises, promoting common
Stronger bargaining power and more leverage in discussion
understanding and adopting a win-win philosophy in
Provide Singapore with an edge in negotiations
promoting common interest
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Singapore is part of ASEAN and is one of its founding members

o
region
Formed to maintain stability and to build trust in the South East Asian
region
stability is suitable for their companies to
such as Malaysia and Indonesia, and also discuss differences peacefully
develop and thrive
ASEAN Free Trade Agreement where member states work together to
Allow countries to thrive
Helps to promote and ensure national security as with
provide tax free trade in the region
regional relations and alliances, the overall stability in
Reduces the cost of goods, stimulating trade
the region will be improved and conflicts between
ASEAN protects peace and stability in the region

o
Assures foreign investors that the peace and
Allowed Singapore to forget better relations with neighbouring countries
ASEAN provides Singapore with more trade oppourtunities

o
Maintain peaceful regional relations in the
countries will be avoided
When civil war broke out in in Cambodia in 1980s, countries outside

ASEAN supported the fighting groups
ASEAN and UN persuaded the different groups in Cambodia to stop fighting and to
form a new democratic government
Membership of UN approves sovereignty and independence of small states

o
Help small nations like Singapore to develop friendship with other nations,
countries the right to vote on decisions that may affect
monitor world trends and collect valuable information
them
When Singapore joined the UN, it sent experts to advise and help in the economic
and social aspect

o
International Diplomacy
Dr Albert Winsemius helped Singapore in its industrial planning and
o
o
humanitarian aid to these countries
International relations help to promote national security
Professor Tommy Koh was President of the UN Law of the Sea Conference
within countries as there is a platform for countries to
from 1980 to 1982
settle their differences, reducing the chance of conflict
From 2001 to 2002, Singapore was elected to serve as a non-permanent
and war between countries
member of the Security Council
UN helps countries that are faced with immediate

problems such as famines and earthquakes and provide
Singapore participates and contributes actively to the UN, strengthening our

international relations
Gives them the opportunity to voice their grievances in

the GA
development from the period of its independence to the last 1970s
Help promote common interests and give member
Countries will be assisted by other member countries
Page 34 of 46

o
Shows the confidence member nations have in Singapore, building up
YEAR 4
during times of need, further strengthening security
credibility
UN provides humanitarian aid to countries that have faced problems such as natural
disasters and attacks
o
UN effectively placed diplomatic pressure on Britain and France during the

Suez Crisis in 1956, preserving the sovereignty of Egypt
UN also helped during the Haiti earthquake and the Myanmmar Cyclone
Nargis period
Singapore was involved in peacekeeping efforts since 1989
By 2005, Singapore was involved in 13 operations in 11 different

countries
Hopefully receive aid from other countries in times of conflict
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Topic 13: Importance of ASEAN

Point
Gain International and regional recognition

o
Attracts foreign investors, leading to intra-regional investment
Promotes trade and boosts Singapores economy, transforming Singapore

into a global trade hubs
Link
ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) allowed for a reduction on the import tax of goods
o
Tax paid for trade between ASEAN nations fell from 12.76% to 2.39%
Allow Singapore to export goods at a lower tax and increase profit from
Singapore companies will be able to sell more

of its products with fewer taxes
Allows Singapores marker to be more competitive

internationally
Better position to negotiate with larger states like China

o
Through policies like AFTA, Singapore can work with a

larger marker
increased trade with ASEAN states
Allows Singapore to trade and gain recognition

internationally
sold between countries in the region

Economic Development
ASEAN promotes intra-regional trade
ASEAN has greater political and diplomatic influence than a small state like
Exports are cheaper, brining in more profit and

stimulating economic growth
Singapore
o
Allows Singapore to enjoy improved terms as it is part of this regional

organization
ASEAN provides opportunities for Singapore to engage in talks and diplomatic
missions with other countries
Improve Multilateral Ties
Build and strengthen current ties with other states
Done through meetings between countries and shared projects within
Provides platforms for cooperation with member states

and Singapore, in talks and projects
Through working together, confidence and trust are built

