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Responding to Globalisation
Quick questions on Balancing openness with national interest explained: O-Level Social Studies
7short Q&A pairs drawn directly from our worked dot-point answer. For full context and worked exam questions, read the parent dot-point page.
What is the tension?Show answer
Singapore faces a genuine tension. On one side, openness, to trade, investment, immigration and the world, is the foundation of its prosperity and survival, as the engagement dot point explained. On the other side, unmanaged openness can harm citizens: workers face competition, rapid immigration strains housing and services, identity feels pressured, and security risks rise. The challenge is that both sides matter.
What is balancing in the economy?Show answer
In the economy, Singapore stays open to trade, investment and global talent, but protects its workers from being simply overrun by competition. It does this by helping citizens upgrade their skills so they can compete for higher-value jobs, by cushioning those who lose out through retraining and income support, and by ensuring locals are not unfairly displaced. The aim is to keep the economic benefits of openness flowing while making sure citizens share in them rather than bearing the costs alone. Openness and worker protection are held together rather than treated as opposites.
What is balancing immigration?Show answer
Immigration shows the balance clearly. Singapore benefits from immigrants, filling skills gaps and countering a low birth rate, but it manages the pace of immigration so the strains stay manageable. Bringing in too many people too quickly can overload housing, transport and services and stir resentment among citizens who feel crowded out or that their identity is threatened. By controlling the pace and supporting integration, Singapore aims to gain the benefits of immigration while keeping the costs and resentment in check, an example of openness balanced against the national interest.
What is no Singapore link?Show answer
Ground the balance in concrete examples such as managing immigration pace or cushioning displaced workers.
What is q1?Show answer
Explain the tension Singapore faces between openness and protecting its people. [2 marks]
What is q2?Show answer
Explain two ways Singapore balances openness with the national interest. [4 marks]
What is q3?Show answer
Why are openness and protecting citizens described as depending on each other? [2 marks]
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