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. .

THEPOWERISSUE

rssuE FrvE,/ sGD $4.s0 / 2oo9 MtcA (p193/10/2006)

' ,:-)

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\ ,,'iJ

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BROADERPERSPECTIVES

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.ir

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NoteIn arvorld of ever advancing technological and scientificinnovations, where man has acquired significant abili-ties to alter his environs and to disseminate that said_knowledge, every individual not just bis entities like states aDil cor?oraiions - is able io iap on

lheselevlling aDd empowering tools to exert powcr. Wc can, rnore than at any time ii history. finally claimthat this is the cent!ry of the indivjdual. Across the wortd, \re see people revelling in their everyman poweN todo more for themselves, to alter the status quo, to influence the big players of the worlil and to effect change.

Yet the questiotr is how will such power be used? The pitfalls !o power come when ou. purpo.ted krowledse isfar sreater than our wisdon and when we exchange clout aDd control for an abnesation of msponsibilitj,. AnAmerican hip hop band, the Flobots, have a telliDs sons callcd Handlebari that shows the diffrent paths anenpowered individtral can choose to takc. Ii statls out hiih a deceptively simple and aLmost childish refrain.Iian ride n1a bike uith no fidndl"6ars, he repeatsbefbre extending the analos/into:

I;on Tndke neu dnhbioh.sI con hand out a million uaccinationsI can .hange the nation uith a inicrophoneI cen split ait otatn of a tnalecule

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

I can do.anlttllinq Luith no pertnissionIcanquide n missile b! saklLiteI can end the planel in a hoLocoust

So the firsl most important po$erto wield maybe the truih about ourselves- If power is always accompaniedby moral choice, theD we can be a platform for positive social change, and we can be the sta.ting points for civic

ensaseneDt iD oursocieties- Which path willyou

take?

BASE IMAGECREDIT aftue, Kn,s Richar.l II ot Englandaor rhis pnge) lve Can Do ltl blr J. Howard Miller, crcarir cotrrrotrs

\

or"oroor^ooor*or*ror,r'ua I,

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18CULTURE WATCHP]tOPS OF PROPAGANDAtlorv c.n ! government .onvin.cthc pcoplc to siarunitd at alltnlcs?

20HOW TOSTAGF. A MtI,]TARY CoUPPut on your Ch. Gucvera tee-shirt, strap orIour plasti. ndchinc gun and pla),rrm-chair rc!olutioraryl

5'IHINGS TO I(NOwPOWER PLAYERS'I'O BERECKONED \(TITH'I'ODAYWhowiU malte or brcak our world?

COMPREHENSIONSTARTING OVERhdr.e anrhopc lor chrnge nr the uorldlL

06A MATTEII OF OPINIONIS IT GOOD THAT TI.IE]NDIVIDUALHOLDS SO MUCHPO\flER INTODAY'S \f ORLD?

FEATURE AR'I'ICLE

EvervbodvWants to hulethe'World

The nation-state is losing its rightto rule to a slew ofnew po\^rer-

players on the global stage. Sowhat is the big deal? Shouldwe be thankful or should webe worried?

ON 2ND THOUGHTITE'IHINI( THE UNLove iror hrr it. the UN is thc drostnnportart IGO we have today.

38

SI(ILLS SECTIONTHE INTRODUCTION:PART TWON'e mrkeoverthreeinlroductionsbrsedor skills{'e taught n1th.l.n issu..

45SI'O'I'LIGHTWE ARE ALL UNAWAR}]V/hy did AvAltE suddcnly rattcr so much?

\)(HAT'S THE POINT?FEARHowferr keeps {s lrom thc truth.

29 i;*:l:;:';*l;".::;

34

LOCAL/GLOBALHOW PO!(ERFUL ISSINGAPORE COMPAREDTO OTHEI{ COUNTRIES?The littl red dot Bets ,anked ilith the best.

T4 46

I

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5 THINGS TO I(NO'W

PowertobeReckoned\iltnfll

Shakespeare once

a siage, And allmerely players"

said, "All the world'sthe men and women. Besides the usualwho are the top dogsation-states,

ofthe 5 actors on the global politi-cal stage who are changing our lives,

that we need to know about?

bt SHIAO-YIN KUIK

5 Most Powerfirl International Governmental Organisations (IGOs)It

"ull

New York, USAStartcd in 1945MoDel Might

ofSg15bjllion

Facilitating inter

socio ccoDonic devel-opmeDt, human ights,

I,the ru

I

B.ussels, Luembourg

Startcd in 1993MoDey MigLt

uS$18.4 trillion) of

Developing a poliiicaldd economic union

Itr" wToNew York, USAStartcd in 1948

Us$o.2 billion

Dealing with

I The world BankI Hcadquartcts Washnqton D.C., USAStaried in 1945 MoDcy Might Anmal budgt ofUS$26.8 billion Nlcmhcrs 185 nation-states

Economic development;technical advice, loans,

INATO rr.,aq,,""r",\ Bru.srl., EplAiUmsrirl.d in r9.15Iuone\ tlishr ao.rL,i ,.d 'nili.Jrt.p.r,lingor all NATOrembcr.cnr-stitutes over 70% ofthe world's defence spending Nlemllcrs 28 nation-statcs IDterests All members of the North Atlaniic Treaty Organisationagree to rnutual defence in response io an attack by any erternal party.

5 Most Powerfrrl Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs)

BRAC Hcadquaters Dhaka, Bangladesh Slarrcd iD 1972 EDrployees11o,ooo Money Itlight Annual budgetUS$48o millionj USg4.6 billion podfolioin micrcloans lnterests Microcredit,

Oxfam Headquarte.s Oxford, En8landStarred in 1994 Employees 6,2c)0ltoney Might US$j7o4 miilionInte.esls Poverty alleriation, dcbt reliel

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Doctors Without Borders

Hcadquarte$ Seattle, WashingtonStartcd iD 1994 Employees 5,1oNloncy Mislrt US$3Tbillion in as-sets, US$2 billjon jn sranis siven awayanrually I nrcrcsts Global healthcare,eradicatiDg poaerty, improving AmencanVorldMsion ucadquarters

Washington, USAStarlcd in 1951Employces 31,ooo Money Nl iAhtUS$r.6 billion Interests Food aid, energency assistance, child sponsomhip.

BROADERPERSPECTIVES theoowTissUe

Hcadqr{ft ers Geneva, Switzerland

Staricd in 1971trmployees 27,oooNl oncy Might US$7oo millionIntercsts Healthcare in poor countries,eneqency nedical care.

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5 Most Powerfirl Religious Leaders

Grand Avatollah Ali al-Sistani Pastor Rick Warren

t,rith Soutlrcrn Bantist Clrristirnihirra(kruarters Naiaf, lraq Hc^d(luafi ers califomia. UsA

has gained mantWcsr.m srppo{ers onhjs side ilr hjs light lbr'libetan selfdeteFmination. Tibetan Buddhisrn lias becoDrc

a fashtunable relisbn in Hollllood and..nv.,Js lik. i.rors Ri.lrrril c.r. indStevcn Sc.gal havc b..om. local sL,pporters ol libet. ln 2oo5 and 2oo8, theDalaiLama ni.rde'li?ne N.rsrzine's list oftlie \rorld's nnr most influeDti{l peoplc.Hc has bccn gilcn honora+' citiz.n:hipin six.ounties and many f ^\. mostnotablr the Nobel Peace Prile i. rq89.

lvho listcDs to hiD? \\ho li\lcns lr) hinr?

Ex.mptcs of his innr.'!:.1

Millions of follorrcN ir Imq aDd I|ancall hin their rrdilo dl raqltd or "objectof cmulaiion.": Sisiani also reeches lheworld throush his nerworl( of ollices in15 coontries and hjs \rebsite \t/Ie.al-

Walren is lhe lbunding pastor ol Lhe Saddleback Church, the 8lh lnrgest churchin Anerica with a 23,ooo strong coDgreg{tion. IIis 2oo2 book, T/re Pr?oseDriucn rit , has sold nDrc than 4ll million cori.s wo.ldmdc. warr.D has spokcn at nat'onrl and iltc.national forLrnrslikc thc lIN. lhe Wo d Econonia forurrin Davos and the Aliican Union. 1?rk,mailazine amed Warren as one of "$Workl Leaders W]lo Xlattered Xlost in2oo4" aDd oDc of "1oo I'Iost hrflucniial Pcoflc in thc World in 2oo5 . Healso rea.|es out to people onli e \iaI6v.rickwarren.com

In 2oo4, Sistani effoftlcssly orchcst.atcdnassile noDliolcnt trct.sts dcnrandingdcmooatic clcclions in lraq. He elenissued a fatla telling nomeo Lhey werereligiousll obligatd to vote in the 2oo5

elections. even if their hus-

The Dalai Larnas ndmi stfttion ac-

knowledsed that it rcceived $1.7 nilliona )car iD thc t96os f.om t|c U.S. Cor.nrrnent through t| Cenlrcl IntelligenceAitenct (ClA). Because ol the ise of rviolenL anti Chira moverDeDl iD Tibetunder his watch in :oo8, there has beenspeculation that the irflueDcc that thcDalai Lanu's pacifist political idcologyhas oler young Tibeians nrai be wn.ing.

L \xnrple\ .'l hi\ influcnrcl'

I.{ith Roman Calholicisnr\\'ho listens to hinr?

Fl\aDrplcs ol his i'rllnc'!a'?

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

bands had fo$iddcn

ljxamples of his nrflucncc?

Yosefs influence comesfrom his role as founderand spiritual leader of Shas,

the Haredi (ultra-orthodox)party- Hundreds of thou-

smds of Jews of Mid-

During the 2oo8 UDited States presiden-ti,l electi{rn Ur,rrtsn hosted th. Cilil F.-Nm on Thc Prcsidcnc]' aihis churcl s'ithfrcsidcntial candidates. Mccain andObama. WaneD also gale the invocatioat Obana s presiden(ial inaugu.ntion in

Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso

\ rhn list.ns t. hin,?

dle F,asrern .nd N.rJhAfrican origin follow

,\s liead of the Romxn Catholic ChurchaDd SolereigD of the Vatican Ci\ Statc,thc Popc iDllucnccs thc opinions of theworld's r.1.+7 billion Cat|olics. Catholicsrccognise t|e Popeas asuccessor lo SaintPeler, sho Jesus named as the rock'ofthe Chrrch. The Pope promotes vriousUN events and meets heads of statc rcgularly.

RabbiOvadia Yosef

Hcadquarlcr\'lihet|.ilh Tibetan BuddhisnWho l;stens to hin?Along with the 8o,ooo or so lbetaD ex-iles tliat followed liin. the Dalai Lana

him. His controversial

weekly radio addresses, fullof criticisms ofpolitical leaders andevents, are widely heard in Israel

E\ini|hs nf his in tl ucn.c:)

In 2oo4, fro choicc prcsidential candidate John Kerry- losl the sL,pport olCatholic voters lvhen Cardinal R-ttzingero.dered,\nerican bistiops to refuse com-nnnioD to any Catholics who s pport.dKerryk stand on abortion...