between countries
ASEAN or multilateral military training exercises
Reduce regional tensions to avoid conflicts
Benefit countries by reducing conflict and enhancing trust
Protects our national security due to the
Allows Singapore and other members to share essential information and resources
continued peace and partnerships with other
easily
member states
Help improve one anothers economies and infrastructure
For example, joint efforts to create growth areas, such as the triangle
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between Singapore, Johor and Riau of Indonesia
Allows Malaysia and Indonesia to provide land and other natural

resources to Singapore
Singapore provides management and technical expertise for

development of industries in the area
Forge closer ties and improve relations, allowing for easier future
collaborations
Provides an avenue for countries in the region to discuss security issues and resolve
conflicts peacefully
o
Allow settlement of disputes and differences
One example is the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF)
Maintaining Regional
Security and Stability
member states will allow Singapore to be better

prepared to face threats of terrorism or attacks
o
Maintain peace by promoting political and security dialogue and

cooperation among countries in ASEAN and Asia-Pacific nations
Sharing of expertise as well as cooperation between
Lower the possibility of armed conflict in the region
Singapore work closely with ASEAN nations within the framework of the
Due to knowledge based and practical help

from ASEAN states
This also allows us to better resolve conflicts

o
Leads to strengthening of national security and

ensures peace, thereby ensuring stability
ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting (ADMM)
ADMM-Plus brings together the defence establishments of the 10

ASEAN member states and 8 other key players in the region
Provides another platform for enhancing defence cooperation

through sharing of experiences and exchanges of visits
Aids in promoting mutual trust and confidence through greater

understanding of defence and security challenges
Leads to an enhancement of transparency between Singapore

and other member states
Page 37 of 46
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Topic 14: Importance of UN

Point
Singapore was a small nation that lacked natural resources and experts to help build
Link
its economy. The Government was also largely inexperienced

o
good relations with neighbouring countries
Need for external assistance
UN sent Dr. Winsemius in order to help out with Singapores economic

infrastructure
o
Singapore being actively involved in the UN help build
Developed Singapores labour-intensive industry with the production of
Partner up with other countries
Boost trade with other countries
Boost to the economy

o
With all the practices put in place
goods like shirts
Created jobs for many locals and opportunities for foreign

investment
Ensure Economic Prosperity
Attracted major companies such as Shell and Esso to invest in SG
Retained the statue of Sir Stamford Raffles
Symbolic of Western acceptance. This helped foreign investors

gain trust in Singapore and dispelled stigma of Eastern
Communist threat
Encouraged government to set up large-scale public housing programmes
Improved public image of Singapore
Identified Singapores strategic location as an up-and-coming major air

and sea-hub, leading to todays Changi Airport and Sembawang Port
The strong market is dependent on Singapores access to markets and adopt fair
trade practices
UN encourages trade cooperation between nations

o
National Security
Singapore is the top exporter of oxygen, amino compounds and tin bars
UN offers protection to small member states in the light of potential attacks or

invasions
While Singapore has not faced any invasions, we are a

very small nation and cannot take peace and security for
Page 38 of 46

o
YEAR 4
Key member states such as US are swift to send in military personnel as
granted
part of the UN Army to defend these countries
Korean War
o
National security with neighbouring countries

is importance as we cannot withstand an
invasion for long
300,000 UN Troops were sent to help defend South Korea against the
communist threats posted by the North
With the help of the UN, we can build good relations by
UN sent over 500 peacekeeping forces to Namibia to monitor performance of the
providing humanitarian and military aid to countries
local police in enforcing law and order during the period leading to the elections
such as Nepal or Namibia in times of crisis
and independence
Earns their respect and recognition
Unless we contribute at the International level, we may

not get any recognition
o
But by building bilateral ties and developing

friendship, these countries are less likely to
attack us and at the same time, more likely that
they will provide help should we face a
national crisis
UN adopts a principle of One State, One Vote

Small states like Singapore are given a say in international affairs
given equal rights means that Singapore will not be
UN respects the sovereignty of every nation and at the conferences as each
disadvantaged in terms of size and influence on global
member nations are given the equal treatment and rights regardless of
issues
their size or influence
Being part of this huge international community and
Recognised in the
International Community
Help Singapore raise its profile

o
Singapore chaired the Law of Sea Conference that decided how states
would be given ownership over seas-lanes and territorial waters
Our opinion will still be relevant to the global

community
Singapore will not be sidelined simply due to the fact

that it is a small nation
o
Remain an engaged member on the

international stage, making us relevant
Page 39 of 46
YEAR 4
Topic 15: Military Strategies and Deterrence in Singapore

