Reason for the formation of the United Nation

To what extent did concerns with peacekeeping lead to the formation of the UN? Explain your answer.

Issue : Reasons for the formation of the UN

Primary Reason: Concern with peacekeeping

Secondary Reason : Promotion of economic development

The United Nations was formed after World War II to promote peace, security, and economic development. It came into existence after the collapse of the League of Nations which had been started after World War I.

The League of Nations took too long to make decisions and peace was broken. For example when the Japanese invaded Manchuria in 1939 the League of Nations could not stop this. This showed that the League was powerless and a new organization was needed. The League had no arm of its own and relied on the cooperation of members.

In addition the outbreak of WW2 showed that peace was not maintained by the League. Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbour in 1941exposed the League’s weaknesses in peacekeeping. So a new organization, the UN was established so that the weaknesses of the failed League would not be repeated. Therefore the concern with peacekeeping was the primary reason that lead to the formation of the UN.

However there was the additional concern of promotion economic social and cultural development. For example, the World Health Organisation (WHO) was formed under the UN umbrella to bring the world to a point where all the people are not just free of diseases e.g. cholera and smallpox but are at a high level of health. It provides money to train doctors, nurses and other health workers for developing countries and keeps governments informed about new drugs.

In addition, the Food & Agricultural Oragnisation. (FAO) aims to raise standards by encouraging improvements in agricultural production. It Introduces new varieties of maize and rice which have a higher yield and are less susceptible to disease. It train people in poor countries how to increase food production by the use of fertilizers, new techniques and new machinery and cash to fund new projects.

Peacekeeping as compared to economic development played a more important part in the formation of the UN. In peacekeeping, the UN was able to prevent further conflicts and bloodshed from breaking out. In armed conflicts, more people would be killed and buildings destroyed. Hence peace-keeping was more a determining factor than promoting economic development. It is less important because it depends a great deal on the peacekeeping measures. Only if peace could be enforced, can there be there economic development.

Was the American Involvement in the Iraq War a Mistake?

(Please note this is the 2nd Gulf War started by the son. The first Gulf War that you are studying in the text book Desert Storm was started by the father. The two wars are about 13 years apart. Do not be confused)

Study the Background Information and the sources carefully, and then answer all the questions.

You may use any of the sources to help you answer the questions, in addition to those sources which you are told to use. In answering the questions you should use your knowledge of the topic to help you interpret and evaluate the sources.

Issue: Was the American Involvement in the Iraq War a Mistake?


BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Iraq was suspected of developing biological, chemical and nuclear weapons. The US government claimed that Iraq was developing weapons of mass destruction (WMDs). Saddam Hussein, the President of Iraq, denied the allegation.

However, under pressure from U.S and the UN Security Council, Saddam Hussein allowed UN weapons inspectors into its capital Baghdad to conduct their inspections of weapon sites. The result of their investigation – there was no WMD in Iraq.

Unconvinced, the U.S government issued a warning to Saddam Hussein to leave Iraq within 48 hours or face attack. Two days later, on 20 March 2003, U.S launched air attacks on Iraq even though it did not receive full support from the other UN Security Council members. War ended about three weeks later, after U.S. troops entered Baghdad and toppled the Hussein regime.

The US defence Department had planned to withdraw most of its troops by the end of 2003, but they soon found themselves tied up in a long-drawn guerrilla war with the Saddam loyalists.

To make matters worse, a civil war broke out between Iraq’s majority Shia Muslim population and its minority Sunni Muslim population. The chaotic situation in Iraq made it impossible for US troops to withdraw. By 2007, the number of U.S. death toll totaled about 30,000. Also, an estimated 655,000 Iraqis had died as a result of the war.

It has been six years since the war started and it haunts the people like a never-ending nightmare. The U.S. war in Iraq had lasted even longer than U.S. involvement in World War II. Was the American involvement in Iraq a mistake? The sources below give various views about the Iraq War.


1 (a) Study Source A What is the message of this cartoon? Explain your answer with reference to the cartoon. [5]


(b) Study Sources B and C
How different are these two sources? Explain your answer. [7]


(c)Study Source D
How reliable is this source about the threat posed by Iraq in 2002?
Explain your answer. [6]

(d) Study Source E
How useful is this source as evidence about the reactions of the Iraqis after the defeat of Saddam Hussein? Explain your answer. [7]




Source A: A Singaporean cartoonist expresses his view on the American Involvement in the Iraq War

















Source B: A letter to the editor of newspaper, Las Vegas Sun, on 6 June 2008

When is our beloved country going to quit believing it can police this wide and wicked world with its limited forces and resources? When will this war end? As a World War II veteran and a high school teacher during the ’60s, I lost two of my best students to that hopeless Vietnam War. It made me weep to see their names on that Vietnam Memorial in Washington, D.C.

Iraq War is in many ways, similar to the Vietnam War. While we are trying to save the free world from tyranny, our motives are misinterpreted and misguided. We were not in Vietnam or Iraq to conquer and subjugate a weaker country; we were not there to rob its wealth or take control of its resources. We were there for a good cause. I agree that all wars are a pointless waste of humanity, but sometimes we have no choice. Would you have allowed Hitler to rule the world?