Through Shas's 12 seais in Ismel s legislative branch, Yosefinfl uences Israeli politicsspcially the Mnkue nastpeace process. In the2oo7 Israeli Presidentialelection, Rabbi Yosefcndorscd |is lons tinefriend S|nnon Peres,

the election.

*

Pop Benedict X\,'I

Hc.dqudrlrrs Vaticrn Cit!, Ita\'

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

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-

5 THINGS TO KNOW

rhey hNvc dose ties to polilicius {ndright wiDg pressure gio!ps. Also,I o!ngJapancsc revere theru lbr thcir lhsli liger Lattoos ard nrost ol lhc PLrblic lo.kstheothcrsil ts hng as the tal,uTimostlr 1cals thed: al{pe.NI in r:lans to fearRun by godfaiher Kenicii shinoda, the

39,ooo strong Yamaguchi-gumi em-pire accounts for nearly half ofJapan'sr.nsstcr DoDulation.M.in illicit activitiesBlacltmail, illegal gambling, prosiitu-.,tiol, smuggling.

Uain clans to lcarThe Cosa Nostra ni.\'still conh ol Sicillbul Lhc! hr\e bccn se\'ercl] weak_ered bfth. ar.ed of 2.1!,odfathers rndLor).dppo Bemrrdo ProlenzaDo. Now.itsupto lbe ro,ooqst.o P,'Ndrang-heta who arc tookins be\.nd c.nabriito the resl of thc $a.iil. B\' 2oo6. the'Ndransliela controlle/ 8o% of the

99!sr!9rm!9119 ryr('ry--Mrin illicit activiticsTraffi ckine cocaind and IeaDons smug-gling, sknnninginonc] off large publicsork congin{ciiorl p.oiects, nonvlauDdering, blacknail. illcsat

sarnblins,prOsrit tion, conhibtnd, kidnapping,exto ion, loars h atkirg, pornogr{ph\'.Illegrl lrofits a.e Lhcn invesLed in lcgaLrcal estal. and iinrncial {ctivilies.

Mexican Drue CaltelsCrealcd sin(( 198os\!'hv rrcn t thev scr.cdl)

The Italian MatraThe 5.ooo stro ng Solltsevskayabrolhedrood is headquafte.rdin Mos.oN L!1 orcrate.-! rvotldidde.i!lair illi ci t jidivitiesNlLrlder, ertortion, drug traffi cking,trrDrs trailickins, moDey laudering,tuau(1, f rodtitution, hunlan tf affi ckjng.pornogr;phy. Noh', the Mafiya is rsingtheir illicit wealthlo take overlcgiti-

mrteLiusinesses I'ke chemical factoris,

Crcatcd sincc t3th centurvlvhy aren't thcyscared? lg/ith estinated rcveiues of$4o}ilion, the Mafia is one of ltaly's bigg,es I

business eDterpdscs. Strong taniil)'conneciions and rigorous enlorccmeDlnf omerl, the listorical code of silcncefor fear ofdeath - gn'e thcn colrlrolover tile local coNnunitiei {rd au

thorities. Big and smallbusinesses evcnlind it casier to neSotiate agrcementswith lhc lvlalir rathc!tlianto denouncecxtortio. rackets to thc Police.

U.S. etlorts to control Colon$iaD d.ugcadels and denand ftom Arnerican

drug userskeeps busincss flo\ains mMcxican cartcls use hishlv sophistjcatcd waponry to iighti sroadelaunchers, automatic rveapons, bod)armor and even Kcda.hel.r.ts Tlie)also knoa'how to wage:in elle.tiveterrcrist campaign to sap moraier dccapitations are br)rdcastcd onYou lube,body pads rosFeLl iI ru nrgfn luls 'ndbannels declarine theirlictdies arc

nal slndicat. ni the \!oltl, runnincth.if show like an1profd \lNC with

5 Most Powerfr{ Criminal Syndicates"

The Russian MaJiya

irire. rou lre in c;Iircl ofr/1otli ofRnssjr s tcuitoJt, f'r o{its ecoDotr\rnil hrrc loredlLl dovernment officialsoD vour sidc,Iou d6 Dotneed tobcs.rrcd. r.ikc r rerl [t Gothan Cit"v,ItL,ssia is o!l.lcoDllr,l: the Mali)'ais Nilllrs 10 l,illrnvoire who sets inthei. \!i! - ioum.liskr+oli.nen,polill.irns. the\ hatc llso thriiveil byslolrrlisins their oryanisatid/r, bEtich-ing oni lnto Israel.rnd Nd'w Yorli and

ln.'''i"r- pa,tn"."h,r,s '"'iih guogs rh"."rl.;;;t,,'"' t" r* '-

( rr,r turl \inr. r9!'rs11'h\ rreD t l1,cli.rr(d?

-!---+-, e,lcd sincir-tlirc,r't the\ .Urcdl'

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on pnblicstrccts. The strnnge tralitionaf nnrca..rtido popula. lolli sonssrldtten about Lhe Mexican dNgtradc

also celb.ate fallen drusdcal.N as tblkherces.

lt,in .l rns to f.ir

As of 2oo9, the Hong (o.g .nd Shanithri Brnling Col])o.atlon is bolh tireworld s largen bankits s|oup an(l lhe $orld s 6th hrjresL (omrr{D\.

lndustry Blnki.ij, lnan(e and nNurucc I linD lorQs :l 1!.oo, rRrtrI erir,r \:' l,illi,!,,,' , r I r'r,,J,r., ., r \, l,:11i,,,,,',\ss.ts (in rls$,l)ill .s) 2,3.19.. I Ilr.ln t \'rLrc (in |ss billi("rs)

5 Most Powerfrrl Corporatiorx.

l. HSBC (founded 1865, Headquartered in Ul()

2. GE (founded 1878, Headquartered in USA)

4. JP Morgan Chase (founded 1799, Headquartered in USA)

rrdu\l'1 l r"" lir, urarce ll ','tn.r]!1\2:8.4r?Rrr.au. ('r USs billio.s) 11635

The SiDaloa catcl.oDrmands busincss acrcss thcAdTonn bode. $h;le theGulfca't.l.alls le\.s ils lrrtItaiD illicit actilities i'ounded by Thonas Edison, ceneral El.ctric is invohed j. a !vkl. r.r.s ol

indnst .s from entrtainment to aviati.n to finance. ll is lhe lvodd s r.rnlhrgcst compaDyin terms of matkel capilalisatio!.l.dnslr\ Conslomerate I Emdoyccs 323,oooR.\! ',"r (in U\q hillio'r\) r.:.7 |Pr.'rir-rinls-l,illi, '.r '.:\sscts (ir USs billions) 7953 |Nlarkt\',luc (i. trs$hillio s) 33..!

3. Bank ofAmerica (founded 1874, Headquartered in USA)

slobal hish yield debt. Once considered one of the |e.lrhicsl sur\i\o, s o1 the:oo7 credit crisis, it plunsd in market value due 1r pa.l l.r nrassi|e lossescatrsid by its purchase of Merriu Lrnch.

nncnce and ir{'rece I LmDl''trt\r-r,5b-llcrenuc (in US$ b lions) 19.19 | Prolits (nr Us$ l)illions) u.98\r\il\riI I ssbillit,ns, r.-15.751 Marker\rldrtir'I S\jhilliuo\r

l)rug traliicking

Chinese T{iadsCrerted sip(c l8th centurr'

$'hr arcn t thcY sca.cd?Unlik. thc ItaliaD I'Iafia rich del)eddso! strong taDrilial ties and a risidhierar.h! lo siar' i. colltrol, tr;ads areloose alllliatiors maldnr then harderto t.ick.rnd dirnrntle. ]'hose lo$'cr oDthe ladder do nottpicrll! harc io gctpennissidr f(nn th. h.ad of a hiad to.ngagc nr c ninal activih or paJt.erothcr dval h irds. Also. ivherer.r lhereis a Chinalown in lh worid, lou crn

bellhe ltiads tentacles

worldhrverached tliere to tap irto ties - giiingthen rn uDprecendcntcd hugc nctrvorkofotpoftunitics.ltairr clans lo fca r

JP juorga. Chuse is one olthe oldest financial seNices fiDns in ihc norld. ft iso e oltlie Llig l.our barlis ofthr United States witl B.nl ofAm.ica, a iligrorp

T|c 2s.ooo srfonq Sun Yee On is thelargest triad ir HonB Kong. The 1o.ooonrong United Itamboo tiad basedin t ainan iirst Dude its nrmc assassinatnig chinese dissidcnts for B.ijnrs.Today. it \orIs intonation al\' a ndftadcs drtrgs in Nodh Korea i{jth di.ecLaffrovii fronr Xi.r Jong ll s re8irne.

l)nrlirt (i. rrs$ billions) r5.37a\s.is (in (rss biiliurs) 1,s6:.$firrlietvahre (nr LSs billbns) 136.88

5, E)nonMobil (founded 1999,

Headquartered in USA)

Aparl fro the usual illicit activities,rnajor sou.!es oftiad incomc todxycomes from piratirg all sorts ofgoodsand crcating l.tcrnct f ornograph!.Thcy also ftad. in .ndrdgered species.s i{ell as boorleg tobacco and alcohol!.oducts add smL,gsle illesal inni-gra.ts ftorD lastAsia into the h"est.

Nl.in ill;(il acl;\ ities Born lioni the merscr ofErxoD andxlobil, Exolllobil is thc i{orld'slargestprblicli tradcd coDrpaDl. It is lhe la4estofthc si\ oil strl)errnrjoJls, !rod!cing3.e2r .)lllion ba.rels of oildaih.In(lusLB Oil & sns opcrntnms

l

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FEATURE ARTICLE

)

4)51f=,_: -l.g 'r5rzl1? !

'-- d4c..

"ccra.-,ro$ rOX pOWFp __-_- \te-i st- '

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

,:/'t.

i$'

"l

,t;

d."l.I

IIIII.lI. IIft

,T,

cies of men born with the right silver spoons in tleir blue-blood mou*rs.We believed a monarch's sovereignty was issued by Heaven itself or at least t]le qTant of hadition. And so,individuals not corporations, organisations or institutions - once rcigned as the absolute rxlers of our lives.That changed after 1789. Heads rolled in nore ways thzm one as the Frenc.h Revolution shifted sovereiSntyftom the rL er to the people. Frcm the 18th to the 2oth century, this radical idea of popular sovereignty top-

pled empircs like houses of cards. States evoh'ed into nation-states where a govemment's legitimacy to rule

no longer depended on one individual's personal claim to power, but on a bureaucraqls claim to represent a

nation of people who shared the same language, culfure, history, slmpathies and desire to nrle themselves.

I BROADER PER SPECT V ES thepower,ssue

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FEATURE AMTCIE

We belicved ou sovcnnnent s sovereign!, was issued by &epeople ficnsclves throush denocratic election. And so, for.rve.tlvo centuries. the nation state reigned.