Point
Armed force comprising mostly of conscripts or non-professional soldiers
As Singapore cannot afford a large professional army, National Service was
Link
Allow Singapore to gain credibility and capability

o
introduced in 1967
Singapore
NS has played a significant role as it serves as a mean of military deterrence to
defend Singapore at all times

o
Citizen Armed Force
Make enemies think twice before attacking

Enemy may be defeated by Singapores
military strength and readiness
Singapore is able to mobilize more than 350,000 soldiers as of 2005, a
Cost of attacking outweighs the benefits as
large armed force that can defend Singapore and harm aggressors despite
they will be convinced that they cannot
having a small population
possibly defeat Singapore
Readiness of soldiers as a form of deterrent

o
All 18-year old able-bodied male citizens called up for NS and have to
undergo training for 13 years for a maximum of 40 days per year
Remain ready in terms of fitness and soldering skills to defeat an enemy
NS allows men to bond and increase their sense of patriotism

o
Singaporeans are united in common cause of defending Singapore
Harder for an enemy to defeat Singapore
Warfare has become more complex with the recent advancements in infocommunication technologies
o
3rd Generation SAF
Allow Singapore to gain credibility and capability

o
Make enemies think twice before attacking
Important that the SAF enhance its capabilities and review its methods of
Singapore when they know how sophisticated
warfare through Research and Development
the SAF is
The 3G armed forces hence aim to use technology to maximise the defensive
Enemy may be defeated by Singapores
capabilities of the SAF and allow its soldiers to fight decisively and respond flexibly
superior technological edge, allowing us to
in war
wipe our enemies swiftly
Use information technology to strike at the enemy more accurately through

the use of beyond the horizon surveillance capability where surveillance
Cost of attacking outweighs the benefits as

they will be convinced that they cannot
Page 40 of 46
YEAR 4
and strike systems of the Air Force, Army and Navy are better integrated to
possibly defeat Singapore
allow them to strike at the enemy more swiftly at a distance without the
enemy noticing
o
Use of IT such as the battlefield management system which integrates all

military assets of the SAF in a battlefield situation so that commanders can
see the entire military situation and make better decisions
Better equipped and protected to increase their survival rate in the battlefield
o
Makes them harder to kill and more of a threat to the enemy force
For example, the ballistic helmet worn by the soldiers offers protection
from shrapnel and has a superior suspension system integrated for optimal
weight distribution
Boots are lightweight and comfortable to aid the soldiers in quick

movements and agility
SAR 21 / MMS-15 weapon they carry is very accurate with a well-balanced

centre of gravity. It has a low recoil and is integrated with Modular
Mounting System for the use of Modular Weapon Sights
SAF needs to be self-reliant in essential defence weapons and equipment, in order
for the army to develop into an effective fighting force.
Strong Defense Industry
Latest technology and equipment needed
Build a strong defense industry
Current defence industry consists of a few companies such as the Defense

Technology Group
Singapore is innovative in its attempts to make the SAF a

capable fighting and defending force
o
Uses the latest technology and equipment
SAF is self-reliant and updated in essential defense

weapons and equipment
o
Strong and powerful defense base means
Mainly responsible for building up fighting capabilities of SAF
Singapore has the capability and credibility to
Maintain weapon systems and equipment in the best possible condition
deter a potential aggressor after the latter has
Produce essential supplies of ammunition
done some rational calculations that he odds
Reduces SAF dependence on foreign arms suppliers as countries may not
are greater than the gains in attacking us
be willing to share their technology
Page 41 of 46

o
YEAR 4
Modifies and upgrades weapon systems to make them more relevant and
suitable for its defence needs
Designs and manufactures defence weapon system and military

equipment to ensure that soldiers can fight efficiently and effectively
Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA) formed in 2000

o
Aimed to provide cost effective and modern technology for the SAF and
MINDEF
Focuses on buying and upgrading weapons as well as developing new

weapon systems for the SAFs use
Conducts defence related research and development activities with other

countries and local tertiary institutions
Defence industry able to modify and upgrade the performance of weapons and
military equipment
o
A-4 Sky hawk fighter bombers are upgraded with new and more powerful
engines
Worlds first heli-portable 155mm howitzer made in Singapore
Bionix a light armoured vehicle is also manufactured by Singapore

