Diplomacy notes

Social Studies Sec 3 Chapter 6

Revised notes in Diplomacy.

Typical question: Bilateral relations are more important than international relations for Singapore’s success and survival. How far would you agree with this statement? Explain your answer.

Comments The essays tend to ask about the best way for Singapore to conduct diplomacy. The point is that every factor you offer must discuss HOW and WHY Singapore being a small state can benefit from using any of the 3 approaches – Bilateral, regional and International.

You should also approach the answer using Elaboration and Examples.

Main Point 1: Bilateral diplomacy/Relations is achieved when Singapore develops close diplomatic ties with another country.
Sub-point 1 Good bilateral relations with immediate neighbours like Malaysia and Indonesia à More cultural, social and business exchanges à People and governments of Singapore and these nations get to know one another better and development understanding à Peace and stability will be the outcome à This means lower chance of conflict between Singapore and these neighbouring states à better environment to promote trade and business à Singapore will have a stable environment to grow its economy à Singapore needs a stable environment to trade and make revenue for its companies à Economic growth is assured for Singapore	Sub-point 2 Good bilateral relations also raise the amount of bilateral trade between Singapore and this nation à For example Singapore and South Korea have strong bilateral ties and they have signed a Singapore-Korea Free Trade agreement à This allows Singapore companies to sell its products duty-free in Korea and this makes Singaporean products more attractively priced to Koreans à Koreans will buy more Singapore exports and this will boost the economy of Singapore since Singapore companies will earn more à Singaporeans will have a better standard of living.	Sub-point 3 Transfer of advanced technology can occur when Singapore has strong bilateral ties with another country which is more technologically advanced à This transfer of technology will have Singapore develop faster à For Example: Japan, US and Germany with whom Singapore has good bilateral ties with transferred sophisticated knowledge and technology to Singapore in the 1970s and 1980s and this helped Singapore develop and Singapore industry to improve faster à Singapore companies raised their level of productivity and efficiency thanks to such technology transfer à Singaporean products and services could be offered at a lower cost but at a better quality à raising the profit margins for Singaporean companies à increased prosperity for Singapore.
Sub-point 4 Good bilateral relations give Singapore a chance to help our immediate neighbours in need à Example after the 2004 Asian Tsunami, Singapore sent help to Thailand and Indonesia, immediate neighbours who had been most affected by the Tsunami. This offer of help showed that Singapore was willing to assist its neighbours with whom Singapore has bilateral ties à Such help further strengthens the ties and earns the goodwill of these nations which are less likely to be aggressive towards Singapore and more likely to side with Singapore in any event of Singapore facing a problem. Hence Singapore will be safer with more friendly nations which Singapore has established good bilateral ties with à This will ensure Singapore’s survival during periods when Singapore may face threats.
Main point 2: Regional relations/diplomacy is achieved when Singapore works with countries in the region as a grouping such as ASEAN.
Sub-point 1 Allows Singapore to be in a better position to negotiate and make gains from negotiations with larger states like China, India or Russia à Larger states are more willing to negotiate with a large regional grouping like ASEAN than with a small state like Singapore à Larger groupings like ASEAN have more political and diplomatic influence and clout than a single small state like Singapore à Negotiated terms may be more favourable for Singapore since the larger countries may be more willing to offer better concessions with a larger regional grouping like ASEAN à These better terms will be enjoyed by Singapore since it is part of the regional grouping à These terms may be better than what Singapore would have attained if it had negotiated with these large nations on its own.	Sub-point 2 Allows for any difference between Singapore and a member state to be settled amicably/peacefully à the regional grouping like ASEAN serves as a platform for peaceful discussion on differences/problems that Singapore may have with other nations in the region à ensures peace in the region and a stable environment à prevents conflict à Allows for trade and business be uninterrupted à foreign investors have confidence to invest in Singapore since there is less likelihood of conflict in the between Singapore and states in the region as Singapore is a member of ASEAN à Singapore will prosper as more foreign businesses set up in Singapore + trade increases + tourists will want to come to Singapore à hence by having regional diplomacy through membership in a regional grouping like ASEAN, Singapore benefits from a more stable regional environment since member states will have dialogue rather than war when differences arise à good environment for Singapore to prosper à For example, ASEAN served as a platform for Singapore and Indonesia to discuss how both countries would jointly manage the haze from forest fires in Indonesia instead of quarrelling over who should take responsibility for the fires.	Sub-point 3 More trade can be attained by Singapore with the members of the regional grouping as a member of the regional grouping là For example, Singapore as a member of ASEAN is working with the other member states to develop the ASEAN Free-Trade Area ( AFTA) which will have a potential market of 600 million people by 2015 à a tax-free trade environment will mean that Singapore companies will be able to sell more of its products to the people of ASEAN without the taxes à hence, Singapore exports will be more competitive as they will be cheaper à Singapore companies will make more money à better profits à better economic growth for Singapore àmore jobs for Singaporeans.
Main Point 3: International relations/diplomacy à Singapore joins a large international organization like the United Nations (UN) and plays an active role in the organizations activities and programs and develops ties with multiple nations concurrently.
Sub-point 1 By being part of a large international grouping like the United Nations ( UN), Singapore can benefit from the expertise offered by the UN à This was especially important when Singapore first became independent à it did not have many experts and needed external help to build up its industries and economy à Dr Albert Winsemius was an economist sent by the UN to help Singapore’s early industrialization à Singapore benefitted from his advice and was able to build the foundation of its strong economy.	Sub-point 2 Earn the goodwill of many nations at the same time  à Singapore can contribute via International Peacekeeping efforts à This will allow Singapore to be a good member of the international community à earning their respect and recognition à Singapore is a small nation and unless it contributes at the International level it may not get any recognition à By earning this recognition more nations know of Singapore à Singapore can build bilateral ties with them and develop friendship for business/trade, cultural or even military exchange which can benefit Singapore.	Sub-point 3 Building international relations via membership in international organizations give Singapore the chance to raise its profile when it can play a useful role à For example Singapore chaired the Law of the Sea Conference that decided how states would be given ownership over sea lanes and territorial waters à Singapore also has participated actively in peacekeeping operations by the UN such as in Afghanistan and East Timor à such contributions show Singapore to be a good member of the international community à helps Singapore become better known in the world à good for Singapore’s reputation à more nations may want to do business and trade with Singapore.
Weighing Good bilateral relations are the foundation stone of all other relations. If Singapore has poor bilateral relations with many nations à unlikely to be welcomed in regional and international groupings à unlikely for Singapore to be able to be accepted or to gain any benefits from such diplomatic arrangements since Singapore poor bilateral relations will prevent any cooperation with Singapore at the regional or international level. Hence, unless Singapore develops strong bilateral relations with many nations and gets along on a country-country basis, it is unlikely for Singapore to be able to gain any benefits from regional or international diplomacy or be welcomed by such groupings.