A CRISIS OI LIIGI'I'IIL{CYBut once morc, se are witncssnrg aDother significant shift in

sortreisn$. This is the ase of intensive globalsation: jnflowsdd outlos of noney, people and ide6 between @untrieshave sroro henrendoLrsly in quintity dld @npldibr. Polin'cally, new institutions and ini-dtrrctuE of pouerhave been created to specific.lly challengc a sover"ign 5lJlF.d-ri. u1\. Ln

temational diplomaq.

Btt nation-states dc righrfirly neNous about externalinrerference: some of these oBanisations have tumed out tobe l.roian Horses, hiding their:gendas beneath a beDisn suda@.NGOS like USAID ed bilionaire iNstor George Soros' Opcn Socict"v IDstitute conspired with loc2l activisls to bnng doen the YLrgoslav govemment in 2ooo and helped coordinare the coloursrevolutions" thereaften 2oo3's Rose Revolution in GeoBia, 2oo.1's

the proiiferation of ncw imhnolosies andp.ofiteeing oppotunities thatmpoi{er indi\iduals to act against the state.

TO CONTROI,

CultuElly, a markeQlace of ideas - ,_

has bPn lmpoded pajtournahondl , .;ra. Lppn lmpod d pa,lournlbundl , r;rt ...l,."ndrnF.

,.nl:.

., .,'. "ih"i-:

it'. t'.. ,i)trer ro royaaes ro onr n.nor. .! ,.:,i!:.;"

With the nation state clearly un , '-,d"reone a ,.ii.i. or .esirima\r. , kidi,lhhodmonglhdqLFuoj2r.lirrrun r ' \t .ipouer plrrer. - r, rul- - u% r"uffi:.ffi;;-:;"',*"-'- .' ;.'.. , , r:i.. ,i;l\rl OSnI(; Tr{r r-Al)At{ll lrr/

Orange Revolution in Ulaaine and 2oo5 s Tulip Re\o-lution in Ktrszstm. has from the INIF or dre

\Vorld Bank sometimes rcquire gorcrnments iop.nnit foreisn econonrists to alisn domestic

economic rcforms ac.ordinS Lo free tradeideals". Mosl disturbing is fie cons e.-

, able inluence transnatioDal corpura-_ tions sert orcr the agenda dd nlc of

,. ttre it'oiaarade Oryanisation.In fact,\r' ihe WTO'S Trade related Intellectual?rbperty Rjghts CINPS) :$eenent

-.:-' was largelFwitteD by a consortirn of

Nation-stares have become nothin8 morc than convenient stages

fo! a transnational alrama to takeplace between all khds of tr:tsna-

tional actors. Tlinlr of HN1, slobal dngtrafiiqking and Wtill Street's meltdo$n. Transna

I tion.l tenoisn nal

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FEATT'RF, ARTICLE

newesL .righq statcs, accounting for llnost h{o thjrds of international trade and are thc kcy sourcc of forcign direct investment so\ital to development. Prilatisation is sccn as thc fanacea for poorprblic utilit] perfondce: free riarkel compcliiion lcads to lcss.omplaccnry, loacr pices, better q!:llity, It1orc choics, less corruption,less red tape aDd fastcr delivery. TINS. mtioD stales harrdoyer their tladilional rcsporNibilitics ovcr fublic $dfar and pubiicsecuiq to pdvate co.poftlions brsed on th. asslnnption drat fiislowers the cost ol bureaucrnc] and jncrpases thc qualitv of scN'icc ofi.rcd t{r d1e people. With sLrccsslirlcases 01p.ilatisatior likcB tish Tclccom and Jrpan Post, public senices banfts, insu.anceco panies. healthcarc, tunsl)ort, eveD driDkiry water - m.rt soon

But the more nation-states outsource their re,rponsibilitics dd mordl authority to care for the people they claimro rcprescnt! thc more drey outsou'ce sovereignty to in-

stilutions who carc morc altort dre good of then' sha-re'holdeN than the good of citizens. Sornc parts ofour sociril te.'r!ir1 ought to be prote(td f.on the ftrtllessness of ilrc markc| Forinstancc, lrisons, bdic herlthcare, basic education. \atd sulplyand dcfcncc rcqr mrDagemert that ulrholds mo.al stervardshiland legal ac.ountabilitv oler d1e amoril pursujL .,1 elllciencl andptulit nurimisalioD. Thc U.S. gorcnnent's corlt.o\eftiaL enillo)Dient ofprilale securitv 6nns sho$tascs the problem ofprivatismgpublic senice. Though the tiN has banned the usc of merceDdies,

lhe p vate sccuriV iDdustry hs been booDiilg since lhe L99os.Priute nrilitia noi{ do thc $()r* of guardnu enbassies and diDlonuts, providing secu ry for aid $olkcF and cdrtins out hostage rcscue niissions. ln Latin Anr.rica, Dmcorp conducts acoDtroYdsial opiun popp,v eradication progranrme agaiDst dreShiniug Path terodsls aDd dns lords on behallol lhe Ameri

cu governnent. Unlike siatc military &d polic lorces, theleprivate compaDies operate be),ond thc realnl of public o\rsight,aDd they enable states to ergage in military operatioDs, seizenatural rcsouRes, tenoise citizens and overthro$' 8o\nnentswithoui rcpmach. Wllen pivate secudly lim BlacLtatert eDlloyees were ac.uscd of i{ar-crnnes like the gunrinit do$n of 11lkqi civilians iI] 2oo7, th.y conld Dot be.!ud marlialled by iheU.S. go\ninent becnuse they \r. not pdt of an ofiicial nrnedforcc. Even ro$q nation siales harc scni fie nrssagr to othe.oryanisatioN ald corporations that so\rrcigrb' - in the formof permission to ue force rvithin national boundaies - eu1 be

boLrilhhathcr than canie.l or giyen. ln the Niger Dclia, Arncicep wte rililarl cornlanics Doi! i{.Ue their o\!r prn'ate sa6 irrthe Ddneotdeiendnrsth. oil and sas coDpanies who hjrcd lhenfor lrotectioD. ijren NCOS likc th. pacifist Red ooss have begunto liire fieil own ldvate mqcenarics io cscort their wo.kes indangcrus war-zoDes.

T OSTNG TIIIi ]\foRAI, RICH'I' O REPRESENTPeopte have permittcd rhe nation-sttte to govern aslong ds they leel it reprcsedls rhen - their belieft, dreir

sympathies, their concq)t ofhomelrDd dd fightsfor their good. And clea.ly hom all that \tc ha1 disNssedso far, drc i{ords nationilisnl and patdotisrn ha\c lost somcof their lush.. Go\emmerts have losr tbeir boral

highg,round - somctimes volutdily and other timesinvolutarilv, sometimcs ro $'orthy opponents likenoble NGOS and lGOs and other iimes to seedier

compdies like geedy corporatioD-s dd oimimlnctworks. No \ronder tndilional srrnbols of nation-

hood aDd natioDd education prognnrmes are seenthrough jadcd c)es rudier dnn en$raced $,holeheadedh,. I'he dse of a 24'7 slobrl !e$s fttlvorlt

of political pundits, web 2.o s sclf afpinted vigilmteijoruriilists ard their'tuilte ng pea.ut gallcry ha! turrho cncou!8ed rll of us to look at polincians wi$ ryrj-

cisrn. An] attenpt by the state to censor or enforcc scoccyis moot: leakd imases turn hmdphone cameras madepublic the prisoner abusc that w6 soiDs on in Alu Chraiband the last Dlornents of Saddarn H$sein's life before hiscxeorfion. Today s state censoN llnd ii n.ar impossible to

$araDtine ".tmgerous' ideas or co\r up politicd enba.-.assnrcnts. \Vhen there is a Web, lbere is a s'a,!.

As for the nation-state's clairn thar it .epresentsone particular culturc.

ilrcems ridiculou\ in a

world shere culture looks inmcasinsly deterrito-fialised. E\en the nyth ol a s|ared Honcled" hd lostits shccn rvith die upila.dly mobile jet scttcr rlho couldlee.l at hom. in aDy ci!"* rvith a Sia.bLrcls round the comer,

DD

,m

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cigr cultur than thei ox11. In 2oo7, the botchedattacks h Inndon and Glasso$'Dudc hcadlincs bccausc dre

rlould be ten,rdsts $re not forcign ladicnls steeped in foreign cultures bu! Bndsh doctoN bom, bred and schooled nrBitain. T.aDsnatiorurl novments of all purposes are makjng

their presence felt iD domestic politics: tlie hedl of Singapor'srcccnt A1VARE nproar $'as an imforted clash of vrlues rootedin -{mcrica's cultuul waN beh{ccD th. rdigious right did drelibercl lelt. Snritaporeans l)assjonatelv tbug|t for bclicfs dratthey did not len.n liou some natne bom p}ilosophr-' but fiornforeign ideologies thal theyhad adopted as then oM.

1 HE FA',l Fr O! N-.L'nONS

hrs lu\eLl uneb} Hs snle.'n'lr lGd ,Phnnc if hrs nrnd. Nd\ ru\dr,-t ties h.!e ovettuned nationalisn:

the younger genemtion is more likelythrn 6..h rffilirt. thefrseh,es with, tur

So mdy new actoF on rhe (arld stage exerrisnrgso many kinds ofrlowcr vasdy complicare the ef-

fort to ffnd a better balance of influencc and

dina.y civilians battle out for a comcr to call their oM. We caDonly hope lhat more po$r'ful nation stais can help contain ihcpoliticrl frllotrt firrm these lailed states. vel, elsewhere, \'e alsosec nation-states rccogDising the gravily oftodn), s probiems andgiling up some ofthcir rights in the nane of cooleration. T.oubled though it is, sone believe thc EuroFaD Uniotl is dr fiturenodel for a rew kind c,f decntralised statehood $'hcrc autononyis dclibemtely shdd at between the national, regional aDd suf.anational lcvcls- IDdifidud lation states cede some of their sovereignw to a union ihat m,les larvs, exercises justice and nakesInone! on their behall But the union does not cJl itself a state,clainN no sorereigrty lbr itself and thus, docs not wagc nd rorlsl t:des for their nenibers. xleanwhile. their menbes d.lolvcmorc oftheir iDtemd rcsponsibilities to subnational rcgjons and

THE WAY FORWARD?

Authority is sustained by two artcric.s: ihc insiitrtion'ssovereisn nature (whether you ha! rhe pos'er to rule)dd the institution's sovercign chamcter (whether youhavc rhe monl right ro ra e). If Mtion-states and lGOs donoi want to follow ihc fatc of monarchies, they otrglit to retum togolemance as it always s|ould halc bccD: represeDtatilr, rspon-sive, responsibLe. l]le answer ro problcms wc havc with theauthority ofour present nation states and IGOS is noi inreplacing, dismdrtling or reinventing them. lt is in run-ning rhem a.s they almls should have been 1:u.

