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SingaporeGeneral Paper

Politics and Global Affairs

4 dot points across 4 inquiry questions. Click any dot point for a focused answer with worked past exam questions where available.

Is liberal democracy the best system of government, or can alternatives deliver good governance too?

Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of democracy against alternative systems, distinguishing good governance from any single model
A focused answer to the General Paper theme of democracy and governance. Balanced arguments on democracy's strengths and flaws, alternative models, and what good governance requires, with Singapore and global examples.
10 min answer →

When should a society trade some freedom for greater security, and where must the line hold?

Evaluate the trade-off between individual freedom and collective security, weighing safety and order against rights and liberty
A focused answer to the General Paper theme of freedom and security. Balanced arguments on civil liberties against safety and order, the conditions for legitimate limits, and the false-dichotomy reframing, with examples.
9 min answer →

Has globalisation weakened the nation-state, or simply changed what states must do to thrive?

Evaluate how globalisation affects the power and role of the nation-state, weighing interdependence against sovereignty and identity
A focused answer to the General Paper theme of globalisation and the state. Balanced arguments on whether globalisation erodes sovereignty, its economic and cultural effects, and how small states adapt, with Singapore examples.
9 min answer →

Can nations cooperate to solve shared problems, or does self-interest make conflict and inaction inevitable?

Evaluate the prospects for international cooperation on global problems against the pull of national self-interest and rivalry
A focused answer to the General Paper theme of international relations. Balanced arguments on cooperation versus national self-interest, the role of global institutions, and collective-action problems, with examples for any related question.
9 min answer →