Tutorial 10: Search for political stability / Approaches to National Unity

 Comparing the different policies that governments used to foster national unity

Explain how various policies work to foster national unity. What does the policy create and how does that lead
to stronger national unity. Provide one example for each point. Focus is on the positives of the policies, on how
they have successfully been implemented to foster national unity.

* Get them to pen down egs. but if not time just don’t go through them. Focus on EV.

Education policy
 Provides a common experience for people of the nation since education is usually compulsory for
the first few grades so bond the people together
 Singapore
o Meritocratic education system seems fair for all
o Free education for Malays because of “special position”
o Compulsory from 6 to 15 years old
 Teaches about the history of the country, the values, the culture, etc, and thus creates a national
identity
 Indonesia
o 1985 new compulsory subject added called “Education in the History for the National
Struggle”
o Strong focus on the Military leading the nation in its struggle against enemies, from the
Dutch to Communists to Islamists
o Learn about national heroes who led the fight gloriously

Language policy
 Neutral common language improves communication and thus understanding between different
ethnic groups in society
 Also creates a national identity through the language that everyone uses in the country
 Neutral common language creates equal opportunity for all to do well since no one group favoured
by national language
 Indonesia
o Malay (Bahasa Indonesia) adopted as national language over Javanese
o Used throughout education system
 Singapore
o Four official languages: Malay, Tamil, Mandarin, English
o Bilingual focus with stress on “English” as a neutral foreign language, and individual’s
ethnic mother-tongue
o Malay promoted as national language because of “special position”

Economic policy
 Key is to create socio-economic equality as people feel included if they all benefit from and/or are
given fair opportunities to achieve, economic prosperity
 Creates harmony in society
 Malaysia
o Malays disgruntled over increasing income disparity between Chinese and Malays
o NEP aimed to eradicate poverty and remove association of ethnicity with occupation
o Initial opposition from non-Malays but overall economic boom benefited everyone in the
end

1
  Singapore
o Focus on “rugged society”, discipline, pragmatism, egalitarian competition, excellence
o National identity based on a “philosophy of national development”
o Meritocratic society allows for fair competition to a certain extent

Political structure/leadership
 How power is distributed is clearly very important because it determines who is “in-charge” of the
country. If the leadership is always dominated by a majority group then their policies may favor this
majority group and thus lead to unhappiness by the minority communities.
 If political power is distributed fairly people will feel included, that they have a say in their own
country. Sense of belonging and rootedness.
 Singapore
o Group Representation Constituency ensures minority representation in government
o Political resource allocation based on “ethnic arithmetic” which seems fair
o Presidential Council for Minority Rights Singapore Indian Development Association
(SINDA)
 Malaysia
o National Alliance and later Barisan Nasional always included the three main ethnic political
parties of UMNO, MCA and MIC

National ideology/symbols
 Creates national identity based on architecture, flag, anthem, food, shared ideas, etc
 Belief in one idea also unites the people to work together to realise the idea
 Singapore
o Meritocratic education system seems fair for all
o Multiculturalism promotes harmony in society
 Thailand
o Nation, King, Buddhism evolved over the years
o Thai-ness today incorporates diversity

Religious/cultural policy
 Easily understood and can unify people. Religion and traditions can stir up intense feelings among
the people if they come under any threat.
 Freedom of religion creates a culture of respect and appreciation for diversity
 Different religious group would feel included in the nation
 Malaysia
o National Consultative Council (NCC) formed to establish positive and practical guidelines
for inter-racial cooperation and social integration for growth of Malaysian national identity
o Avoid the discussion of sensitive issues such as religion and ethnicity, in public
 Singapore
o Multi-ethnic/cultural basis in most policies
o Stressed mutual tolerance between different ethnic groups
o Institutionalization of ethnicity through interest groups, such as SINDA, Mendaki, CDAC,
MUIS

Policy of granting autonomous status

 Shows respect and appreciation for the differences that may exist in different parts of the country
 Philippines
o Mindanao was accorded the status of an Autonomous Region in 1989 by Aquino Corazon
 Indonesia
2
 o Aceh managed to get more autonomy in 1962 when it was granted provincial status
o Managed to implement some elements of Islamic Law in the province

Higher order thinking question!

Which policy is the most effective in fostering national unity? Explain your rationale.

 Education is key because on top of what it can do by itself namely, the common experience for all
and teaching of the nation’s history and value, it also helps to boost the effects of National
Ideology/Symbols because we recite the pledge sing the anthem see the flag, etc and Language
policies because subjects are all thought through the official language. Thus its influence is the
largest.
 National Ideology by right should buttress all the other policies but in reality this may not be the
case. Proclaiming something grandiose and idealistic in the National Ideology is easy. Following
them in reality is far more difficult.
 Granting autonomous status can be a double-edged sword as differences may be accentuated
without the region really feeling it is part of the bigger national community. They may ask for more
and more autonomy in the future finally leading to eventual secession? Possibly.

Relevant sample questions:

 Assess the view that education and language were more important than religion in fostering national
unity in independent Southeast Asia.
 “National unity in independent Southeast Asia was achieved through economic policies.” To what
extent do you agree with the above statement?