Diplomacy
Chapter 6
What is Diplomacy?

The way in which countries manage
or conduct relations with one another.

It aims to promote common interests
and to resolve conflicting interests in
a peaceful manner.

Countries send representatives called
DIPLOMATS to live in and keep in
touch with foreign governments to
perform economic, political and
consular functions overseas.
Why is Diplomacy
Necessary?

Countries are connected to one
another through trade, political,
historical and cultural relations.

International trade and tourism have
also enhanced the interconnectedness among countries.

Diplomacy also provides an
opportunity for countries to pursue
mutual interests and to solve common
problems (e.g. SARS, terrorism and
environmental issues)
How is Diplomacy
Practised?

Bilateral Relations


When a country establishes
diplomatic relations with
another country (e.g. Singapore
and Malaysia)
Why are BR beneficial /
important to Singapore?

See word document.
How is Diplomacy
Practised?

Reg ional Relations

Countries establish regional relations by
forming an association of countries in a
region. By combining the strengths of member
countries, the association becomes stronger.

This allows it to be in a better / stronger
position to deal with other countries or
associations.

E.g. European Union (EU), Association of
Southeast Asian Countries (ASEAN).
How is Diplomacy
Practised?

Reg ional Relations

ASEAN Formed in 1967 to:

Respond to political, economic and security
challenges within and outside the borders
of the Southeast Asian region.

Respond to the need for a regional
organisation that could maintain stability
and build trust.
How is Diplomacy
Practised?

Reg ional Relations

Aims of ASEAN:

Promote economic, social and cultural
development of the region;

Protect the peace and stability of the
region; and

Provide opportunities for member countries
to discuss and resolve differences
peacefully.
How is Diplomacy
Practised?

Reg ional Relations

Initiatives of ASEAN:

ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA)

To combat competition from economic powers
such as India and China who offer lower cost of
production and large markets.

As ASEAN realised that economic integration
was necessary to remain economically viable,
they launched AFTA to remove import taxes
among ASEAN countries.

This would make ASEAN a more attractive region
to investors as they would not need to pay taxes
for their goods. This will bring economic
prosperity to the countries involved, including
Singapore.
How is Diplomacy
Practised?

Reg ional Relations

Initiatives of ASEAN:

ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF)

To maintain peace by promoting political and
security dialogue and co-operation among
countries in the Asia-Pacific Region

Provides an avenue for countries in the region to
discuss security issues and resolve conflicts
peacefully.

Allows Singapore to maintain good relations with
its neighbours thus ensuring peace and security
in the region which brings about the right
conditions for economic development and growth.
How is Diplomacy
Practised?

Reg ional Relations

Initiatives of ASEAN:

Singapore and ASEAN

ASEAN has enabled Singapore to forge better
relations with her neighbouring countries.

Provides an avenue for Singapore to discuss her
differences with other neighbouring countries
peacefully.

Allows for the management of environmental
issues like the haze through peaceful dialogue.
How is Diplomacy
Practised?

Reg ional Relations

Initiatives of ASEAN:

Education and Professional Exchange

Singapore provides technical knowledge and
expertise to member countries including IT skills,
English Language skills and trade promotions to
member countries of ASEAN.

Scholarships are also given to students from
ASEAN countries so that these students can
return to their home countries after study and
contribute to their countries’ development.

This has provided Singapore with an opportunity
to strengthen its ties with his neighbours and a
role to play in maintaining regional peace and
promoting economic development.
How is Diplomacy
Practised?
 Reg ional Relations

Initiatives of ASEAN:

Economic Co-operation and
Assistance

To help narrow the economic gap between
member countries, Singapore launched the
Initiative for ASEAN (IAI) project where it
offered a five year aid package of $80 million
to selected member countries

This has provided Singapore with an
opportunity to strengthen its ties with his
neighbours and a role to play in maintaining
regional peace and promoting economic
development.
How is Diplomacy
Practised?
 Reg ional Relations

Initiatives of ASEAN:

Environmental Collaboration

Singapore assisted Indonesia to monitor
forest fires via satellite in order to
tackle the haze problem.

This has provided Singapore with an
opportunity to strengthen its ties with
his neighbours and a role to play in
maintaining regional peace and
promoting economic development.
How is Diplomacy
Practised?
 International Relations
 Involve
ties among many
countries and groupings
throughout the world.
 In
International relations,
the UN plays an important
role as an organisation
representing all countries in
the world.
How is Diplomacy
Practised?
 International Relations
 Aims
of the UN
 Maintain
world peace and
security
 Develop
friendly relations
among nations
How is Diplomacy
Practised?
 International Relations
 Aims
of the UN
 Cooperate
internationally
to solve international
economic, social, cultural
and humanitarian
problems.
How is Diplomacy
Practised?
 International Relations

Aims of the UN

Promote respect for human
rights and basic freedom
regardless of race, religion and
gender.

To be a centre for harmonising
the actions of nations in
attaining the aims listed.
Role of the UN
Organisations
Security
Council
•Maintains peace and
security among
member countries
Economic
and
Social
Council
General
Assembly
•Helps the people of
the world to improve
their lives
•Functions like a
world parliament
where all the
member countries
can vote on various
matters
Role of the UN
Organisations
Trusteeship
council
• Currently
suspended.
Function is to
help countries
gain selfgovernment or
independence.
International
Court of
Justice
Secretariart
• Functions as a
world court to
help member
countries settle
disputes
peacefully.
• Implements the
decisions taken
by member
countries of UN.
Singapore and the UN
 Became
a UN member in 1965
 Allowed
Singapore to gain
recognition as a sovereign state
 Helped
Singapore to develop
socially and economically
through the help of Dr Albert
Winsemius, who helped
Singapore’s industrial planning
and development
Singapore and the UN
 UN
Law of the Sea Conference

Defines how countries can draw
territorial borders in the sea and
states clearly the rights of landlocked
states to access the seas.

It also provides guidelines on how to
safeguard the marine environment and
protects the freedom of scientific
research on high seas.
Singapore and the UN
 UN
Law of the Sea Conference

Singapore played an important part in
the UN Law of the Sea Conference.

Singapore’s former representative to
the UN, Professor Tommy Koh, was
President of the Third UN Conference
on the Law of the Sea from 1980 to
1982.
Singapore and the UN
 UN
Security Council

5 Permanent Members: USA, UK, France,
China and Russia

10 Rotating Members

Singapore was a non-permanent member for 2
years (2001 to 2002) and served as President
of the Council

The role of the Security Council is to
maintain international peace and security.

The election to the council showed the
confidence member countries have in
Singapore as well as Singapore’s commitment
to the UN.
Singapore and the UN
 UN
Peacekeeping Missions

Peacekeeping is a way to help countries torn
by conflict to create conditions for long-term
peace.

Peacekeeping operations are authorised by
the UNSC and peacekeepers are soldiers and
military officers, civilian police officers and
civilian personnel deployed from many
countries.

Most of these operations involve military
duties such as observing a ceasefire between
the warring factions or requiring civilian
police and personnel to organise elections or
monitor human rights.
Singapore and the UN
 UN
Peacekeeping Missions

Singapore has been involved in UN’s
peacekeeping efforts since 1989.

By 2005, Singapore was involved in 13
operations in 11 different countries and
contributed about 1,500 personnel for the
missions.