Hats off and a hearty salute to those who are bearing the burden of this war! I think most people would agree with me that there are justifiable reason to go into a country and overthrow a regime that has brought so much injustice and human suffering.

Sources C: A British gave his views about the Iraq War in his blog

The Americans attacked Iraq because they claimed Iraq had WMDs and Saddam was refusing to let the UN inspectors check. They went there to save the Iraqis because Saddam and his family were committing genocide throughout the country. They are valid reasons. Now the Americans have got rid of Saddam and found no WMD. The question is: why are they still there?

People can argue that the country isn't stable, the soldiers are needed to see that the Iraqis don’t kill Iraqis. Personally, I think the U.S government had a plan for removing Saddam, but did not have a plan for afterward.

There are two separate groups of people in Iraq, the Shia Muslims and the Sunni Muslims. Now that Saddam is gone, who is in charge? There is no government, no military, and no police force and the "law of the jungle" took over. The U.S had to restore control, establish a government, a military, and a police department. At the same time terrorists are moving into Iraq like ants to a picnic. The U.S was not prepared for this and is now stuck in the sinking mud.

Source D: A speech by U.S President George Bush in January

2003

Our nation must prevent terrorists and regimes from threatening the United States and the world. This is an evil regime that used poison gas to murder thousands of its own people. It continues to show its hostility toward America and to support terrorism. It has plotted to develop biological and nuclear weapons for over a decade and has refused to let in the UN weapon experts to conduct inspection. Undoubtedly, Saddam has something to hide from the civilized world. By seeking weapons of mass destruction, his government poses a grave and growing danger to world security.

Source E: A Malaysian journalist who was in Iraq during the American invasion of Iraq gave an account of the reaction of the Iraqis in October 2003

Groups of Iraqis started coming to show their support and joy at the end of the Saddam regime. Within an hour, the group had grown to between 300 and 500. An atmosphere of triumph and celebration could be felt in the fast growing crowd.

Then a man with a huge hammer started hacking away at the base of a huge Saddam statue. An American soldier fastened a chain over the statue and attached it to a U.S military vehicle. The vehicle pulled and almost effortlessly, the statue fell over. Men and boys raced forward and kicked, stepped and jumped on the statue as if it was Saddam himself.

Suggested Answer (Please look only after you have attempted the question)

Study Source A.
What is the message of this cartoon? Explain your answer with reference to the cartoon. [5]

(3 to 4 marks answers)
1. The US government took a dangerous path in launching an attack on Iraq

Evidence: The American man looks nervous and was perspiring profusely as he attempts to swallow the sword.

2. Invasion of Iraq may be easy but the problem is in the withdrawal. The American troops are not stuck in the middle of the civil war there and could not pull itself out.

Evidence: Iraq is portrayed as a sharp, jagged-edged sword. Once it goes down the throat, it is not possible to pull it out without injuring the man. The American showed fear and was perspiring while he swallowed the sword.

(4 to 5 marks answers)

The cartoon tells me that the invasion of Iraq in 2003 was a highly dangerous path taken by the US government. The cartoon shows a nervous American perspiring profusely as he swallowed the sword.

Although the US attack was swift and decisive, the American troops are now facing the problem of withdrawing from Iraq. This is evident in the cartoon as Iraq is portrayed as a sharp, jagged-edged sword. Once it goes down the throat, it is not possible to pull it out without injuring the man.

The cartoon was drawn with the purpose of mocking at the America’s decision to get itself entangled in the Iraq war. At the same time, the cartoonist is reminding the people that Iraq is a complicated country with many internal problems. Any attempt to meddle with it is courting trouble.

Study Sources B and C
How different are these two sources? Explain your answer. [7]

(4 to 5 marks)

The war veteran in Source B is ambivalent in his viewpoint on the Iraq War. He felt sad about the loss of lives in wars. This is shown in the phrase, “I lost two of my best students in the Vietnam war ….made me weep”. Nevertheless, he supports US action despite the loss of lives. He says “I agree that all wars are a pointless waste of humanity, but sometimes we have no choice.”
On the other hand, the British man in Source C is clear about his stand. He held negative viewpoint about US involvement in the Iraq War. He blames the US government for getting stuck in the Iraq War because “the U.S government had a plan for removing Saddam, but did not have a plan for afterward.”

(7 marks)
Source B, being an American citizen and a war veteran, he wants to show his support for his country’s decision to attack Iraq because Saddam “has brought so much injustice and human suffering”. However, as a former teacher, he wants to send out a message to the public that “all wars are a waste of humanity” but “sometimes wars are unavoidable.”

Source C has a different purpose. Writing in his Blog, he is free to speak his mind about the war. His purpose is to criticise the US government for starting the war and to show his unhappiness that his country, Britain, was also drawn into a war that was not carefully planned. The British says that “the U.S government had a plan for removing Saddam and his family, but did not have a plan for afterward. “

Study Source D
How reliable is this source about the threat posed by Iraq in 2002?
Explain your answer. [6]

L1/1 Reliability based on provenance

Yes, this source is reliable because it comes from the President of the United States.