No longer should old power paiiems dictate fie leadeNhip of ourmost jmportnnt lcosr lhe Wo d Bank is snl headcd cxclusildyby e Americal, die lMIr is stjll headed by a F.uropean and theLrN Secuity Council's pennaDent nembeN ffe still the lictors ofWorld \Var Ti{o. No longcr shodd natiorl-states allow the pett}asendas oftheir o$n or othcN to hjjack dr LrN Secu.i\ Cotrrcil'sreslonsibilig ro sen e and t)roie.i ihc feodc. Da.fur, ZimbabwqM),anlnar and Rwanda hale aleady paid thc pricc. No longcrshould die UN Cnefnl Assnbly be the joke that it is now of kindersruter jealousies, stiff-miins, secret lobbynrg, dead lockingaDd sFnDcr-iossiDs. The G77t filjbusteins is just as reprehen-sible as the G8's cosy cliqueishncss: both do not crcate the coop-

emtive culture needed to sohe our gr cat global problems.

A world without authority is not an option. \Ve unrulyhDus desperate\ reed to subniit ourselves to a moral aLrthoriV bis cnou8h d sood enoush to trust a $'hole slobe of li\s$ith. One distulbing rhoughi rcnuins drough. SrpposiDg weleale discussions of God out of ihis equation, thc UN is suppos-edll oul grealesl supranational nroral authodv. T]ut this $rrbol of our highest principles is so oten rende!d blind, toothless md lmr by dle selishness of nation slates, corporalions,criniDals, conrpt llN staffdd ou. o$n apatb should cb ouridealistic boncs. E\tn if we did fir1d a supruationil audbritl tobeljeve in, history seems to sho$'we $'ould rnuch rather crucii itthin let ir do itsiob. aatt

responsibility. ll you i{ere oplimistic, }'ou $oulddescribe our rvo.Ld as "nultipolai and lind hopesonei{here in the seeniDsly more democratic pluraliil ofloices. Ifyou xrre pessnnistic, I ou \t or d say

oLrrwo d is no$" nonpolar" and sec uttcr doom nr thccicophonv and chaos ol conpetins poweB.

ID t]t r99os, bools Like :Ih. r"nis un.l tne Ollre Ire and ?hcEn.l o/,Ll6io?j/ popddised die idea that we shonld welconie globalisation's Fssing of solcrtigDty fiom the iiaDds of t]t state tothe individLral.In the early 2ooos, sincc Scptcrnbc.llth and thefJlout frun1 Arnedcn s subprime tbllier, manv of us arc l]nrsfor the reverse: Dlo.e goverrment intenention. not less. We s?nisoneoDe to draw up n es contniring greedy wnll street speculators, Somrlim aarlo s- xlexicd dmg lo s, though \re struggleto accepi that thosc n es r{illbi the Red Cross volurteer, theF,e Nl}?nnar acti\ist, thosc bdlliaDi rnnrds on TED.con - aDd

rTth ceDtrry philosopher Thonas Hobbes predicted that witboutsovernmert, ljfe NiI be "nas\, brutish tud short'. Ou. adionswould only be bound by their peNonal po\ee. ed corlscience.Hobbes alsued that sinc. oujrdgmcnt is not J$'als enlishtenedenough to see i'here the conrnron sood lies, i{c nced io halc anobjctive ruler to drali and p.opose laws thal all of us are sLrbjectedto. onl)' by gi\iDg up some ofour libeaies to thnt supranationalaudion8 caD we achj6 e tme iieedom nl this wo.ld nnd lind thecombnrcd streDsth to fight $e nuljgndt forces that thn\e nl the.|,ns ofonrind..isi.n

Nation-states ldll notperish

asyeti

fornow,

thcy areheadins into either implosion or integration. In Somalia,Sudd aDd Siena koDe, the natioD-state is :dreao rel on its wayto chaos- Life diere is a dog-eat-dog andchy {liere widords, terrorists, soldicrs of fortune, ciminds, politicidis, NGos rud or- BASE IMAGECREDJTS

The rrilton DiD\rh 1i9s, National alallerroflo.don

DLMANDABROADfqPLD-P' L I V( JL

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ON 2ND THOUGHT

Since its gene-SlS, the United NatioDslvas meanl Lo be a net.al. objectjve ard hcDcclegitimte internxtionalforuD for manasi.g andsohiDg gcof olitical issu.srDd problcms. So brlogi

as a slaging g.ound Lr courlties to brttlc o tth.st rggle bet{eD sorereigDt_v aDd jnt.mationalism. As such.the UN's inlentioDs for sood arc all too casily hijacl'edb) countric's with tircir oM lcsted and pnrochial in-tc'rests aDd v.nd.tias. Tle UN Co,ninissioD of Iluftrtushtshadtobc r.flaced because iLs eistence becrmc

1!o\t ,,l .I,l ,bb-.,. rgthc agcnc) to

prolec(Lhernsehes aDd critjcise rival nrtions. lhe.ew bodr, The Ilunan Rights Council, wrs

supposed to be a smalle. menbershif bas.d instead ontheir hunan ights crcdcntials. Not o.lyis il nlmost.tsopen rsthe oldcrbod], a r.gionalquota ststen meaDstliat the grNf wiih thc nrost solid lrrnran rights record,\\,. t.r1l,n.\. ll ,,-,n-n.r,.rJm-no-r .\iu-lcDcc iddl.dAfi ica. l-he ne$ bod] alsostlDdsacc scdof boilg jusL as coddling of esFsious humaD righisalmsers. and as poljticjsed rDd rs Ism.l'hatnrg as theoid orle. lt has oDlr passed onc ..solutioD for hunran.ights liolatjons, agrinst Isracl, of.ourse, Nhile onl!

erp.essirlg ileep concerD" abont Sudan. CoLrn(.ies alsostrled awa! turn and walkcd out of the 2oo9 $o dConference oD RacisDr, .\frcssi.g disappoiDtDlentthrt imnia! Prcsi(icnt ]hlnnoud Ah ll\adhqjad $'as theopcDing sf.rt.r i!|erc he gay \lliat l..aLlce .iescibcdas hrte sl)eech- . So $ hat Nas supposed kr be a pcdccitdllic rclalio.s exanple ofwhrt thc tiN Nas sutfos.dlo do best tL,rned iDto an opportunitv for ccrtail D.tions to express tlieir anti-Semiticli.\s.

Such Epexted failurcs to do th. ightthhg sfring liomtlie liggcst bugb.ar of h'hl dre UN\ attempts to dogood ar. rcndcr.d hrtile and in ranL. r'oo often, thcsccr.t.r1, Ceneral add tLe LIN are beholdeDtothc biggcst nation conl.ibuLors and the Sec!.it! CouDcil. Ercninrpo{a.t global .esolutioDs thrt seen clear cut c.nbe Ijiaclied ard overturDed. Resoluti(ms to isolatc and

Rethink theUnited NationsItls time to rcalscss thc gnnd ole dame of irlter niltio nal pcitcc. by JOSELIN BAU

"TheUnitedNations ispowerfuli'NOT RFAT,T,Y.cal exter$ion, it should bc a po$crnrl rDd innuentialoryanisatidr with th. backing ofall nations lo. naintainiDg global stabilit\', be il oJ a economic, politicalor huDranita an naturc. Yet as the world liDds itselfin morctrca.he.ous wate.s, with conplex aDd dirc issucs oD the rise.lhe U\ hrs uDfortunrtelv tumcd intoi lig}lning rod forcriticism ofits jDeffcctualDcss.

You only have b ldrk at thc $orld to see and u derstrnd ihe cost of its incfficao: Nuclear teDsioDs inkan aDd Nortlr Korca rcDraiD leightened: Mildle llasttrlks arc soins norr|ere and the \ic,lence coDtnr esunabaicdi cDvironmen I al d isinr lulis in the hoizonwith Do con.cfd foliLicallrdjon hsight.

lls ntissi.m to do goocl and uDitcth$rorld ishaDrpcredby churlish ard sqrabbhig natiols fightinglo pdecttlreirorvntLrL{andbalancc offo$cr. Tte UN is also behokleDto domiDaDt DatiorN t|atcan t|rcalen to withhol.l its brdgct and irlther' .ifp led by its o$ n rnassiveirggcrDaut ola b$eau.ratic nress sith the atteDrpt atrcforD stopNd dead in iLs tracl$. So wliile the bith oft]ris

p.ianrent

olcountries $.as hemldcd $ a coDrnrgtogethe. ol XI.rn. it has become a pal. shadon of itsorig;rali!tert.

ODe rerson $'h) tlie UN is $'cak isthrt ii is easil) usd

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runish Rrranda 3nd Sudan for genocide, or Zimbabwe lor rigged aDdliolent elections, or to deal withImns and North Korca's Duclcarbelligerence have beer blockcd bythe \to nations. Thc sloMess orfailue to irteNenc iD conllicts andinjustice ha! mostiimes been dueto the powd fla), oftle Council.

Most eleryone concu$ that thcCouDcilt permanent membershipand the hokliDg ofvetoes har become anachr.rnistic aDd patentiyuniair. lc, ha! the finnacle olrrorld political nanasement governed by the victors

of\^/orld

Warll, ,^ne.ica, Russia, China, EritriDaDd FraDcc is to igno.e tlie ditrer-eDt Nrmutations of power, xalthand influence that have arisen irrthc lvorld since ther To oriy havethese five nations hold such cxclusive powers to decide s.hat conslitutes a threat to wo dsecuri9andilhat actions to take or disalloiv,to grant any onc ofthe permanentfive the abjlit! to paralyse theworld

bodv. only builds mor resent-mcDt and rcvenge nlib$terins nrthc Gneral Assenbly or the otherUN associated orgaDisations $'hcnolher decisions need to bc made.$ro.s, any attempt to cxpand theCouncil canDotbe doDc withouL thesx)-so of these lery n.tions whowould lose thcir porrer iI real reforn $rrc to iake place.

Pal1 of the UNs toothlessnessalso has to do with the failinss ofiis peacekeepnrg force. Those bluchelnels thnt used to be a slnbolof salet] and reasntrance arc rnorelil(ely used as shooiins practicethese dats. Kofi Arnun, the lbrnerUN Secrciary General, Liked tosay that thc LIN rlas the onll firebisadc that needed to buy a fireeDgnrc before il coukl respond toan cnreryency. the UN must got|rough the Security Council fiIlst

rlho approves an opeEtion and abudget. Therit mustplcadwith naLions to coltribtrte forccs. As such.it cannot always dcplq, the troopswhere thev are necdcd most no...n

they alwa$ do so qLrickly enough tostop conflicts fuom spinning otrt ofconirol. Fxen when they are ablelo procu.e peacekeeping troops.thet don't liave any control o!rtlieir behaviour, as the sex abusescaDdals of pcacekeeping troops inCongo and West Africa testit. Theproposal io have a standing perma-ncnt force hale llc,undered nostlybecause nntions obje.t to sivins thcUN too Dmch power xDd bccauscol the practical difficultics of maintainirg sucli a force.

