The idiot’s guide to understanding Social Studies

(a totally useless subject)

Key points in SS
Differing needs & interests
- Everyone’s needs & interests cannot be met, cause
limited resources, hence decisions on how resources
should be used would need to be made
Unequal sharing of costs
- Basically whiny Singaporeans who complain due to
construction of expressway near their home = very noisy, etc.
In Singapore the situation is worse due to limited land.
Understanding Tradeoffs
- SG govt needs to consider SG’s limited resources when
making decisions on developing SG. e.g. Govt made the
decision to acquire land previously used for other purposes,
residential and commercial, to build Thomson-East Coast line.
Decision-making in a representative democracy
- Govt are needed to make decisions on what’s needed for
society & country. They can do this through making laws (rule-
making), implementing them (rule execution) and interpreting
and applying them (rule adjudication).
Having good leadership
- Leaders with good moral character & who are incorruptible can
win the confidence and the respect of people.
Anticipating changes and staying relevant
- Govt needs to manage tensions & remain forward-looking.
Need to make decisions that will benefit the people of SG in
the future. e.g. Integrated resorts (IRs) in MBS/Sentosa.
Providing a stake for everyone
- Having a say in decision making develops a greater sense of
belonging in citizens. They feel like they have a stake in SG’s
future and hence be more willing to be involved in working
Key:
Highlighted in yellow - important.
Highlighted in orange - examples.
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 The idiot’s guide to understanding Social Studies
(a totally useless subject)

towards the good of society. e.g Home ownership - Public

Housing Scheme (PHS) & Central Provision Fund (CPF)
through public housing.
Practicing Meritocracy
- System that distributes opportunities to enable future
successes. Rewarded due to hard work & effort not race,
religion etc. When they are rewarded based on ability, they are
motivated to work hard. e.g. Well-performing students in
studies & CCAs receive awards. (Edusave scholarship & Merit
Bursary Schemes)
Providing goods and services to the public
- Goods or services subsidised by govt so that citizens can use
them. e.g. public transportation.
Safeguarding the interests of citizens
- Implement legislation safeguarding the interests of citizens.
Ensure citizens’ sense of security - ensuring there's no abuse
by employers or sense of security in old age. e.g WorkRight
Initiative introduced by govt helping employers and employees
understand rights & initiatives = awareness of employment
rights
Contributing to the needs of society
- Greater sense of ownership & commitment towards causes the
citizen’s are passionate towards = long-term involvement
ensuring sustainable benefits to society
Strengthening Citizens’ Sense of belonging
- Through media for citizens to engage with govt and national
leaders to clarify or provide feedback. e.g REACH (Reaching
Everyone for Active Citizenry @ Home) provides info to public
and allows feedback for them.
Assistance for Socio-Economic mobility
Key:
Highlighted in yellow - important.
Highlighted in orange - examples.
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 The idiot’s guide to understanding Social Studies
(a totally useless subject)

1. Subsidies (Medishield, Medifund, FAS, etc.)

2. CPF Housing Grant
3. Programmes for people with disabilities
4. Public Assistance
5. Bursaries
6. Transport Concessions
Immigration Policy
Economic Opportunities
Community Support
- They make foreigners feel at home in SG. e.g. Golden Mile
Complex is dubbed “Little Thailand”
Safe Environment
- SG is safe, it has low crime rate.
Singapore’s Education System
- Well recognised and admired for its high standards.
Concerns over the standard of living
- Singaporeans fear foreigners steal jobs (PMET position)
Concerns over Social Mobility
- Income gaps have increased over the years. SG govt
encourages re-training of skills to enable Singaporeans to stay
relevant to new demands. E.g. lower income groups were
affected by shifting of jobs to regions that offer lower labour
costs.
Assimilation
- Immigrants are expected to adopt the beliefs and practices of
the majority group in the host country. e.g. France. Clear
separation of religious affairs from governance and no religion
is favoured over another. (Education, Employment &
Naturalisation processes also help - expand)
Tensions arising from assimilation in France
Key:
Highlighted in yellow - important.
Highlighted in orange - examples.
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 The idiot’s guide to understanding Social Studies
(a totally useless subject)

- New immigrants hold on to religious identities & French takes

this as a threat to France’s national identity. The wearing of
religious symbols in public becomes a source of tension
Integration
- Immigrants retain their unique identity while forging common
ground with groups already living in the country. e.g.
Singapore. (Bilingual policy, Group Representation
Constituency (GRC)) (Common experiences, Community
Support - expand)