L2/2 Reliability based on source content, no explanation

It is reliable because it says that Saddam has plotted to develop biological and nuclear weapons for over a decade and has refused to let in the UN weapon experts to conduct inspection. These Weapons of Mass Destruction will threaten the security of the whole world.


L3/3 Reliable OR unreliable based on cross-referencing to background information or other sources

Source D is reliable to say that the Saddam regime is posing a threat to the world because cross-reference to the background information also shows that “Iraq was suspected of developing weapons of mass destruction (WMDs)”

Source D is also reliable to say that Saddam murdered thousands of people using poison gas. This fact can be supported by Source C which says “Saddam and his family were committing genocide throughout the country”

OR

Source D is unreliable because there was no evidence to prove that Saddam supported terrorism. Moreover. it was also not true that Saddam refused to let the UN weapon experts to conduct inspection. Cross-refer to the background knowledge shows that “under pressure from U.S and the UN Security Council, Saddam Hussein allowed UN weapons inspectors into its capital Baghdad to conduct their inspections of weapon sites.”

L4/4 Reliable AND Unreliable (both elements of L3)

L4/5 Unreliable due to personal bias

Source D is unreliable because it contains biased opinion. President Bush made assumption that Iraq’s WMDs were used for terrorist activities. This was probably because President Bush was especially sensitive and cautious after the terrorist attack of New York’s World Trade Centre on 11 Sept 2001. His biased tone can be detected from his use of words such as, “threatening”, “hostility” and “murder”.

L5/6 Unreliable due to the purpose of the speaker

Source D is unreliable because President Bush spoke with the purpose of condemning the Saddam regime so that the Americans and the rest of the world would support his decision to launch attack on Iraq. He says, “Our nation must prevent terrorists and regimes from threatening the United States and the world.”
As the President had a hidden agenda when he spoke these words, the information given in the source is doubtful and unreliable.

How useful is this source as evidence about the reactions of the Iraqis after the defeat of Saddam Hussein?
Explain your answer. [7]

L1/1 Useful - based on provenance – not explained
Yes, this source is useful because it comes from a Malaysian journalist who stayed in Iraq during the American invasion of Iraq in 2003.

L2/2 Useful OR Not useful – based on provenance - explained

It is useful because it was an eye-witness account by a journalist who stayed in Iraq during the war. What he described was probably true because he saw it.

OR

It is not useful because the man was a Malaysian, not an Iraqi and he could not know the reaction of the Iraqis.

L3/3-4 Useful OR Not useful – based on content - explained

Yes, it gives a useful eye-witness account of the people’s reaction after the fall of Saddam. He saw a large crowd pulling down the statue of Saddam and then kicking and jumping on it. This account is useful as the description shows me that the people hated the dictator.

OR

No, it is not useful because the source only describe the reaction of one group of Iraqis and not all the Iraqis.

L4/5 Both elements of L3 – useful AND not useful based on content

L5/6-7 L4 + Useful and not useful – based on cross-reference to other sources

Source E is useful as evidence to show that the Iraqis hated the dictator, Saddam Hussein. Source E describes how the people celebrated and displayed great joy when Saddam was defeated. The fact that Saddam was a hated dictator can be proven with cross-reference to Source D which says that Saddam “used poison gas to murder thousands of its own people”. Therefore, the facts given by Source E are reliable. A reliable source is a useful source.

AND

Source E is not useful because the information given in the source is limited. It only shows the reaction of one group of Iraqis. Cross-reference to Source C tells me that there are two groups of Iraqis – the Shia Muslims and the Sunni Muslims. The Shia Muslims support Saddam whereas the Sunni Muslims hated him. What the Malaysian journalist saw were probably the Sunni Muslims who had been tortured under the Saddam regime. The reaction of the Shia Muslim would be different as they looked up to Saddam as their hero. They would probably be crying in despair that Saddam was gone. Therefore Source E is not useful in showing the reaction of the Iraqis because of the limited information given.

Quick guide: Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is located about 31km (18.5 miles) off the southern coast of India. For much of the last 20 years it has suffered fighting between the armed forces of the predominantly Sinhalese government and Tamil Tiger rebels who want an independent homeland in the north and east.

Sri Lanka is a multi-ethnic country, with a population of 18m people. It is an ancient centre of Buddhism. It also has a significant number of Hindus, Christians and Muslims. There are also a number of smaller communities such as the Burghers and the Veddas.

The civil war has killed about 64,000 people, displaced one million and held back the island's growth and economic development.


The origins of the current violence go back to the island's independence from Britain in 1948.

Although the years immediately following the end of colonial rule were largely peaceful, from the outset there were tensions between the majority Sinhalese community - who are mostly Buddhist - and the Tamil community who are mostly either Hindu or Roman Catholic.

The communities speak different languages - Sinhala and Tamil - and both claim their ancestors were original settlers on the island.

While the island's population enjoys what is arguably the highest per capita standard of living in South Asia, in the years after independence the Tamil community complained of discrimination when it came to getting jobs in the civil service or winning places at universities.