Another intractablc obstacle to the

r^'s strccessfirl i{ieldinit oi powris its un\ieldy internal organisa-tion. It is a colossnl burearcuLvwith |undreds of specialised asen-cies and offshoots. lts r{o*ingsarc structured arouDd a minuiiaeol laws, coDveriions, rcpolts, dec.larations, nandates and trcaties\rithiD a btzaDtnre maze of depart-meDts. IDtcmal o\tiight and ftiInidepeDdcnt audits of its agenciesd not mandatorv. the Secretary-

GeDcral does Do! have eDotrgh pow-cr olcr budsets iDd persoDDel aDdpcNonal neldc,ns are easily builtlvhich can turD to corupt or selfserving prrposes. Thc aftcnrath olthe lraq oil-fo.-food scandal onlyput such slack oryanisational pftctices in the spotlight- The $1oo biLlion progrannn set up to alleviatethe suffcnng of the lraqi people\zs loaded with bribes, kickbacks,smusgling and other ilicit dcalsand dogged b)' waste and inemciency. The UN s credibility rcsts on theperceptjon of its compctcnce andhonsb. Witliout that, ihe]'lose anymoral atrthorit! io administer ftr-ture prosrammes or hold corntriesacconntable for lheir actions.

At thc end ol the da)', the LrN's influcnce and power cones frcm iischarter ot highjnnrded frnrciplesand its abilifi to nnitc nations towards a better eDd. Ifit shows suchfeebleness to$rds q,rannical Da-tions or thos. who floot intrna-tional trcaties wilhout c.rmpunc-

While instant chansecannot be exnectedthe UN will rieverfulfil its canacitv toproiect real inflirenceand heft to makethe world better so longas rancorous natlonsooison the workinesbf the uN...and "other nations let them.

lion, it will only continuc to slideinto an irreversiblc n.clevance. TheUN $'itl nocr have any rcalauthoritj and lcgitnnacy as lo g as it isvier{cd and manipLrlaled as a patsyofnations. ils cledibility is at stakeand withoul it, this flawed but po-tentially impc,rtaDt bo(t will not beable to do nNch sood in thc r{o dwhen it is needed rhem.qt

UDfortuDately, evcn anridst mount

ing coNensus about the l^|s shortconinss, thc c|ances oI real reforDlare slim. The lorturous beginningsof t|e rcto.m of the UN have bccnhalf hearted .rt best aDd held backagain bt bickering govennncDts.Elen the fouier anbassador toth UN, Jolin Bolton, a long timecritic of the LrN. conceded behrehe stepped do$n that while it iseasytoblanre the UN as ar institFtioD for sotne ol the problerns $confront ioday, we nmst recogDisethat trkimaLelt it is menber statcsihat rnust lal action and thereforcbeal lhe responsibilit)." $tile instant change caDDot bc eape.ted,the UN s'il] Dcler tul6l its capacitlto project r.al influence and heftto nakc thc wodd betler sr,long asraDcor.us nations poison the work-ings of the tl{...and other DatioDstci them. aatt

BASEIMAGECREDITS

ISSUESIINI(ED

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DEIVANDABROADERPERSPE'TIVF ]5

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CULTURE WATCH

EII,IHA'POCCl,lt

Personifications The nation is cssentially an intellectual concept, an abstractidea ihat may betoo cokl

and nDpersc,nal for laymeD to conncctwith. Sornetimes, raiions inveni apersonificationforthe naiion that is first-

]y, easier to connect wjth and secondly, conjures up a far nore romaDticisedlision of what the count[' stands for''lhe older nuropean Dations tend touse goddesslike images of beautitul wa ior women from Antiquit$ Brit

Props to PropagandaIt's not easy to collvince the labble that they are actually a nation who needs to stick together

and work iogether - especially during times oftrial That! why all iations dig into fhe srmetrcasure chcit oftriecl and tested proPs rl1 propaganda. NADfA MAH looks at the variousways in which govelnments havc tried to rally the People.

ffig---:il= #ryFlags whydowe make such a

tuss when flass are flowl upside doM, noM at halfmast, torn into

shreds or burni into cindels? Thougb just a piece of fabdc, the national flas is lhe most com

mon anii thus sisnificant slmbol ofa nation, revealing the ideals that the mtion hasadopted

for itselt Someinnes, flagsjust reaeal shaEd history:the USA, Australia aDd New Zcaland all use red, white and

blue rcflectingtheirjoint Britishheritage. Austmlia andNewZealand even feature the Union Jack ind the Souih-

erncross'^sthefirstflags'!elcused|oassistmilitatfcoordnEiiononbatt]efields,flagsareusuallydesigncdarounal the most poicnt symbol of what the nation will fight and dic for' For nanv, religion is key Mi d dle F'2stem

nations mostly stick to t!Cl, white,b]ack, andgleeD aS wel] asthestar aDd crescent because these s].nlrols repre

scntlslam.saudiArabia'sflageveninscribesThereisnosodbutGod,MohamnedisHisMessenger"htuabicscriptonitsflag'IsraeluscstliestarofDavidandnanyEuropeannatiotis'vithchdstianroots(liketheScandinaviaD countries) use the cross. Sovercisnry is anoiher common theme- Irdia pui the svmbol oftheir grcatest

ancieni emperor, Ashoka the Great, on their flag to cclebrate independencc fiom the British SiD'e Liberia Nas

founded by freed American slalcs, tliey imitated the U S flag in an efforl to embody what they fel o he rhe trueidealsoftheU.s.Intcrestingly,couDtrieslikeLebanonaDdCvpfuschoosetoputpeaceastheigrcaiesthopeofiheirnation,throughiheuseofBiblicalsymbolslikthcedartree(sturdiness)andolivebnnches(peace]'

ain has fair Britannia, FraDce has Maianne and the EU uses Europa Whereas,

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=II-III=l [iril-:li**

ColoursColours have a psychologjcal impact on us - xr ascibe certaiD values to certaincolours and visLralb. some colouE just draw nrorc attcntion tl an others. Nowonde.that naLionspayclose attention to what colourstheyuse on theirposters, uniformsand especially, their flass. Red is thc most popular colo{rr, belng folnd on 74% of all

tlie Mtional flass ofthe lrorld today, follolved by $'hitc on 7r% offlags and blue on 5()%.Across all ctrlhres, redis sencmlly sen as intense, e\citins, passionatc and stronS. llre calm colotrr blue, liowever, is us ally associaied $'ith peace and freedom - littlc s!r.l) se thai the United Nations flag is a p ryos.ful gcntle s}ade ofskyblue. The lius flas has also chosen lhe same shade.rfbhe rs tliat nsed by Francc to simbolise freedon1. Eutsome countries use colours fortheir hist.,rical significance. Li th. Nliddic Easi, rnost nations use green becauseit is belieledto be the colourollslam.

SvmbolsSomctimcs, lealiDg thirgs unsa can be even morc poient than sayingtoo rnuch belter to let the people rcad $'hatever romantic notions theJwant inio the sunbols. Abstract slrbols are powe.ful tools for prcpa-gandists to use becausc thcy evoke a wealth of memories and vahcsdrawn fiom relisious or cultural experiences without sayjns asinsle word. Thc Cornmunisls combined the hammer and thcsickle as an clocative sratenent ofunib'between thc industdal proletariat and the agrictrlhral peasantry. Ihey furthernnbned these hunble tools with an airofnobili!, by puttinsthen ljteraly nr the haDds ofmagnificent statues ofgod-like peasants. Thus, thc Communists \{re abLeto createworthwlile replacement icons 1br a fornierly relisious

societyto channel their need tc, ivorsliip. The Nazi Partvalso chose to rebrand Gernany with the aDcient swastikaslmbol &hich they appropdatedfion Aryan India sVedic

tradition, believins that the Aryans oflndia were a modct io be imitated and a warnins ofthe dangers ofnuliiracialism. Recasting the swastika as a s)mbol ofracial purity, the Nazissucccsstully injected religious undertotresto their anii Selnitic ideolos/.

Posters

simply clicke.t past, mdios andtelevision sts turnedotr, andfilnN orpolitical metings not atteDded. B t eve,ryone at somctimc or other eventoaliy walk or dives past posters that shout or whisper their nessaSe agalrand asah fron every wall and bulletin board. No wonde. that even in a web 2.o world, this srand daddy ofvjsual propasanda still remains popular andpowefful.

It is a clich6 but it is still true; a pictu.e is wofth a thousand words. Visual inpressioDs are erlreDely sbong and overcome conmunication barriers oflangLrage andeducation. Newspaper articles andpanphlets can bethrown away unread, websites

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HOW TO...

Stage a Military CoupFed up with having your hard-earned morey taxed away? Want to wipe away that fat catssmug grin? Take notes frorn some ofthe classic corlps in histoq', strap on your plastic lVIl6and put on your Che Guevera t shirt. Viva la Revolutionl l',! Nrdi.1 Nlirh

Give Peacea Chancesrared olstaininglourdny laLigu.s? It's possi-blc lostag,eacoupwith-

r. )take sure the publi.

rop military officials andgovern n ent o flicials do.2. Wait for him io leavc

the countrj, {othcMisc,]otr havc ro inprison or

3. Quicldy, secure all

hent Duildinas. fhe

crucialtoyonrsuccessl4. Control the mcdiaso you can manage the

5- Imposc martial law

]]LATIPLI]S

rtailand:20o6 oust

Thaksin Shinavatk by

PalistM: 1999 orstingof Prime MinisterNawazsharil by tb e Paki stariAimyto i$iall General

Stock upon Weapons

hignest levels of govern

dnidd, the. yor probably a. going to have abloodbath on rou hands

rcbcls. or pulrlic hate fo.your leader could snntlybc so intense rh.t noth

irg slofi oftnblicdathcan alpease the 1ngefulnob. o. horo.ofhor.o.s yon deposed on!nonster, only to install

his pldcc.In tlat case, !

r]).{MPLES

Nicolae CaNescu andhis wife Elend vere exectrtedbyiring squad,

helped Captair ldi anindepose Prnne MinisterMilton Obote peacetully.Idi Amin turned out to bea savage killr vho dur

Cut a Dealwith the CIA

win th rvohtion? Eavc!o fear tne world is lullof op portunistic sharksvho$ouldlovcloned-dlcrviLhtourcouniry'spolitics to neet thir ownshado$y agendas. rahetou.lick6om the bst:

Mossad, B.itain s MI6,

chile: In r9n,Augusto

seat ol Dower thaDks to

other cL{-instigatedcoups: Iran, Cuatcmala

READTHIS

Create a MartvrTleres nothing a hmgry and huting populace Naltm..e than a charismati. hcro to Lrelieve in. ldeas aretoo nnprsonal to caphrc thc inagnration. Brt give tirepeople a ronantic hdo ot mlthi.al propo|tions and at. .nf r' r.'r-n'noli" y, d..aug\")"1-r-\-

lutionaries s o nco nc to ralll around ard erren die for.

