SEQ Diplomacy and Deterrance

Is diplomacy a more effective measure than Total Defence to ensure Singapore's security? Explain your answer.

Issue : Singapore’s security

Given measure : Diplomacy

Alternative measure : Total Defence

Rank Order

More effective measure to ensure Singapore’s security
· Total Defence (necessary but not sufficient measure)

Supporting measure to ensure Singapore’s security
· Diplomacy (part of the measures for Singapore’s security but not sufficient)

(Yes I know that this is perhaps one of the longer essay. You need not write down everything just summaries and provide one or two examples.In fact you can spilt this essay into two)

Diplomacy is the way in which countries manage or conduct relations with one another. Its main aim is to promote common interests and to resolves conflicting interests in a peaceful manner. Developing good diplomatic relationships with many countries is an effective measure to ensure Singapore security but not sufficient.

Singapore must also have the ability to defend herself. That is why Total Defence was introduced in 1984 to involve every Singaporean in the defence of the country. However it can be effective only when all Singaporeans believe that Singapore is worth defending, and are involved in the defence efforts. Total Defence is about the different things Singaporeans can do every day in every sector of the society to strengthen the people’s resilience as a nation. It is a necessary but insufficient measure to ensure Singapore’s security.

Diplomacy is one measure that Singapore uses to ensure her security. It provides opportunity for countries to pursue mutual interests. It also enables them to cooperate with one another and resolve conflicts, differences and disagreements peacefully.

Diplomacy can be achieved through bilateral relations. For example, Singapore has been actively involved in building its diplomatic ties with other countries. She has been expanding bilateral relationships with many countries since its independence. With bilateral relations, Singapore was able to further promote political, economic, and cultural ties with neighboring countries like Malaysia and Indonesia. As a result, with bilateral relations, countries will help each other when things get out of hand. Because they have developed good diplomatic relationship, they are less willing to declare war with each other as they prefer to use peaceful means to solve their differences. Therefore promoting bilateral relation is one measure Singapore has used to ensure her security.

Diplomacy can also be achieved through regional relations as with regional relations, Singapore will be able to become stronger by combining the strengths of member countries. It will, therefore, be in a better position in dealing with other countries. This form of diplomacy ensures the security of Singapore because it provides an opportunity for Singapore to collaborate with other countries to pursue mutual interests which will benefit everyone. The collaboration of countries include helping one another to solve common problems such as transnational terrorism, SARS and the avian flu that threatens the security of Singapore. Diplomacy through regional relations also helps Singapore to resolve her conflicts, differences and disagreements with other countries peacefully. An example of a regional organization that can safeguard the security of Singapore is ASEAN. It allows Singapore to resolve occasional disputes with member countries peacefully. The ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) in which Singapore is a member also helps to ensure the security of Singapore since it promotes political and security dialogues that tackles security issues and resolve conflicts peacefully.

Diplomacy achieved through international relations can also help to ensure Singapore’s security. For example, Singapore is also part of the United Nation (UN), which has a membership of 192 countries. Singapore’s membership in the UN helps it to maintain its independence and territorial integrity. The Security Council of the UN helps to maintain international peace and security which is especially important for a small country like Singapore. Therefore by being a member of UN, it helps to ensure Singapore’s security.

However, cultivating good diplomatic relationship alone will not ensure Singapore’s security nor is it a more effective measure than Total Defence. Singapore need to have Total Defence to deter potential enemy incase diplomacy fails.

Total Defence is an effective measure in ensure Singapore’s security. It was introduced in 1984 to involve everyone in the defence of Singapore and strengthen the people’s resilience as a nation. Potential aggressors will think twice about attacking Singapore if they face the entire nation and not just the armed forces. Total Defence comprises of 5 aspects: Military, Civil, Economic, Social and Psychological Defence.

Military defence is one aspect in Total Defence. In Singapore, we have a large citizen armed force of over 350 thousand soldiers which is operationally ready to deter potential aggressors. Besides that, the armed forces is also on the way to be transformed into an intelligent defence force where surveillance and strike systems of the Air Force, Navy and Army operate together to provide early intelligence which would help to destroy the enemy even before they can locate us. The fighting capability of the armed forces is also enhanced by the presence of the defence industry which helped it develop into an effective fighting force through the use of latest defence technologies, weapons and equipment. In this way, the security of Singapore is ensured as our level of deterrence is heightened and our enemy would think twice before they plan to attack Singapore.

Civil defence aspect in Total Defence also contribute to the security of Singapore. It can also be strengthen through the emphasis on civil readiness. Social defence aspect in Total Defence refers to the unity of multi-ethnic groups in Singapore in the face of social crisis such as a terrorist attack that seeks to pull ethnic groups apart. Social defence could be achieved through activities such as emergency preparedness exercises, and activities that promote inter-racial and interreligious understanding. Psychological defence aspect in Total Defence refers to the intangible aspect of defence which emphasizes on the need to have pride and loyalty and wanting to stand up and defend Singapore from security threats. It helps the people overcome social challenges and stand together in unity to face those challenges boldly as a nation. By developing these five aspects of Total Defence Singapore’s security is ensured as our potential enemy is aware that it will not be easy to conquer Singapore.

In conclusion, by developing Total Defence she present a strong deterrent to prevent any country from attacking her. This is a necessary measures but it is insufficient as she needs to minimize the possibilities of these countries from attacking her through the forming of friendships and reducing hostilities with other countries through the development of good diplomatic relationship.

However, it can be argued that a strong deterrent signal through Total Defence will help to safeguard the security of Singapore even in times when diplomacy fails completely.
Having diplomacy alone will not guarantee that Singapore’s security can be ensured since no physical aggression by foreign countries can be anticipated with certainty. Therefore diplomacy is not the more effective measure in ensuring Singapore’s security.


Notes from the Ess : Answers that focus only on those diplomatic measures that Singapore employs but has no relation to how they could contribute to Singapore’s security will not be accepted

Similarly answers that focus only on those Total Defence aspects that has no clear link to how they could contribute to Singapore’s security will receive no marks.