The government argued it was redressing the imbalance from colonial times when Sinhalas accused the British of giving preferential treatment to Tamils.

The run-up to war

Resentment over perceived discrimination was cited by the Tamil Tiger leader, Prabhakaran, as the motivating factor behind his decision to form the Tamil New Tigers militia in 1972. In 1976, this body changed its name to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) more commonly known as the Tamil Tigers.

The cause of "Eelam" - a Tamil homeland in the north and east - has been invoked to justify countless suicide bombings by the Tigers on civilian and military targets.

One of the first such attacks was ordered by Prabhakaran in 1983, when the Tamil Tigers attacked an army patrol in the north of the country.

That in turn led to anti-Tamil riots in which an estimated 600 people were killed and thousands displaced.

Pattern emerges

From that moment onwards, it can be argued that the Sri Lankan conflict followed a pattern that in many ways is still repeated today.

Throughout the 1980s, 1990s and for parts of this decade, the country has witnessed a combination of Tamil Tiger suicide attacks on the one hand and repeated military skirmishes in the north and east on the other.
The violence over this time period has been interspersed by various international efforts to negotiate a peace settlement: technically the two sides are not at war despite the recent violence, as neither has formally withdrawn from a peace treaty signed in 2002.

Both the military and the Tamil Tigers have been frequently accused of gross violations of human rights by international rights groups.

Civilians have been routinely murdered and thousands made homeless by the years of war.

The fighting has been complicated by the existence of shadowy paramilitary groups. Also a group of rebels led by their eastern commander, Karuna, broke away from the Tamil Tigers in March, 2004.

The conflict has also had a disastrous impact on reconstruction efforts after the December 2004 Asian tsunami with the distribution of international aid hampered by the fighting.

Can either side secure a military triumph?

Neither seems to have the muscle to win outright military victory - although both have had their successes.

In recent months it can perhaps be argued that while the conflict is no less winnable for either side - it has become a great deal more bloody.
At least 2,000 people - troops, Tamil Tiger rebels and Tamil, Sinhalese and Muslim civilians - were killed in the first nine months of 2006, the government and truce monitors say.

Unless common ground can be found between the government's oft-stated position that it is only prepared to allow more autonomy for the north and east and the Tiger's desire for full-scale independence for these areas, a solution to this most intractable of disputes looks as far away as ever.

“The United Nations :a successful international organization” Do you agree? Explain your answer. [13]

Issue: Success of the UN

Give proposition: UN is successful

Alternative proposition: UN is not successful

Rank

Balanced conclusion: Successful in some areas, unsuccessful in other areas. UN is not a complete success neither is it a complete failure.

Yes, UN is a successful international organization.

The UN has played an important role to preserve world peace and provide aid. The UN Security Council has successfully imposed sanctions as deterrence to prevent wars. This collective effort has led to many successes such as helping to maintain peace in troubled areas such as Kuwait, Iraq, etc UN intervention in the Korea War stop the spread of communism in the south and helped to come to an agreement to end the war.

The International Court of Justice also helps members to settle their disputes peacefully. For example, Singapore has benefited through trying to solve conflicts peacefully with Malaysia over Pedra Branca and the water issue.

The UN is most effective in providing help such as food and medicine to countries in need that face emergencies eg. floods, earthquake, famines in Pakistan, the Philippines, etc. UN international aid through its various organizations such as the Red Cross, have helped to build communities in times of crisis such as after Iran earthquake and the tsunami crisis in Acheh.

However UN is not completely a successful international organization.
UN has not been successful all the time, especially in its peacekeeping missions on some occasions.

The Peace-keepers are only sent if the warring parties want to have peace and are willing to accept UN intervention. Sometimes the countries concerned do not welcome the UN’s help and conflict could worsen as opposition fight against UN troops as can be seen in the war in Iraq.

The sending out of the Peace-keepers often went too late and half-heartedly. This is because consent of the major UN members must be sought before they were sent. The peace-keeping force made up of troops from different countries. The troops are under various different commanders and often, their actions are not well-coordinated.

The UN Peace-keepers are not given active political power to over-rule the countries in conflict. They are only acting as impartial third party to supervise armistice only. Sometimes UN intervention worsens the already tense situation and escalates the war into an international conflict. Eg: The Korean War.

Many members of the peacekeeping forces and innocent lives have been lost or injured and destruction caused as UN peacekeeping forces try to put down rebels. The UN also sometimes fail to stop conflicts as seen from the outbreak of the Vietnam War, the recent N.Korean missile crisis and the attacks in Lebanon.

The UN is most successful in providing aid to members who are in trouble as she is able to harness resources such as food and medicine donated by its many members from the developed world and other world organizations. However, in its safekeeping tasks, it has not been as successful as it faces limitations – the UN is not given the active political powers to intercede and overrule the countries in conflict.

But to a large extent, the UN is a successful organisation and has helped to prevent the outbreak of another major world war.

a) To what extent has Singapore’s involvement in ASEAN helped her to maintain good diplomatic relations? Explain your answer. [12]

Issue : How Singapore maintain good diplomatic relations

Given factor : Singapore's involvement in ASEAN

Alternative Factors : Membership in UN,Bilateral Relationship.