Cuba: r9s6 Medi.al student Che Gu.vera bands together (ith Fidel Casttu to ovdthrol U.s.-bached Cnban dictator Fulgencio Brtista. Cbe is viewed as a saintly Chis i\e figuc by the ruml For i. llolivia lvhereh was ere.ut.d and has becone the nost (in)famobslnbol olr.bclion lor idealisticyontls.

Thc Philippines: ln 19a6, whilc rcturninS,lrom exile,Fillipino opposition ladr Betigno Aquino Jr. wasa-.a".'.d"d: rh"t\41n.lat)l"rn. o rl \''to",.F.pdl) b\ h"n Pr.srlpnl . pr. 1r,. vrr n- lnq- .. .

Thoush tic couD led Dy SeMto. Gresorio Honasan andScrctaryolState Juan Ponce En.il faiied, the pcoplc sdrger olcr Aquilo's nurdr iDspired them to sere ashunan shields to rrotect Honasan and his nen fronI{arcos forces. Thtrs sparked the 1986 Pcople PowerRp\alu,:.n Ld -"d lo l4aros iall Lon pow"r in I ')'"installation of corazon Aqlino as president.

..,Or Just Burn anAmerican Flag

It's a cheap tdck. Blt ifall elsefaih, disi.act your people by giving

rhem something lse convcDienthlrrP Iil. Am.rim tlie

creat satan. or globalisation,Starbucks, Holltavood. Anyole

but yoursell and you. messed

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COMPREHENSION

Starting Over

DFMANDA RROAI.)FRPFRSPFCT VF 2]

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ee. ;

Starting Over

1 lf we observe every defining mornent in the evolution of the global order, one of those vivid instantswhen human history teetered between one choice and another, we can conclude that there was

always one object that mattered most, of which the possession (or lack) of, marked the bloody linebetween success and failure. Take the tank during World War one for instance; forAllied France, thisobject meant survival, and fo. Germany it meant defeat. You can run through each pivotal technologyor resource history has to offer: nuclear weapons, the compass, abundant timber. They all tipped his-tory one way or the other. The more important question is however, what will be the totemic survivalobject of our time? What will that object teach us? And while history is honestly not always a usefulguide today, it is at least helpful in framing this questjon: what matters most now? We are living inwhat feels like a revolutionary moment, and I am willing to bet that 100 years from now the object thatwill turn out to have been the most important for navigating radical change will be this: a completelyblank sheet of paper.

2 We have to face up to the fact that our struggles are just not as reassuringly simple nor even the samefor that matter. Today we are facing challenges that are new in human history not simply in content,but in scale and complexity. We stare at a global order that is exploding in granularity. There are moreactors, from hedge funds to NGOS to terror cells, than ever before. Each of these players, and eachof us, now has unprecedented choices about how to live. To add on to this, we are all more intercon-nected than we have ever been. The result is an explosion of disruptive innovation. Sometimes thisinnovation is for qood, for instance when a smali team rn a lab in Singapore masters new geneticcures for cancer. But just as often it can be disruption for the bad: unregulatable financial trades thaisink markets, terrorists who combine benign technologies into dangerous weapons, political leaderswho invent nationalist ideologies that mix history and fascism. Our only hope for dealing with sucl'r

constant, border-pressing newness is completely fresh ideas of our own. The innovator's instinct tosay, "Let's take out a completely blank sheet of paper and think out what we could do," has becomethe most essential tool of survival.

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

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

10

15

30

BROADER PERSPECTIVES the power lssue

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q . BF

Comprehension Questions

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

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

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

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

5 What is the auihor suggesting by the three dots {...) at the end of the third paragraph? (1)

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-X lot r -

Comprehension Questions

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

The aulhor believes lhat reinventjng the world as we know it will bring hope for the world'sproblems. Using material from paragraphs 5-7, summarise why there is a need to do this, how

this should be done and the benefiis that thjs can bring.

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

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

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

10

11

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

vivid (line 1)lotemic (line 7)

confess(line 42)impetus(line 68)wielded (line 78)

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

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

ln your answer, develop some of the points made by the author and give your own vjews and

sorne account of the experienceswhich have helped you to form them. (7)

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Comprehension Answers

What kifd of new toys (llne 43) may the author be ihinking of, and how do they support hispoint about Napo eon'? (2)

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

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

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

From paragraph 5 (why there is a need):

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

Fram paragtaph 6 (haw thts should lte done):We can bring change aurselves by first recagnising change as impoftant (line S4-SS)ancithen highlighting one key area we are most concerned abaut. (line St)By first envisioning haw this ptoblem can best be salved (tine 58)we can mabilise grassroal effotts ta bring change (line 61)ot starl small enteryrises lhat address these prcbtems at the core. (line 62)

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

'Any 1A points wil be awarded full matks.

I Whatdoyou undersland by'askng your grandparents to go snowboarding inline48?(1)Just like how asktng grandparcnts la snowboard wauld be an impassible challenge (1/2), theauthor is suggeshng that asking governments ta innovate wauld also be a daunting and unre-alistic task (1/2).

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

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

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

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Comprehension Answers

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Comprehension Answers

'o "n;:it;;3"'"tn "fthe followins words

as rhey are used in the passage Use one word or a

memorable, dran atic. strikinodi stt nc tive. hat ma rk, charac tl nsncacknawledqe admitinspiratian, motivation, stimut uscomn anded, exercised, controlled

11 ln hts articte, theauihorargues thatthe bas our current systems do nol workest way to address our many problems is io start over

How convrnctng do you find h/s aroumenuurwergn the clsadvantaqes? ts?And do you consider the merits ofstarting over toln youranswer develop gome ofthe oorrsom. aceounr of rhe eio";;;. ;il'nl:::oe oy hc a.rhordnd srvp yorrow. v.er{b anolave hetped yoLr to form them (7)This ts a suaBhtfarwald appltcatrcn ot)c!a,s.umenro in c66n p6rls"r;;;

";;;::"liid"!t:.:that

.simplvtequres the \tudeot ta identity the

ret \ ur! rtts dtgumAnr o,"uoour,,no

,n",'', J!".,oulho'\ \/aliddton l@m the o,iset iip ar,tho,

pte.e of papei . sn*n",i.",i ),Ili7,iX""2,j!^",i!':!

obiect at au, hme is a btdna'omolelely ahe\h if A/c deslre ro so/ve thc

- e "" tvttt uns potnl t e lhol a. .h^utd sla4tng t.unher ateds ofcanr^,"ii.i", i; 'rn*!l'!

s ptobtemc. then thev witthdvc p,obt;ns ttndstudcnls ma,e Lhdn

eno"ni,"i)orJ ^ri.i.""'"s'dgciscp4antv opnonareo ana sniub gtre

Agood hnowtecJge of cunent at'fa s shouhdi LnclA are pEnI ot e^amplps ta dra^ ,,' .';n"'n,, ,",, "ro"nts,n thi\ dptztrcatian aue.tionsusqcs,ns baLh on Lre r.;; ,;":;, ;;; ;,::':sdtlns the.'adn at 'hanse thdt he ;uhal isins .ttention th. pAp s ,;,;;., ;;b:"l;; ;f

:"r'Iond.ttcvet ubama . dpatism dnd the nc, easpragmdttsm is oftw,lq, are gaod ptacpc 1o ,tot7.

Possible arguments that can be raised are;

Are the author s prctlrchons convncno? hshouta aegn 7s6ultd1tis i.l;;:;";:;;i.|] ,li ''ewortd trutv rcached such dire straits that it

ls the increasing camplexity af the world too muchfor aur current institutions to address.lWhrch cauntty ot person can be inftuenttalwe..wa,^.sotnatwecaopetate;;;;;;Z:,,=:'::':!:d1'dnl's.t4tesattanarrhpwdv

\ufi;cr.nt n b,tngtng !he *",t rci.,'n",)v\]r 'uftFnt raLa of globaxsal,on dnd ntegrdtrc4 qal

Have hte indeed tast faith jn our current leaclership?

ls a new wartd atdet nttiated by ndivtduatsfechve in deattng wtth ou, iitLrii """'" " *ise endeavaur? can grassraots grafuh be ef-Ii thc duthot Uavetv pta4-e,,ng in what he B nuggesttng? Or simptr tao dedtistic?

vivid (tjne 1)totemic (tjne 7)

imperus(tin;6;jwjelded (Jine 78)

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:.::--..'->-.''+r-'

A MATTER OF OPINION

Is itgood thatthe individual holdsso much power

in today,s world?

I low \^'ould.\ NE( )Ct( )NSHI\A fl\.f (.( )NIMtNt A-i OIt and A I_1i.it-RAL NCIO i\(.TIVIS Irespond to dris qucstron, considering tlieir (littcr.ences in political .[.1"*rl,ra 1","f,"bo",ocletv? ( )ul writcrs gct under their skins to filrd ollt.

lL is a ncs workt oftter (od.y. rDdiliduals s,i.kj far.n',", \- i,t",ri n.,.,n^r...ru.,.t Lrd. r,...r,..l,r',r.^E^t,.,i""ti,.,.r,o rF, ., hi.,.,,t, stoda)'s indjvidual crn effccr ctrangc acrcss ttre \.rtdbeca se tc.hnolosv lis siven hnn a touderloicc ardlirltlo re.ch. I.diliduats $4ro have chosen ro bardo:, '1,- I.pt ,.d.,,.,rn n^rt.,. r', . o, rn rFt. .-

"ii..,,rdi\i&hl a.not lak. doin rD instjlution, a sftrpof indjviduais .speciat]y one that sp.rns Urc slob.stands a vcD go,rd chance of.toiDg so. But rr, \,hntcrtent can we trust the r\isdom ofthe crorld? Stroutil$'e bc hopeiul o. sorried that Le have so !rncir rjorcabilirr- to rcsh.pe ttre rorld to our tikins?

T&\MPI-[S TISEI) FOR OPINION PiECI]S1.1h. runrltn.ss ot lhe .rob: clashes beta.een protcst(rs and strt. securih.forc.s in Indo.esia, Thailandrnd the Philippircs rhrr disrLrpt.lnity life.?.Thewis(krn !frtre cnrrdi Barac} Obama,s mcte_oricasceDl to rhe presidency of the UniledStatrs wasbuili ou miUions of sma iDdiliduat donations,lhicheddc.lur to an iDprcssjve 953 nitlion.3. i h. irnnhratnr oi ttr. nrob: xcnophobic ots exhibited;n South Africr and Atexandra. Atrica,1. The c.rlxreDn.nt oJ il.tiridnrt ofniorr thronghIech,roh :rhcta rishiDg of Domin o pizza,s .eDU r,-Io, 1,..,,., uf ,,I.,.n,.r\,Jt rt,,rdaui\,to.dori."'twitter Revohrtion,'.{as orsanjzed solch thmurh','.'....ln ti |. .u.r ,..o,.,\..t.",n.,,.,.

CoI,UMN

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&&,.