Technologies
Local technicians able to maintain AH-64D Apache Longbow helicopters of

120 Squadron
Defence industry improves the capability and effectiveness of the SAF

o
Allowed Singapore to develop a powerful defence force
Able to overcome our problems using our own innovations
Ensure that SAF is ready to defend Singapore at all times
Concept where all of Singapore will defend the nation through various avenues over
and above military defence
Total Defence
Civil Defence
Total defense can be an effective way to deter potential

enemy
o
Singapore can count on her people to be self-
Page 42 of 46

o
Knowing what to do during civil emergencies
15 march 1986 when the Hotel New World collapsed
17 lives were saved
SCDF and trained Singaporean volunteers came forward to help despite rising
We have the capability and credibility to communicate

effectively to potential aggressors
Damage caused by the enemy will be less severe
Potential aggressors will think twice about

attacking Singapore if they know they face the
Enemy knows that Singaporeans know what to do in the event of an attack and
entire nation, not just the armed forces

o
They will find it harder to defeat Singapore
towards Singapore may not be as effective
because the entire population is behind the
Creates a sense of bonding and collective identity amongst all Singaporeans
armed forces and is skilled and has the
Economic Defence
o
motherland
hence the enemy cannot maximize casualties and so turning aggressive

o
reliant and united in defending their
personal safety
o
YEAR 4
resilience to overcome an attack from an
By upgrading the skills of our workers, we equip our people to better cope and
enemy
adjust to new economic challenges
WDA works with other agencies such as labour unions and professional
associations to support industry growth and upgrade the skills of existing
workers
Singapore is economically strong and can financially upkeep modern armed

forces that can defeat an enemy.
Population is economically self-reliant and united and hence less likely to have
internal strife that offers a potential enemy the opportunity to weaken
Singapore by supporting internal strife
Social Defence
o
Build unity amongst diverse racial and ethnic groups in Singapore and ensure
that unity will not be broken during testing situations
Organisations and community groups like CDCs, schools and the IRCC
actively strengthen social ties and bonding
Through emergency preparedness exercises, visits
Page 43 of 46
YEAR 4
to places of worship and interfaith workshops

o
The enemy cannot set one community easily against another because the
bonds are strong and there is trust between the communities.
Enemies cannot exploit communal and religious issues to divide multi-ethnic

Singapore. If Singaporeans are seen to be united, foreign nations are less
likely to try to divide Singaporeans as this strategy will fail
Psychological Defence
o
Having pride and loyalty and wanting to stand up to defend this country
Having the will and mental strength to overcome challenges
During the SARS period in 2003, ordinary people overcome the

challenges and believed in overcoming the health threat as a nation
If foreign nations see that Singaporeans are patriotic and will defend Singapore with
resilience, they will think twice before attacking Singapore because the entire
population will come in Singapores defence. Hence, an enemy will believe it is
harder to defeat Singapore since the population is less likely to give up in the face of
an enemys attack or threat.
Aim of multi-agency coordination on security

o
Fight against non-conventional security threats such as transnational terrorism
on security
and on the constant lookout for threats from terrorists or
Set up to coordinate the work of the various government agencies such as

MINDEF, Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Close networking and coordination among various organisations aims to
The integrated security approach is able to boost

Singapores overall security and ensure that we are alert
National Security Coordination Secretariat (NSCS)

o
Multi-Agency Coordination
other countries
It also allows us to share our intelligence and resources

o
strengthen and enhance national security
Make our security force one that is strong and

reliable
Meet regularly to plan national security strategies and policies
Work with commercial and private parties to effectively combat any form of
terrorists as our reliable security and defence force
major terror threats by sharing intelligence and resources
is able to inflict considerable damage on the
Integrated security approach is to prevent, protect and effectively respond to any
This is able to effectively deter enemies and
opponent should they attack us
Page 44 of 46
YEAR 4
security threats by sharing intelligence and resources
The cost of attacking outweighs the benefits, and

this prevents external threats, allowing our nation
to stay safe and peaceful
Singapore needs to actively fosters friendly ties with the armed forces of other
countries
o
missions
Bilateral agreements and exercises