Rank

Foundation /Corner stone : Bilateral Relationship

Secondary Relationship: Regional (ASEAN relationship) International Relationship.

Yes Singapore's involvement in ASEAN has helped her to maintain good diplomatic relations with her neighbour in South East Asia.

Singapore is active in leading ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) meetings to discuss security issues and confidence building measures with other counterpart nations like USA, China, Japan and Korea. She has been proactive in sponsoring and supporting regular opportunities for Foreign Ministers of ASEAN to meet with their regional and international counterparts to discuss issues of security concern so as to promote greater confidence and transparency in international dealings. This has earned the respect of the countries in the region in believing that Singapore is eager to pursue foreign policies beneficial to the region.

In this way, Singapore has managed to maintain good diplomatic ties with her neighbours. There have been no major disputes that have led to violence or war between the members ever since ASEAN’s formation. Instead there has been mutual cooperation on several issues such as dealing with terrorism. Singapore has also shared her expertise and knowledge in several areas with her neighbours such as Indonesia in fighting haze. She has offered ASEAN scholarships to deserving students from ASEAN countries.

However, besides ASEAN, bilateral and international relations are equally important in helping Singapore maintain good diplomatic relations.

Singapore is active in supporting UN missions and commissions in international peacekeeping and international law plenary sessions. Since her accession to the United Nations, Singapore has sat on the General Assembly and sent peacekeeping, police and medical missions to countries ranging from Cambodia, East Timor to Iraq. Singapore is also prolific in volunteering for international law plenary sessions and discussions. She has been involved in chairing the draft sessions of the UN Law of the Sea Convention. Her willingness to play her part in international peacekeeping has won her the respect and good diplomatic standing in the international community. This willing to be a positive contribution to the United Nations has helped enhanced her good diplomatic standing. Therefore maintianing international relationship has helped Sinagpore to maintian good diplomatic relationships with many countries.

Besides, Singapore is also active in fostering strong bilateral ties to promote greater cooperation and mutual benefits. Singapore consistently seeks to build good bilateral relations with countries in the region such as Malaysia and also form new partnerships with those not traditionally in the circle of contact. To those in the region, Singapore is ready to assist in community and humanitarian missions eg. Indonesia and the Philippines. Singapore also explores new trading links and relations with countries further away like Bahrain, Chile eg. recent FTA talks to break new grounds in forging win-win solutions in bilateral cooperation. Therefore maintianing bilateral relationship has helped Sinagpore to maintian good diplomatic relationships with many countries as Singapore is current not having any conflict with any countiry.


In conclusion, building sound bilateral relations is the corner stone or foundation of Singapore diplomacy and that is the single most important factor that has helped her to build close regional ties and to contribute positively to the international community. Good bilateral relations between Singapore and other individual states is the basis that allows her to function meaningfully within supranational frameworks be it regional organizations like ASEAN or International Organisations such as the UN.

Were ideological differences more damaging than competition over scarce natural resources in international conflicts? Explain your answer. (159-164)

When countries do not see eye to eye with each other, international conflicts will arise. When there is international conflict, countries may go to war and there will be damages like lost of life (social damages) and destruction of infrastructure like roads and railways and factories and buildings (economic devastation)

There are many reasons why countries do not agree with each others. For example, they may have different ideological differences or they may fight over scarce natural resources like fish.

After World War 2 ended, the Cold War started with US promoting the democratic capitalist system while the USSR believed in the communist system. This ideological difference led to several international conflicts for example the Korean War. North Korea, supported by Russia believed in the communist system while South Korea supported by USA believes in democracy.

Both North and South Korea were attempting to re-unify Korea under their respective governments. North Korean wanted to be communist while South Korea want to remain a capatlist society. As they could not see eye to eye with each other, the Korean War started in 1950 and lasted like 1953. Therefore ideological difference can lead to international conflict.

During the Korean War from 1950 to 1953, a lot of damages occurred. For examples, a lot of civilians and soldiers died during the war and building, road and railways were also destroyed. Therefore, when international conflict arises from ideological differences, it can bring about a lot of damages.

Sometime when two countries claimed that they have rights over scarce resource like fishing ground, international conflict will arise. For example, Britain and Iceland fought the Cod War in 1975 over the fishing ground. Iceland declared the 200-mile economic exclusion zone which means that other countries cannot enter the water near Iceland to fish.

This international conflict resulted because Britain did not recognize Iceland’s clime over the 200-mile limit and continue to fishing in these water. The conflict lasted for a few months and few shots were fired, but several ships were rammed and some damage occurred but few people died. Luckily, the conflicted ended in 1976 as Britain and Iceland were able to come to an agreement. The agreement said that Britain was only allowed 24 fishing boats inside the 200 mile at any time.

Therefore when countries fight over scarce resources, international conflict will arise. When this take places, there will be damages. In this case, boasts were damaged and some people were killed.
In the examples that were provided, international conflict that arise due to ideological difference like the Korea War showed that the damages were more damaging than when countries fought over scarce resources like the Cod War between Iceland and Britain.