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

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,a , . .. *

A MATTER OF OPINION

Is it good that the individual holds so

much power in todavs world?A NeoconseivativeCommentrtor Answers

The world is just so much more unpre-dictable now. This is largely a result of

conceived bv YUEZHI LEE individuals having more power nowthan ever before. Such a change may

seem desirable, but can actually prove to be more

destructive instead. Governments are losing au-thority and now have less control over what peo-

ple do and say, as well as how people choose toexpress and act on Lheir opinions.

ABOUTNIO-CONSTRVATISM

This might seem lilG a vast improvement for individuals, a sreat leap forhumansocietl oradenonstrationof alevetof maturation,ifyouwi,thatindividuals crn now be trusted with decisions greater than simple da!-today afiai$. However, rhe sreater power that is available for individuals

now can easily be abued as wel, leading to socill unrest and general

It is a geneftl belief thar people in large groups can make good choices.eveD if a pafticulrr individual within the group is uneducated or nakes an

unwise choice. This is because a large group has the sheer number to balanceout the bad to fonn good decisions. The ele.tion of the curaent United

States prcsialcnt, Barack Olr:ma, is a prime example ofthe'wisdom ofthe crond', as it is called. The faci that Americans as a group $re able to over-cone racial preiudice to make a choice that would probably sreaily benefit thcirnatioD sho$d emotional and intellectual maturiw, on the palt of'the crowd'.

However. the wisdon of the nasses should not be olerrated nor shoLrld thedccision made epected to be a flawless one. Rational thought can be easilyovenidden by cmotion aDd a sroup of people can be swayed \ry sinpty by apowerfol. effecfi'e speaker or thir oM indifiduat prejudices. For e\anple, thexenophobic movement that overtook South Africa last ycar was not basedon rationri tliotrght. l,arge groups of people destroyed proper9, humiliaied, assaulted ard kiled foreigners not because theyhad reached a losical conclusion,but because of aDser asainst perceived inequaliry between them and the foreigncrs. Thabo Mbeki, president of south Africa, could have exerted his po'{er andstopped the crisis $tren it filst staded in 2oo5, b t his inaction granted his peo-ple the r{herewithal to continue the atrocitics conmitted agaiNt the forei$-ers. This is one scenado often repeated throush historywherc cenhal atrthonry

loses power to the people, ofa mob mentality gone hoftblywons.

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

L*ooor*or*ror., urr-*"oo*", "","

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AMATTER OF oPINION

anceforolderandrichodereioped nations nnnn,sondeDlocmtic principles of indi\idual ghrs and ctroosing its leade.s through popular vote. Now more rhanev.r, denocracyis seen as an idealpolitjcal ryslem for

'. P1 i rr ..r') ,o r1 r , . ilr,.rilr,,to altenpt to change thcir golemancc to lblo$, thcdemoc.rtic model in the hope ofimprcring the politicalorsocial situation in t]reir courtry.In the systcm oldemocracy, everyonc has a choice and equat ofporruDi! to decide.,ls such, this slstcnr is larselybcnellcialfor a cou try's cjti?ens, as govcrnments rdl trave ro beaccountable and demonstratc ro rhe citizcns thft theycan heb the counLfrprogrcss otheNisc i]ret,s.ottd bcvoted out at the nerr election.

nrnab|uni international airyof ol Bangkok lare lastycar and lorcibly closed it doM. In April this !,ar, theopposition partl protesters, sirniia dy angercd by whatthey perceived as an jDtraDsigenL governmenL srulp-nril on their dcnoc.atic ights. invrded r|e annual,{ssociatioD of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Nmmirheld in Paltala, Thailrnd and forccd irs caDccltario .UDfofuDateiy, reith the heightcDcd scate ard su(essof such politjcat dcmonstrations, one can oDly erpectthat sLrch incidcnls will.ecuriD the liLturc in orler ar,cas ol the world as citizens conre ro thiDk r|al rhis isbest way to wield the por{o rhet :ire Sivcn.

Ol'.u,p nn-r'.nr ,nl,.Jt r'g wlF t. r it i. r ',nprovcment tor indiliduals to halc norc pow.r rhesedais o.e caD nev.r ignore the influence oftechnolog).The rapid advancment of tcchnolo&r has ch.Diledther{a} rve live or li\es. aDdhas also greatly conlributedlo l. qlj IJhu{.a rr"no$-r.l rrlIor...r;. ,stitutions

to indiriduais ol ilroups ofl)eopt. Technolog,v has nade iDfomrarim more acc.ssibte to aD nrdividual. but is a.torble edged sword i. the seDsc tharindividLrals noi{ also hnve the ro$r to prllide ialserrLr,r'iun.I xt L l' Fr, -. o L. n.or'l-.'no n-A .r:..,.

There are al$N meits to the adyanccm.nl ot tech-Dolos/. The use of technolo$, norv

sircsindj\.iduals

the polrcr lo brordcast obse^,atioDs and opinidN toother pcople and can also sen to garner suppor tbra causc. For corporatioDs, people ca. rerurn feedbacltand opinions about services and products. Tc.hnolos/ has made thc sharing ofinfonnarjo! quicker andcasier aldshould, by risht, bc used to rectifvrrobiemsin socie$todr!'', rot to erac.rbar prcblcms that stenhom peopic haring too Druch po\rer and not eDough

and althotrgh the video drators later said rlar thevideo was ajoke,lhe reputatioD ofDomirot pizza $6subsquentlv tamished. It is lhis Hnd of r}ouglitlessaction on the parr of iDdiliduats that strowcases thcdangers of letting individuals hav. too nuch po$rr.Although manr peopl rlill use thc adlanrrse of technologt, to make iheir liyes bettcr, there nill alivals be1..t, ",\nu l .t, ,.,r,Jt Inh .t,ol, ri. ,r rt .Fil

-4.11 in all, Do$'t|at e\ryon. sho has a loice has anavenue to bc hea , the rcsllr is coDtusing and overul. rllc,o"".['lJI J,,e.u,i-r'|.ib:tinr-q' -,.a delicate interplay betr'een leadcrs, th p btic andetonal to.ces. while snnply condennins individualpow.r is Danr and ove.ly snnplislic, there shoold at-w.)s be a basic ruling hstitution to lay doM gr.rundnnes for pcople lo folloi{, l.st more troubie is caus.dby the iDcrcased po$rr t|at people ha!e. With thc!o$e that irdn iduals hale right Dow, socities c r soiD anv direction that a suflicient nunrber ofpeople canirrtigate, e,hethcr it be the proSrcss olnaDkind, or rhedesceDr of human socierr- into chaos. lllt

tYE4ChTEILTHTCoVERNNlINT

ISSUESLINI(EDTOTHIS

Unfortunareh, it is a facl that the po$e. oftechnology

Sadly, the atlempt to gne leople Drore po$,er in de car bc easiLy abuscd b1 peoplc. Negati\ or enodecidiDs t]reir ruleA or nroMieans ous opmons can be srread alt tooto \oicc rheir opiDioDs seens t" .nOW that ctuicHy by j ust a handtut ot peollcbe backllrjns iD some countdes, Dd reach an auilicnce ol a rawcausins sreater social un.est and everyOne WhO hufdre,t ,ni ,uD rsth rhe click ofrffecljns utlcr lorieties elobdlh.;;";*ffi;;";.-*1";il:has a voice has an l"::l'$1,:'i,::.,*""T:::easily subsumed in a rasins mob avenue tO be that was posred by employeesmeDtality that lashs out whcn _ of Domino,s pizza. The v eogovcnmentscronotacceitetothe heard, the result ;;,;;;:;;0iff".",",,,"r,,,"dcered sbhcs ot the rft^\d n.. rs eunfUSing and ,t,, .uprhairr,u.,.Jr,dbLuls

"$i ,d

^L\..-r Jv I I tt,dr {-s bcsal ther rnav be. In'r hailand, rhjs Overwhelming nOiSe. ins 11ppJft, t i, tr rtre cust.rmer. rtresocial discord got so orr of haDd \ideo was rie\cd norethana nrilthrt demonst.ato.s sci?ed rhe Su, tion times bcforc it was rcmov.(r

1.,EMANDAEROADERPERSPECT]VE

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A MATTF,R OF OPINION

Is it good that the individual holds so

much power in today's world?We have seen much progress with regards to the concept of powerand sovereignty over the past centuries. From ancient dictatorialmonarchies to the electoral democracies of today, the notion of na-tionhood has undergone a vast series of changes. In particular, weare witnessing a lessening of governmental influence and instead anascent in power of the individual, a sign that people are maturingand able to make decisions for themselves.

Yet, the rccnt financirl crisishas throwr the whole $orldinto a tizzy again, as we epe-rience the dangerous eiiects ofser-seNing individuals br"ndishins their power to achieveunscrupulous ends. Suddenlyeleryone is callins for sovernments to play a biSger and moreenensive role than they fonner-ly did. Some people arsuc thatthis plienonenon of rising in'dividual power is nerely part o{the natrral cycle of nse and fallof th state. But in this modernage oI the Iniemct, this time theindividual s clout wil continueto srow and I say. $ should

With incrcsed power, an indilidual is granted the ability tochoose bis oM dcstiny and ctrNethe path he desjres h life. Tlis isa dght we often lake for grantedin developed countries, but as

and lons-denied nghts. I.'or thelraqi womaD who cd finallyvote and havc a say in how hercountry is run, for the If,baDesepnsoner who js finaly libcratedfilnthe secret detention cenh eaDd can live as a frce nan. thisis a fight for po$e that leads loa real bettennent of their livesand the generations after theni-

The wisdom of the masss is an-oiher case in point 1br in$easedindividual power today. Sometimes, it is rcally the peopie whoknow best, as it is only liomtheir view of erycnencins thnisson the grcund level that best de-

ternines whal needs to be done.A strons example would beBarack Obama's meteoricascenr to the prcsidency of theUnited States. FIis electriryingcampaign of chanse rvas backedprirnarily by milions of sN lindividual donations. which to-

IIBERAL!

