Who is responsible for responding to globalisation, the government, individuals, or both?
Explain the roles of both the government and individuals in responding to globalisation, and why an effective response needs both working together
A scaffolded answer to who responds to globalisation in Singapore. The government's role in policy, support and protection, the individual's role in skills and adaptability, and why an effective response needs both working together.
Reviewed by: AI editorial process; not yet individually human-reviewed
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What this dot point is asking
This dot point asks you to explain the roles of both the government and individuals in responding to globalisation, and why an effective response needs both. The examiner wants you to show that responding is a shared responsibility: the government leads with policy, support and protection because of its scale and power, but individuals must also adapt and act, because policies only work if people respond to them in their own lives. A strong answer explains each role, shows how they support each other, and reaches a balanced view.
The answer
The role of the government
The government leads the response to globalisation because it has the resources, power and reach to act for the whole country. It makes economic policy, runs retraining and skills schemes, keeps the economy competitive, protects local culture and heritage, passes laws, builds security and health systems, and cooperates with other countries. These are large-scale responses that only the government can make. So the government sets the direction and provides the framework within which individuals respond.
The role of individuals
Individuals respond to globalisation by adapting in their own lives. Workers upgrade their skills and stay flexible so they can move into new jobs as the economy changes. People stay open to global culture while keeping their own traditions alive, and pass these on to their families. Citizens stay vigilant against security threats, follow safety measures, and avoid spreading rumours. The individual's role is to take up the opportunities and protections on offer and to make good choices in their own life.
Why both are needed together
An effective response needs both, because each depends on the other. Government policies only work if individuals act on them: retraining schemes help no one if workers do not take them up, and security measures fail without public cooperation. Equally, individuals cannot make large responses alone, such as economic policy or international cooperation, that need the government's scale. So the two roles fit together: the government provides the framework and support, and individuals make it real through their own actions.
A shared responsibility
Responding to globalisation is therefore a shared responsibility. The government leads because of its power and reach, but it cannot succeed without individuals responding too. This is similar to building social cohesion, where the government sets the conditions and citizens bring them to life. Seeing the response as a partnership avoids two mistakes: expecting the government to do everything, and expecting individuals to cope alone. The best outcomes come when both play their part.
Examples in context
Example 1. Retraining schemes and willing workers. A government skills-training scheme only helps if workers actually take it up and adapt to new jobs. This shows the partnership clearly: the government provides the support, and individuals make it work by responding, which is how Singapore keeps its workforce competitive.
Example 2. Security measures and public vigilance. Security systems and laws against terrorism and scams work far better when citizens stay alert and report suspicious activity. This shows the government and individuals responding together to the security threats of globalisation, linking to the role of citizens in keeping society safe and cohesive.
Try this
Q1. State one response to globalisation that only the government can make, and one that individuals must make. [2 marks]
- Cue. Government only: for example economic policy, retraining schemes, or international cooperation. Individuals: for example upgrading their own skills, staying vigilant, or keeping their own culture alive.
Q2. Explain why government policies to respond to globalisation may fail without individuals. [3 marks]
- Cue. Policies only work if people act on them: retraining schemes help no one if workers do not take them up, and security measures fail without public cooperation, so individuals must respond for government efforts to succeed.
Q3. Explain why responding to globalisation is best seen as a shared responsibility. [3 marks]
- Cue. The government has the scale and power to lead with big responses, but it cannot succeed without individuals adapting and acting, and individuals cannot make large responses alone, so the two roles depend on each other and work best together.
Exam-style practice questions
Practice questions written in the style of SEAB exam questions on this dot point, with worked answer explainers. The year tag is the paper they imitate, not the source.
Original6 marksExplain the role of the government and the role of individuals in responding to globalisation.Show worked answer →
Government's role: the government responds on a large scale through policies, such as helping workers retrain, keeping the economy competitive, protecting local culture, and guarding against security threats. This matters because only the government can set policy and act for the whole country.
Individual's role: individuals respond by adapting, for example by upgrading their own skills, staying open to change, protecting their own culture and family, and staying vigilant against threats. This matters because policies only work if people act on them in their own lives.
What markers reward: a clear role for each (government policy and support; individual adaptability and action), each with examples, and the idea that both are needed. The strongest answers show the two roles supporting each other.
Original8 marksHow far do you agree that responding to globalisation is mainly the government's responsibility? Explain your answer.Show worked answer →
Arguments that it is mainly the government's job: the government has the resources, power and reach to make big responses, such as economic policy, retraining schemes, security systems and protecting culture. Many responses to globalisation are simply too large for individuals to make alone, so the government must lead.
Arguments that individuals share the responsibility: policies only work if people act on them. Workers must take up training and adapt their skills; people must protect their own culture and stay vigilant against threats. If individuals do nothing, even good policies fail.
Judgement: the government plays the leading role because of its scale and power, but it cannot succeed without individuals responding too, so responding to globalisation is a shared responsibility in which the government leads and individuals must play their part. So it is only partly the government's responsibility alone.
What markers reward: a balanced, two-sided answer with explained examples, and a clear how-far judgement that recognises the government's leading role while showing that individuals are essential. A flat one-sided answer scores less.
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