However, whenever international conflict arises for whatever reasons, if it is not solve quickly, the damages will be more than if the conflict is solved quickly. Therefore because the Korean War lasted for 3 years, the damages were more than the Cod War which lasted for about one year.

So weather the conflict is due to ideological differences or due to competition over scare natural resources as long as the conflict is not resolve quickly, the damage will be enormous.

Click on the picture below to see the a bigger picture.

Several SBQs are uploaded below. Try them out. Identify the type of skills to use before attempting the questions. i.e. Which questions do you need to ICE the PAO, which uses the weighing scale and which the yin yang.










Focus Revision on SBQ Skills : Reliability and Source Utility


Reliability /Proof Skills

1.General Comments

a.Weaker students will answer on the basis of what the source says – the content will be accepted uncritically.

b.Better candidates will know that the question require them to evaluate the source to explain why they believe it or not.



2.Depending on the particular question, there may be several ways of doing this, some more effective then the other.

a.Explanation of provenance

i.Provenance can give important clues about reliability, but on its own will never provide a satisfactory answer—it ignores what the source actually says.

ii.Yes it does prove it because it is written by a ……..so he will know what he is talking about.


b.Typicality

i.This is not ‘this is just one source, so I cannot believe it.’

ii.Rather it is the extent to which you can generalize from what the source depicts. In fact at this level, what the source says is accepted as reliable in itself, the problem is simply that it is not true of all people/place/time. It is reliable for showing that some …….., but not all of them do.


c.Explanation of bias using language of the source.

i.This has to be a demonstration of how the content of the source reveals the perspective of the author, thus affecting it reliability. This may be a matter of loaded language, omission of relevant materials, and selection of one- sided materials.


d.Cross-reference

i.This is a process of checking the reliability of a specific aspect of a source by comparing it either

1.Against what another source says or
2.Against one’s own knowledge

ii.For cross-reference to work, it must be clear

1.That a check is being made (that the reliability of a specific aspect or claim in the sources is being tested.)

2.What exactly is being checked (i.e. the specific aspect or claim being checked.)

3.What exactly it is being checked against (i.e. something in another source, or some specific items of factual knowledge.)



iii.The absence of any of these elements can put the validity of the cross-reference in doubt.

1.When one or more of the above element are omitted generalizations take place.

2.e.g. the following should not be allowed as cross-reference

a.Source X is true because Source Y supports it.
b.Source X is true because Source Y says the same.
c.Source X is reliable because it agrees with my own knowledge.
d.I can believe Source X because this is the kind of thing that was going on then



++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Utility Skills

1. General comments

i. Many candidates never move beyond seeing sources as information rather then as evidence.

ii. For such candidates, the utility of source A would be for example that it tells us something about an issue that has been asked in the question.

iii. For better candidates, utility related to reliability. It you can believe it, it must be useful. If not then it cannot be useful.

a. Source A cannot be very useful as evidence about ……because………….. However, if you look at Source B, …..

iv. However, the best candidates understand that utility varies according to the historical question/issue in relation to which the source is being used as evidence.

v. The apparent unreliability of the source can enhance and change its utility.

vi. The unreliability is itself evidence to be used.

vii. The source is useful because, although it is obviously not typical of ….., or of all ….., it is a good insight into how……..

2. LORM

a. L1 undeveloped explanation of reliability (1m-2m)
(These do not use the content of t source)
It is useful as the person is…… so he will know…….

b. L2 Useful because of what it tells us about the issue

c. L3 Useful because it tells us that the point of view of the person involved.

d. L4 Utility checked by cross-ref e.g.

i. Developed explanations of reliability.

ii. These answers will be based on the language used in the source in relation to bias/tone/impression/typicality.


++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++


SBQ Case-Study One : How successful are the government’s efforts in helping the aged in their ‘golden’ years?


Read this carefully. It may help you to answer some of the questions.

During his National day Rally speech on 19 August 2007, the Prime Minister, Mr Lee Hsien Loong, announced a series of measures to help the aged in Singapore. He was concerned that senior citizens would not have much savings in their Central Provident Fund (CPF) account to see them throughout their life after retirement.

Before the National Day Rally speech, the retirement age was set at 62 years old. An employee can withdraw a certain amount in his CPF account at the age of 55 after he has left a certain minimum sum of balance in his account. He will only be able to draw small amounts from his minimum sum when he reaches 62 years old.

With the increase in life expectancy of Singaporeans rising to 80 years old, the Prime Minister feared that the current practices would not be enough to take care of the retired workers. Therefore the government will raise the retirement age from 62 to 67 years old. It will also pass a law making it compulsory for companies to reemploy workers who retired at 62 years old in 2012. A retired employee will only be able to withdraw from his CPF minimum sum when he reaches the age of 65.


1(a) Study Source A.

Why do you think the blogger drew this cartoon? Explain your
answer. [5]


(b) Study Source B.

How useful is this source as evidence that senior citizens welcome the changes made on their CPF and retirement age? Explain your
answer. [6]


(c) Study Sources C and D.