A Liberal NGO Activist Answers

conceived bv SONIA KWEI(

a hunan rights activist that has worked in rc$oNsuch as AJrica, the Middle Dast and scattered pafts ofSoutheast Asia, I have witnessed nany people threwho do not even conpreheDd or dare acquaint themselves with such a lunrious tern as 'clioice'. lheseppop F harF bFFn exploiLed and ntnress-d b) dJ roriianan rcsimes their whole lives. sufic ns without anyreason or necessity. Hence, it js very heartening for me

ro.ee l.ar Lnp ris- ul rhF ind:virual N nos ) 8J'n r!momentum, with people .allying for their descn'ed

taled up to an imprcssive, st.onornical $$ nillioDlThis bears testimony to how no contribution is evertoo small, and that when individuals say no to politicsas usual and break throush thc barier ofpoliticalpartisanship md race, great change can be effected. "Yeswe can" hdced, such is the grearDess of

silnrspower

Such wisdon and action has .tlso been aided by thcadvent of technolos/, which hs increased the avail

BROADERPERSPECTIVES thepower ssue

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AMATTEROF OPINION

ability oiinfo.naiion to people across rhe world. SuchI r"wlp,lge h:. h..r' irnn-n..1\ bFnFt:.inJ t.- rha in-dilidual. For oDe, he is equiDped with thc knowhor!andmeaDs to ensu.ethat froblenN arc addressedandthat he is not being taken advantagc oi An eramplc ishow Anazon .ecently faced a massive online backtash{hen its onljDe catalogue disciminared againstbookswith homosextralitj then1es, classill,iJrg them as aduttmaterial' and thus exc.luding then froni its bcsrsellers'iists. l his innnediatel)' triggered offmore than roo,oooposts with the tag 'anazon lail' on social net$orknrgsite Twitter.lhe colossal danuge inflicted on its,cl)utation $s not lost oD Amazon, as it |uniedly is ed astatemcnt blaming the change on a computcr giirchaDd fixed the problen witliin 24 hou.s. Therctore, the

collectile power of individuals is definitely usefut inhelping to keep an eye on cranr

tcsts are uNally comnionplace in countries plagLiedby problematic ])olitic! ud conupr bodies ofsovern-arce, or traDped withiD a conditjon of social unrestand econonic instabilitl'- These peoplc no lo ge. feelsafe and secure nl their own countt, and rhus feel thcneed to take actioD to show their unhappiness againstthe gorrnment. Sornetimes, they resort to unruly and.owdy behaviour only in response ro brutat sovernrncnt crackdowN. 'l'he lan$ase of violence may wellbe the only one theJ loiow, and they associate it as aquickra)'of assuminspower and elicitinsresults. This\icious cycle can only stop when govcrnnrents team tolisten to lheir citizens and ot nde roughshod otrth.ir gh ts and dcsir cs for a better life.

institutioDs and eliciting a frc prsolution to sce arios of nrjLrsrice ordiscinination, thus guaranteeingthe iDtegritt md t.ansparency of

In additioD, t|e accessibility ol lhelntemet has pro\ided a plalformfor likc minded peoplc to gatherand lnite. ltchnolosl has ush-ered in a nen era of nehtorkcdprotest', where thc ilxlividual can

...the individual'svoice serves as a

powerful reminderthat in consider-

ing the macro, weshould never forget

the micro.

e)itreme, individual po{cr can beproblematic too, as it can be usedto nanipulaie othe$ for less thanaltluistic reasoDs. 'nris is clearlysccn frcn lobby sroups with questionable motives and skervercd nrtentions, a bugbear that I l)ersoDally condenrn as well, for they aregiving non govenucntal organi-satioDs (NGO' ovo the world abad Dame I I lowevcr, while it is dis

turbnrg to see people abusingthcnl)ower in stiring up other pcoplefor discrininatorypurposcs, at the

ISSUESIINI(EDTO IHtS

easjly aDd rapidly mise awarc.ess fc,r a ca se rhroughthe soci,l media landscapc. EftlcieDt e-comnuricationlinls halc facilitated a rapid, :ilmost nrsranraneous,dispn ,a io., u. n a narion ,1o.s h,J" 'p-r rrn8netr{olks. enabljng protests to be casily o.chestraredwith swili nobilisation and activarion of indi\iduals.This was evidcnt in lhe Moldovan protests aganrsr thegovemment, popularly knorn as the

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LOCAL VS GLOBAL

/

BROADERPERSPECT VES the power iss!e

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

Onthe intemational stage, what nations care about is po$'er. From Nodh Korea's missitefia]s io Beiiings sraDd stasing ofthe 2oo8 ollmpics, there are nlriad ways in whichcounties make their presence felt. The stitr naturc of competitior in the world and con-plicated dynamics ihat play out in relationships between co ntries require counties toassert thenselves and gain ascendancy in order to have tlie power to brins about situa

tions that are favourable to their interests.

where does Singapore stand in all ofrhis? wlile previously dedsively called ,.a little red dot,,, someiimesnisiakenly thought to b part of China, or rcnembered mostly for the chewing sun ban or Michael Fay,scaning, Singapore's slobal standing has taken time ro develop. It was thus a feather nr our cap to be ranked7th in Foreign Policy's 2oo8 ranking of the world's Most clobal Cities, rassed asone ofthe "Esional gateways'and "efficient economic powerhouses ofrhe reorld". Following an exatredlist ofNew York, London, Paris, Tokyo, Hong Kong and Los Angeles, Singapore surpassed Washinston and Beijing,clearly rubbing shoulders with the besr in the worid.

Foreign Polic!/'s mnkins, oeated in collaboration wirh A.T. Keamey, and The Chicaso couDcil on clobdl AJ-fairc, makes for aD interesting study ofhow Singapore measurcs up against other powerhouses in the worid,with its rankingbased on 5 areas: Businss Acrivity, Hunan Capital, Information Exchange, politicat Engagement and cnitural Experience. Sinsapore ranlcd 6th in business activity targety because of thegoodsthatflowthrough orr ports, and boostedbythevalue of our capital Darkets, and the number ofFortune

Global 5oo firms headquarlered here. Sinsapore ranked 7th in human capital because of our in-misrant population, Dumber ofinternatioDal schools, residenrs wirh university desrees and 4th placingin the world for the number of internationaf students who atteDd ourtop universiries.While ledos goes to th government for implementtug policies thar make Sinsapore attractive to busiress

35EMANDA BROADER PERSPECTIVE

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til

The Foreign Policy zoo8Globalisation Indexranks Singapore...

The worid s rs most globali5ed countries

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oecoiond akca apor'li@

The world'e r5 leart globalised couniriet

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rpoilica En$n! dala

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Th.n. I 8,rp|\ r.pni rg rh. Lii ds n.{ r.l,rLi!.d,oLni .r rtrdrh. \.trnl! n,.tri gll)1., ni lonnt .r 11 h(r i.r Il)Fs lrntrrrrl1)1r9 pr1$ tr,1,.!. \rr.rJ rg [i l(OF S ]tj.,t a x

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rsrloreignpolicl:.ontstory/cnrs.php?stoq id=4s09w{N itkedre}ron/index php/l'LDl(anontresearch rcports.htnrl

BROADERPERSPECT VES thepower ssue

7'h 6'*hMusl Glubxl Cit) for ausi"ess A(livit) in lluma[ ( apila]

es and foreisr students. it is clear thnt singaporeans lhemselves playa pad in nakhg innigrants feel welcon1e in Singapore and providingbtrsinesses $'ith a clear reason to rvant to hire them and be based heredcspiic highcr costs. It is pcrhaps thc fonner that we need to inpro\r,pa icularlt- since rcpofts about nrigrant $'orke$ bcing ircatcd lcss v{llhere and Sinsaporeans still }arboudrs prejudices to$'ards pcoplc fronother Asian count.ies who come to sLudl, and work here hav recentlvsurfaced. hkiDg a leafout of|rance, Mala)sia and Australia s books interns of migrant or minoritl polulation-related issues ilould serve uswell siDcc bcing ablc to attmct the bcst to live in one's countrywill coniinue to be a key feature of global pwcr.

Ranked lsth and 16th for information exchangeand political engagement, we do less well in rerns of recei\-hs and conntrnicrting news to the wo.ld, or in influencing globai poljclmakins rnd dialosue. uhile the runber ofbroadbard subscribeN issignifi caDi and Singaporc $'as 3rd iD confcr.Dc.s hosted for ifiernationalassociatioDs, $'c should rc cxamirc somc aspccts of these two rankiDgsh'|ere we maybc falling shoft. Singaporc's rcfutaiion as a tlacc whcre

free speech does notthrive and ourspaccs for media competition, publicdjalogue and dissent a.e tightl)- controlled maybe limiLing ourpower inthis respect and \ehiie the government has given sone signs that things{illevcDilrally loosen up in o.der to facilitate greater social nuturitj andsiimulatioD, Singaporcans will still havc to frolc that i{e arc mady forsuch change. The recent AWARE saga has casi an nnfavourable light onsocial aclilists. our religious hatrnont- in the face of cjvil distutes andth nedia's ability to harrdle debates. Many also contjnue to argue turthe need for social stabilib aDd clear limits in ordrforeconomic activityaDd traditional values to be protected and may be intolerant of the nessand skthai opcnncss oftcn nrvolvcs.

'l'he one rankirg that sticks out like a sore thumb of all ihc 5 is Singapore s 37th rankingfor cultural experience. h'hich siilnalsthe range of attractions p.ovided lbr people visiting or nigrating fronriLroJd.T\' rrlLJ-s l -p-rf"ili.nJ.'r.."po11ir Jr,r.,.s inlFrn-l.ur'al shows and our c inart scene. While Sinsapore mry have increasedt|e nunrber of $'orld class fcfforrnaDccs hostcd hcrc with iniernationalsinging acts like Coldtlayor The Pussvcat Dolis, ihe Singaporetuts Fest,the MosaicMusic llestival and tie Bddge Project, it cannoi conrpare wiihthe .ich cultural scene in other coLinldes. Thinss hale looked up sincetlie Esplanade thertres were brilt, d.aivhg nore nttention to lhe artssceDe here, brt it $'ill likelyt{ke more local talent and suppoft in orderfor thc aris sccnc to rcally take o{f and gaiD the credibilitv it currentll

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1S'h 16thfor PoliticalEnAagement

for Cultural

In the sportins arena, Singapore has increasingly soughr ard won bidsto host intemational sporting events such as golling tourDaments ljkethe Sinsapore Open and the HSBC'S Women's Champions, marathoDslike the Standard Chartered Singapore Ma.athon, and rnorc recenrly, theF1 racing circuit and the inaugural Youth ol)Dfics to be held in 2o1o.Thcse have all boosted Singapore's profile aDd provided opportunitiesfor Singaporeans to watch and get excited about sports. While hosiilgce{ain events is inpossible at the momeDi, technoloB/ has also enabled

many fans to follow football leasues in Europe, basketball championships h America and the sunner Ollnpics whenever rhe seasons rollaround. A greater raDge of sporting activities and the strengthening ofsports leagues could alsohelp, though Singapore is quire severelylimitedby the availability ofland and the pressuEs of work and study that keepits people from ensasinsmore seriously in sports.

I.rom interest and support to involvement, the final area co.sidered inihe cultural score is th culinaryscene and this is one area in which nei-ther interest and support nor involvement caD be questioned given thatSingaporeans love to eat and the varietr offood you can eat here is astonishing.

Cosnopolitan Singaporeans have also developed a taste for finedining. With the world Gourmet Sunmitand the standsrdofrestauranrshere becomins more recognised, things maybe lookins up for Singapo.e.In 2oo8, Iggy s made it to Dumber .+5 on the S. Pellegrino World's 5cJBest Restaurants list while Les Amis ranked 60 on a secondary lisi. yetrnost stil prefer their hawker fare and that is perhaps where otrr culinaryscene needs the most improvement. After the mass fbod poisoning scarein Geylans which highlighted the poor hysiene standards n1 some foodcentres and the srorring sense that true blue hawkers nay be a dyi