Forms of GovernmentForms of Governmentand and

International OrganisationsInternational Organisations

Why do we need to understand Why do we need to understand politics?politics?

SM Lee Kuan Yew describes himself as SM Lee Kuan Yew describes himself as ‘between socialists and conservatives’‘between socialists and conservatives’

He is seen to be to the left of Mrs Margaret He is seen to be to the left of Mrs Margaret Thatcher and to the right of Mr Tony BlairThatcher and to the right of Mr Tony Blair

Senator John Kerry was criticised by the Senator John Kerry was criticised by the Republicans of being a ‘liberal’Republicans of being a ‘liberal’

DemocracyDemocracy Greek word meaning rule by the Greek word meaning rule by the

people people The right to voteThe right to vote The right to form a political partyThe right to form a political party Opposition is not treasonOpposition is not treason Periodically, every 4-6 years, the Periodically, every 4-6 years, the

assemblies have to be dissolved and assemblies have to be dissolved and allows the change of power.allows the change of power.

44% of the world population live in 44% of the world population live in democraciesdemocracies

Factors that contribute to the Factors that contribute to the movement of democracymovement of democracy

Revolutionary ideas Revolutionary ideas on life, liberty and the on life, liberty and the role of the role of the governmentgovernment

The two World WarsThe two World Wars The end of the Cold The end of the Cold

WarWar The expansion of The expansion of

trade and traveltrade and travel

Democracy in SingaporeDemocracy in Singapore

Constitutional MonarchyConstitutional Monarchy

Today there are only 25 monarchies in the Today there are only 25 monarchies in the world today. world today.

Examples of constitutional monarchy are Examples of constitutional monarchy are Britain, Spain, Netherlands, Sweden, Britain, Spain, Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Japan, Thailand, etc.Denmark, Norway, Japan, Thailand, etc.

Examples of monarchies without Examples of monarchies without constitutional restrictions are Saudi constitutional restrictions are Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE, Jordan, Moroco, Arabia, Kuwait, UAE, Jordan, Moroco, Brunei and BhutanBrunei and Bhutan

What is constitutional monarchy?What is constitutional monarchy?

A form of monarchical A form of monarchical government established under government established under a constitutional system which a constitutional system which acknowledges the monarch as acknowledges the monarch as the head of state. the head of state.

Today constitutional monarchy is Today constitutional monarchy is often combined with often combined with representative democracy and representative democracy and the Prime Minister is head of the Prime Minister is head of government.government.

Against MonarchyAgainst Monarchy

UndemocraticUndemocratic Incompatible with the notions of human Incompatible with the notions of human

rightsrights Apex of class consciousnessApex of class consciousness

For MonarchyFor Monarchy

Personifies tradition, Personifies tradition, respectability and respectability and continuitycontinuity

A unifying force for A unifying force for increasing diverse increasing diverse populationspopulations

As a national symbolAs a national symbol

SocialismSocialism

HistoryHistory Socialism was developed in the C19thSocialism was developed in the C19th Socialists believed that industrialisation Socialists believed that industrialisation

and feudalism are making life better for the and feudalism are making life better for the rich and worse for the poor.rich and worse for the poor.

They believed that wealth should be They believed that wealth should be distributed fairly, and land, factories and distributed fairly, and land, factories and means of production should be owned by means of production should be owned by the state. the state.

SocialismSocialism Leftist Leftist Socialists support state intervention in Socialists support state intervention in

economy, education, health and general economy, education, health and general welfarewelfare

Communist countries see themselves Communist countries see themselves socialist and in the non-communist world socialist and in the non-communist world the term socialist usually refers to the term socialist usually refers to essentially non-Marxist parties of the left essentially non-Marxist parties of the left eg. The Labour Party in Britain and the eg. The Labour Party in Britain and the social democrats in Europe.social democrats in Europe.

CommunismCommunism The Communist Manifesto-Karl Marx and Friedrich EngelsThe Communist Manifesto-Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels

-Capitalism is an evil system-Capitalism is an evil system

-The proletariat was exploited by the bougeoisie-The proletariat was exploited by the bougeoisie

- Class struggle to overthrow the ruling class- Class struggle to overthrow the ruling class

- A classless society - A classless society

Dictatorship of the proletariatDictatorship of the proletariat Rule by one party, the Communist PartyRule by one party, the Communist Party Eg North Korea, Cuba, Vietnam, Laos and ChinaEg North Korea, Cuba, Vietnam, Laos and China

Communist China TodayCommunist China Today

Deng Xiaoping in 1978 Deng Xiaoping in 1978 transformed a central transformed a central state run economy into state run economy into one that is dominated by one that is dominated by private enterprises based private enterprises based on market forceson market forces

““To get rich is glorious”To get rich is glorious”

Deng XiaopingDeng Xiaoping

Left, Right, CentreLeft, Right, Centre The left stands for people and parties who The left stands for people and parties who

believe in state direction and control of believe in state direction and control of economyeconomy

They want egalitarianism and intervention to They want egalitarianism and intervention to ensure all people are taken care of.ensure all people are taken care of.