How similar are these two sources? Explain your answer. [7]


(d) Study Source E.

Does this source prove that the government’s effort at re-employing older workers was successful? Explain your answer. [7]



Source A
A cartoon drawn by a blogger, Sei-ji Rakugaki,and posted on his blog on 8 February 2007.






Source B
The Straits Times, 21 August 2007.


Mrs G. Dev reflected the views of the vast majority of the 50 people polled by The Straits Times yesterday. “If I was in the pink of health and could carry on working till 65, it might be okay,” said the 50-year old senior midwife. “But I’m already having some health problems, so what if I get too sick to work? It means I will have no money to fall back on. Also I have no idea how long I will live… With this delay [in taking out her minimum sum in her CPF], I might not even live to see the money.”


Source C
A blogger’s comment on the government’s efforts to help senior citizens, November 2006.


I'm also amused to see PM Lee say that "helping older Singaporeans work longer" is one of the ways by which the government is tackling the aging population challenge. Why am I amused? Frankly I am not very sure what is the significance of the government raising or not raising the retirement age. If you need the money, you will want to work. If you like to work, you will also want to work. If you don't need the money and don't like to work, then you won't work. In other words, old folks will work if they have no choice.



Source D
‘Mr Wang Says So’, a well-know blogger, giving his view on the issues raised by the Prime Minister in his National Day Rally speech, 21 August 2007.


I agree with PM Lee’s views on the aging population. To be frank, there aren’t many choices to choose from. PM Lee’s solutions are not at all brilliant. They are quite obvious. It’s a “not-much-choice” situation. As I check around the blogs, I hear some people mumbling and grumbling. Their dissatisfaction is with the idea that they’re going to have to work to the ripe old age of 62, or 65, or 67. While I understand the feeling, I think that these people may not fully understand the issues. The government is not forcing you to work. If you have enough money, you could choose to stop work at 60, or 58, or 55. As a matter of fact, if you have enough money, you could jolly well retire at 35.



Source E
Adapted from the Mediacorp Channel NewsAsia website,9 September 2007.


The Minister in charge of ageing issues, Mr Lim Boon Heng, lists down the work that needs to be done to help Singapore's changing population. 70-year-old Henry Chong is the oldest worker at the NTUC Income Contact Centre. But the company said his performance is no less than that of his younger colleagues. Mr Chong used to make S$1,600 in his office administration job, now he makes about S$2,000. "I feel I can still continue. I'm still healthy and I prefer to work until the company doesn't want me

anymore," said Mr Chong. Mr Lim Boon Heng hopes more can be like him.




(a) Study Source A.
Why do you think the blogger drew this cartoon? Explain your answer. [5]

L1 Answer describing cartoon but not detecting message. [1]
e.g It was to show an old man working in a food court.


L2 Answers based on contextual knowledge [2]
These answer show the growing ageing society of Singapore and the challenges that resulted such as the financial needs of the ageing population which explains why the cartoon was drawn. This knowledge is not available in Source A.

E.g. It was because of the high numbers of older workers who did not have financial security

E.g. It was because the aged in Singapore was experiencing financial difficulties.

L3 Answer based on impact of message(s) [2-3]

E.g. The cartoonist wants to tell Singaporeans that the older workers are forced to work because of their financial needs. Therefore workers should have sufficient preparation for their old age if they do not want to suffer the same fate. (2 marks)
Eg. The cartoonist wants to persuade Singaporeans to have prepare for their old age so as not to suffer the same fate as the man in the cartoon. (3 marks)

L4 L 2+L3

Message impact explained in Context [4-5]
Award 4 marks where there is 1 message impact OR where contextual explanation is weak.

E.g. The cartoonist wants to let Singaporeans know that it is crucial to prepare for old age. This is because many Singaporeans are going to be senior citizens in the near future. (4-5 marks)

(NOte from the ess: Notice that this model answer did not use the ICE the PAO that I have suggested but focus on the OUTCOME. Remember the OUTCOME is of the upmost importance)





(b) Study Source B.
How useful is this source as evidence that senior citizens welcome the changes made on their CPF and retirement age? Explain your answer. [6]



L1 Undeveloped explanations of reliability (1 -2)

E.g. It is useful as she will soon retire, so she knows what she is saying
E.g. The source is not useful because it does not give the view of those who support the scheme .
E.g. Source B is not useful because it is only the opinion of one Singaporean. It does not mean all other older workers felt the same way.



L2 Useful, because of the information it reveals (2-3)

E.g. some B is useful because it tells us that older Singaporean workers have difficulties with re-employment. The source also reveals that there is some doubt about the delay in drawing out the minimum sum from the CPF.

E.g. Source B is useful because it is highlights the view of certain older workers who fear that the so-called improvements to be made for their benefit might not be to their advantage.