o
o
Malaysia, members would consult one another on the
Conducted mainly through bilateral and multilateral military agreements, joint

military exercises, training programmes and participation in the UN peace
In the event of an external threat against Singapore or

appropriate measures to be taken to deter the aggressor
Hopefully, this can help to enhance our capability and

credibility in our ability to defend ourselves
o
Potential aggressors would make calculations that
Military agreements with various countries to allow Singapore troops to train in
to attack is less cost effective/less beneficial since
other countries such as France, Australia, New Zealand, and India
Singapore is unlikely to fight it out alone.
Regular military training with neighbouring countries such as Malaysia and

Indonesia to increase cooperation and strengthen ties between the
participating countries
Military Co-Operation with
other countries
Help to increase cooperation and strengthen ties with other countries which
will benefit Singapore in establishing alliances rather than creating enemies
Serves another line of defense
Multilateral military agreements and exercises

o
Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA) established in 1971 made up of

Singapore, Malaysia, United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand
Five nations conduct exercises each year to enhance cooperation and

coordination
In the event of an external threat, members would consult one another on the
appropriate measures to be taken to deter the aggressor
FPDA formed to preserve peace and serve as a defence against external threat
through regular exercises and discussions
Republic of Singapore Navy hosted first multi-lateral submarine rescue
Page 45 of 46
YEAR 4
exercise in the western Pacific region in October 2000

o
Involved the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force and the navies from the
Republic of Korea, the USA and Singapore.
Page 46 of 46

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HWA CHONG INSTITUTION

INTEGRATED HUMANITIES (CORE)

End-Of-Year Examinations Notes

HWA CHONG INSTITUTION

INTEGRATED HUMANITIES (CORE)

INTEGRATED HUMANITIES (CORE)

HWA CHONG INSTITUTION

INTEGRATED HUMANITIES (CORE)

Impacts of the Korean War

Reasons for the Spratly Island Conflict

Isreal-Jordan Water Conflict

Reasons for the Isreal-Jordan Water Conflict

Reasons for the Iraq-Kuwait Conflict

Reactions to the Iraq-Kuwait Conflict

Impacts of the Iraq-Kuwait Conflict

Reasons for Terrorism

Difficulty in Stopping Terrorism

Best form of diplomacy

Importance of ASEAN to Singapore

Military Strategies and Deterrence in Singapore

INTEGRATED HUMANITIES (CORE)

HWA CHONG INSTITUTION

INTEGRATED HUMANITIES (CORE)

Topic 1: Reasons for the Korean War

Korea and saw an invasion and capture of the North the

South also compelled him to take action quickly and

were authoritarian and wanted to bring about unification of Korea.

launch an invasion on the South before it is

imbalance that he will definitely have a quick victory

The desire for personal glory as a National hero also

motivated Kim to launch an invasion on the south so as

Norths decision to invade the South.

to become the leader of the whole of Korea

The speech also made the South seem defenseless

quick victory was possible as the South will be too weak

to counter a swift invasion by the North

His perception of threat and fear of USA assistance to the

just like USA had built up post-war Japan.

All this hence led to the Korean War as Kim firstly is a

Kims Nationalist ideals for

South Korea in the name of national re-unification.

This led to Kims eventual decision to cross the 38th

INTEGRATED HUMANITIES (CORE)

Thus, US intervention in the Korean War changed the

face of this from one of civil strife to a proxy of the cold

puppet in his attempt at world domination.

war. The need for Truman to support South Korea with

HWA CHONG INSTITUTION

INTEGRATED HUMANITIES (CORE)

He acted on what became known as the domino theory

and to defend the existence of Democracy and

capitalism in the world

The Chinese involvement compounded the cold war

anywhere in the world. (Containment Policy)

tension between western democratic blocs and eastern

communist bloc. The Chinese moved into Korea in the

name of self-defense, the Korean War became a proxy

battle between the two different ideological camps. The

Korean War had evolved from an internal civil war to a

US General MacArthur, accountable directly to Truman, not the UN.

mega-war fought in the cold war context.

Dean Acheson Perimeter

Feeling threatened, the Chinese troops moved into North Korea.

Kim was hence motivated by this, to use force to bring