The right stands for people and parties who The right stands for people and parties who believe in less state control of the economy believe in less state control of the economy and social interferenceand social interference

They are concerned with equality of They are concerned with equality of opportunities and competition to be healthy opportunities and competition to be healthy

Political Parties in UKPolitical Parties in UK Since 1945 either the Conservative Party or the Labour Party has Since 1945 either the Conservative Party or the Labour Party has

held powerheld power Conservative PartyConservative Party -Pro-business-Pro-business -Privatising the nationalised industries-Privatising the nationalised industries -Emphasizes the value of the market/minimal state control-Emphasizes the value of the market/minimal state control -Margaret Thatcher-Margaret Thatcher

Labour PartyLabour Party -Trade union support-Trade union support - State should provide public services like health care, education, - State should provide public services like health care, education,

etc.etc. - High taxes- High taxes - Tony Blair- Tony Blair

US GovernmentUS Government

Legislative Branch Executive Branch Judicial BranchLegislative Branch Executive Branch Judicial Branch

ISSUESISSUES RadicalRadical LiberalLiberal             ModerateModerate ConservativeConservative ReactionaryReactionary

TaxesTaxes

High taxes for high level of High taxes for high level of government services. government services. State control over State control over economyeconomy..

Mixture of both Mixture of both sides sides depending depending on individual on individual convictions convictions and political and political expediency.expediency.

Low taxes or large tax cuts. Low taxes or large tax cuts. Reduction in government Reduction in government services and regulationservices and regulation..

EducationEducationGovernment subsidizes Government subsidizes

public education through public education through college level.college level.

Government turns control to Government turns control to local agencies. Vouchers local agencies. Vouchers OK.OK.

DefenseDefense

Reduce government Reduce government spending on military. spending on military. Interventionist foreign Interventionist foreign policy.policy.

Increase spending on Increase spending on military readiness. military readiness. Reduce U.S. involvement Reduce U.S. involvement in world conflicts.in world conflicts.

Environment Environment

Regulate business to protect Regulate business to protect natural resources. Steer natural resources. Steer away from nuclear, coal, oil away from nuclear, coal, oil fuels.fuels.

Support exploration of Support exploration of federal land for new energy federal land for new energy sources. Reduce sources. Reduce government regulation.government regulation.

* Dem. = Democrats; Rep. = Republicans* Dem. = Democrats; Rep. = Republicans

International OrganisationsInternational Organisations

1.1. Inter-Governmental OrganisationsInter-Governmental Organisations The United Nations, European Union, The United Nations, European Union,

NATO, ASEAN, OPEC, AFTA, NAFTA, NATO, ASEAN, OPEC, AFTA, NAFTA, WTOWTO

2. Non-Governmental Organisations(NGOs)2. Non-Governmental Organisations(NGOs)Greenpeace, Amnesty International, Human Greenpeace, Amnesty International, Human

Rights Watch, Red Cross Society, Rights Watch, Red Cross Society, Doctors Without Borders, etc.Doctors Without Borders, etc.

The United NationsThe United Nations

The UN was formed after the Second World War The UN was formed after the Second World War to maintain peace and security. It seeks to maintain peace and security. It seeks international cooperation in solving international international cooperation in solving international problems of an economic, cultural and problems of an economic, cultural and humanitarian characterhumanitarian character

The United NationsThe United Nations1.1. The Security CouncilThe Security Council

15 countries and 5 members – US, UK, 15 countries and 5 members – US, UK, Russia, France and ChinaRussia, France and China

The United NationsThe United Nations

The General Assembly deals The General Assembly deals mainly with all non-military mainly with all non-military activities in the UN activities in the UN

Some special agencies are Some special agencies are UNESCO, UNICEF, UNESCO, UNICEF, UNDP, WHO, UNEP, UNDP, WHO, UNEP, World Bank, IMF, etcWorld Bank, IMF, etc

ASEANASEAN

ASEAN aims to promote economic growth, social ASEAN aims to promote economic growth, social progress and cultural development, as well as progress and cultural development, as well as regional peace and securityregional peace and security

Financial and Trade OrganisationsFinancial and Trade Organisations

1.1. International International Monetary FundMonetary Fund

2.2. The World BankThe World Bank3.3. World Trade World Trade

OrganisationOrganisation4.4. FTAsFTAs

NGO – GreenpeaceNGO – Greenpeace

Seeks to prevent pollution Seeks to prevent pollution and the abuse of the and the abuse of the earth’s environment, and earth’s environment, and to protect the biodiversity to protect the biodiversity of the planet. of the planet.

Opposes nuclear weapons Opposes nuclear weapons and nuclear power.and nuclear power.

Amnesty InternationalAmnesty International

A human rights NGOA human rights NGO

It opposes It opposes

a.a. the imprisonment of individuals for their political the imprisonment of individuals for their political views, views,

b.b. seeks to ensure fair trials for political prisoners seeks to ensure fair trials for political prisoners and and

c.c. opposes the death penalty, torture and political opposes the death penalty, torture and political killings.killings.

Red Cross SocietyRed Cross SocietyThe Red Cross Society is the The Red Cross Society is the

world’s largest humanitarian world’s largest humanitarian organisation.organisation.

Aims to promote humanitarian Aims to promote humanitarian principles and values; disaster principles and values; disaster response; disaster response; disaster preparedness; and health and preparedness; and health and care in the communitycare in the community