Key:
Highlighted in yellow - important.
Highlighted in orange - examples.
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 The idiot’s guide to understanding Social Studies
(a totally useless subject)

Tensions from integration in Singapore

- Singaporeans feel like their job security has been
compromised as they now have to compete with foreigners.
Market-based approach in the USA
- US govt does not get involved with the setting of prices by
health care service providers. Americans have to cope with the
costs of healthcare by their own. Which means they have to
buy their own insurance.
Keeping healthcare affordable - USA
- They get insurance as part of their employment package. But
these people most likely from large firms which means that
they do not need to insurance. Challenge is the cost &
coverage of medical insurance - expand
Shared responsibility approach - Singapore
- Which basically means got medical care by govt and got from
private sector. e.g. keep affordable through medisave,
healthcare subsidies, Medishield life, Medifund,
Challenges
- Managing the growing demand (Old people), Rising healthcare
costs (Inflation)
Healthcare and financing in Sweden - Govt financed approach
- Basically free healthcare. See NHS (National Health Service) in
UK. To keep it affordable, high taxation.
Challenges - Sweden
- (High taxation for low healthcare costs, Growing number of
people needing healthcare - expand)
Developments in transportation
- More goods and savings per trip = savings in transport cost.
Growth in Multinational Corporations (MNCs)

Key:
Highlighted in yellow - important.
Highlighted in orange - examples.
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 The idiot’s guide to understanding Social Studies
(a totally useless subject)

- As they grow, they control more aspects of international trade

and investment

Advances in Technology
- Facilitate the communication and exchange of information
across the world.
Economic Growth
Economic Downturn
- May affect other countries. e.g. 2008 Global Financial crisis.
Higher Profits/Market Share
- Go overseas = lower labour costs & cheaper resources which
equates to higher profits. e.g. countries like Vietnam, China
etc.
Lower Profits/Market Share
- Harder for them to compete for a share of profits in the global
economy.
Higher Income
- Facilitated mobility = easier to find better job prospects
overseas and as such, higher income
Loss of Income
- Some people would be affected by the increasing competition.
Have to contend with lower income or risk losing their jobs.
Companies move to places with lower labour costs.
Cultural Homogenisation & Hybridisation
- Local cultures are changed to become more and more similar
to some aspects of foreign cultures. e.g. Starbucks
American Influences
- Dominated by the USA - entertainment industries. Messages
spread freedom & individuality. E.g. The film industry dominate
Key:
Highlighted in yellow - important.
Highlighted in orange - examples.
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 The idiot’s guide to understanding Social Studies
(a totally useless subject)

box offices of more than 150 countries and its film industry is
seen as the main provider of entertainment in millions of homes
worldwide.
Korean Influences
- K-Pop. e.g. in August 2011 Japanese protestors rallied in front
of Fuji Television due to increasing presence of Korean
programmes in the television’s daily broadcast.
Food - McDonalds
Impacts of Cyber Security Challenges
- They use malware to access info. e.g. 2013, USA accuse
China’s military of mounting attacks on its government’s
computer networks. Focused on collecting information on
USA’s political, economic and defense sectors.
Managing Cyber Security Challenges
- Criminals exploit internet. e.g. Singapore’s National Cyber
Security Masterplan 2018
Impacts of Transnational Terrorism
- Use internet to spread propaganda. e.g. Al-Qaeda 2011 9/11
bombings into Pentagon, World Trade center. 3000 dead, 19
terrorists dead.
Preventive measures
- Border control. Biometric technology. Radiographic imaging of
cargo vehicles through borders. e.g. Canada implemented No-
Fly list for terrorists called “The Passenger Protect Program”.
Identifies individuals that may threaten security.
Protective measures
- Increase vigilance through surveillance. SAF plays a role in
protecting borders. e.g. Full body scanners in airports around
the USA to detect hidden and potentially dangerous objects
under passengers clothes
Key:
Highlighted in yellow - important.
Highlighted in orange - examples.
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 The idiot’s guide to understanding Social Studies
(a totally useless subject)

Responsive measures
- Frequent exercises held by SCDF to test contingency
plans for acts of terrorism. e.g. Emergency preparedness
exercises such as Exercise Heartbeat are held annually,
where Home Team works with the community and
private organisations.

Key:
Highlighted in yellow - important.
Highlighted in orange - examples.
rac ©2018