L3 Useful, because it tells us how older workers feel / think about the situation / gives the point of view of older workers. [4]

E.g. Source B is useful in conveying an older worker’s doubts, which represent the general feeling of other workers in her age group (reflected the views of the vast majority of the 50 people polled by The Straits Times yesterday). Source B is useful as evidence about the responses of older workers on the government’s initiative because it tells us that not all older workers welcome the initiatives or that the initiatives will benefit all older workers. The lady raises an important point that working after retirement would be acceptable if she is healthy. But would the initiative work if the older worker is unhealthy?



L4 Developed explanations of reliability (5-6)
These answer will be based on the language used in the Source in relation to bias/ tone/ impressions/ typicality

E.g. Some B gives a negative impression of the thought of one worker who is in the older worker category. But if we look at source E, another worker has a much more positive attitude. So Source B may not be typical and therefore it is not useful as evidence. The source is biased to a certain degree. The lady is assuming that she will not live long therefore she might no be able to enjoy her minimum sum left in the CPF. Ultimately this colours her view on the government’s initiatives.



(c) Study Sources C and D.
How similar are these two sources? Explain your answer. [7]


L1 Similarity OR Difference, based on Provenance/ Source type/ Topic (1)

E.g. The sources are views by bloggers.

E.g Both are released in different years, 2006 & 2007.

E.g. Both sources are about the viability of extending the retirement age.

OR

Use of content but no valid match

L2 False Match (2)
E.g. Source D says that the government “is not forcing you to work” beyond your retirement age. Source C does not say this.

L3 Similarity in content, i.e. must be valid matches (3-4)
E.g. Both sources mentioned that working past the retirement age is dependent on the financial needs of the individual and not because of the laws passed by the government.

L4 Similarity in Purpose (5-6)
Award 6 marks for support from both sources

E.g. Both sources want to persuade older Singaporeans not to be affected by the government’s initative as working past the retirement age depends solely on the workers themselves, depending on their financial situation. Essentially, the workers have a choice. Although both use different tone in sending their message and purpose, both are trying to persuade Singaporeans that the initiatives are nothing new and not something to be fearful of or to grumble about. Source C talks about the need to work beyond the retirement age if you are not financially secure, “In other words, old folks will work if they have no choice.” Similarly, Source D mentions that older workers have a choice to continue working or otherwise, “If you have enough money, you could choose to stop work at 60, or 58 or 55.”




L5 Difference in Tone / 0pinion (6-7)
Award 7 marks for support from both sources answer dealing with both tone and purpose get 7 marks.

E.g. Source C is bleaker / negative/ emotional, pessimistic/sarcastic about the situation. It stresses that there is no “significance of the government raising or not raising the retirement age.” However, Source D is more positive/ objective/ encouraging. It seeks to assure worker that the government has no other alternative but to raise the retirement age to help older workers, “To be frank, there aren’t many choices to choose from.” Although he downplays PM Lee’s solution as “not at all brilliant”, one can sense that he sees the solution as necessary yet not to be feared because the people still have a choice, depending on their financial situation.




(d) Study Source E.
Does this source prove that the government’s effort at re-employing older workers was successful? Explain your answer. [7]

L1 Provenance/ Typicality (1)

E.g. Yes, because it is from a Mediacorp article, therefore it must be true.

E.g. ‘No, because the account is based on the experience of one retired Singaporean worker only. It does not mean all retired workers welcome re-employment.


L2 Yes, supported from content of Source E (2-3)
E.g. Yes, as the Source states that the older workers can be as good as younger ones: ‘But the company said his performance is no less that that of his younger colleagues’.



L3 No, supported from content of Source E (4-5)
E.g. No, the source indicates that not all retired workers welcome the move. This can be inferred in the line “Mr Lim Boon Heng hopes more can be like him.”



L4 Developed explanation of purpose (5-6)

Sees Source E as consistent with official efforts to assure Singaporean workers

No, Source E is from a local broadcasting station. It tends to support the government. Thus it said positive things like a retired worker welcoming re-employment, especially in the higher pay secured by Mr Henry Chong. This is to encourage retired workers to go for re-employment. This argument can be developed further that this report has a hidden agenda because it particularly highlights the higher pay that Mr Chong receives as compared to his previous job and Mr Chong’s claim that he is happy to continue working. Clearly this is to persuade hesitant retired workers to consider re-employment which will lessen the government’s burden on looking after the unemployed retirees, in terms of medical care and daily expenses. Sound E may therefore not be reliable.

L5 No, by cross-referencing to other sources (7)
i.e. Sees that Source E is not representative of the acceptance of retired
workers.

No. The ‘success’ at re-employing older workers as stated in Source E is just a
single example and not supported by Source A and B. In Source E, Mr Chong
states that "I feel I can still continue. I'm still healthy and I prefer to work
until the company doesn't want me anymore," but this is contradicted by
Source A which gives the sarcastic remark, “And why do I work …? Because I wish to?... My foot! Another example to show that Source E is not representative is the negative viewpoint of Source B that contradicts Mr Chong’s positive acceptance of re-employment, ““But I’m already having some health problems, so what if I get too sick to work?”. Even Source D which generally is supportive of the policy gives a possibility that not all retired workers will seek re-employment (depending on their financial status), thus negating the statement that the government effort at re-employing older workers was successful.