7 Diplomacy. What is Diplomacy? Why is Diplomacy Necessary?

7Diplomacy

Chapter 6

What is Diplomacy?

The way in which countries manage or conduct relations with one another.

It aims to promote common interests and to resolve conflicting interests in a peaceful manner.

Countries send representatives called DIPLOMATS to live in and keep in touch with foreign governments to perform economic, political and consular functions overseas.

Why is Diplomacy Necessary?

Countries are connected to one another through trade, political, historical and cultural relations.

International trade and tourism have also enhanced the inter-connectedness among countries.

Diplomacy also provides an opportunity for countries to pursue mutual interests and to solve common problems (e.g. SARS, terrorism and environmental issues)

How is Diplomacy Practised?

Bilateral Relations When a country establishes

diplomatic relations with another country (e.g. Singapore and Malaysia)

Why are BR beneficial / important to Singapore? See word document.


Regional Relations

Countries establish regional relations by forming an association of countries in a region. By combining the strengths of member countries, the association becomes stronger.

This allows it to be in a better / stronger position to deal with other countries or associations.

E.g. European Union (EU), Association of Southeast Asian Countries (ASEAN).


Regional Relations

ASEAN Formed in 1967 to:

Respond to political, economic and security challenges within and outside the borders of the Southeast Asian region.

Respond to the need for a regional organisation that could maintain stability and build trust.

Overthrown By:


Regional Relations

Aims of ASEAN:

Promote economic, social and cultural development of the region;

Protect the peace and stability of the region; and

Provide opportunities for member countries to discuss and resolve differences peacefully.


Regional Relations

Initiatives of ASEAN:

ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA)

To combat competition from economic powers such as India and China who off er lower cost of production and large markets.

As ASEAN realised that economic integration was necessary to remain economically viable, they launched AFTA to remove import taxes among ASEAN countries.

This would make ASEAN a more attractive region to investors as they would not need to pay taxes for their goods. This will bring economic prosperity to the countries involved, including Singapore.


Regional Relations


ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF)

To maintain peace by promoting political and security dialogue and co-operation among countries in the Asia-Pacific Region

Provides an avenue for countries in the region to discuss security issues and resolve confl icts peacefully.

Allows Singapore to maintain good relations with its neighbours thus ensuring peace and security in the region which brings about the right conditions for economic development and growth.


Regional Relations


Singapore and ASEAN

ASEAN has enabled Singapore to forge better relations with her neighbouring countries.

Provides an avenue for Singapore to discuss her diff erences with other neighbouring countries peacefully.

Allows for the management of environmental issues like the haze through peaceful dialogue.


Regional Relations Initiatives of ASEAN:

Education and Professional Exchange

Singapore provides technical knowledge and expertise to member countries including IT skills, English Language skills and trade promotions to member countries of ASEAN.

Scholarships are also given to students from ASEAN countries so that these students can return to their home countries after study and contribute to their countries’ development.

This has provided Singapore with an opportunity to strengthen its ties with his neighbours and a role to play in maintaining regional peace and promoting economic development.



Economic Co-operation and Assistance To help narrow the economic gap

between member countries, Singapore launched the Initiative for ASEAN (IAI) project where it offered a five year aid package of $80 million to selected member countries




Environmental Collaboration Singapore assisted Indonesia to

monitor forest fires via satellite in order to tackle the haze problem.



International Relations

Involve ties among many countries and groupings throughout the world.

In International relations, the UN plays an important role as an organisation representing all countries in the world.



Aims of the UN

Maintain world peace and security

Develop friendly relations among nations



Aims of the UN

Cooperate internationally to solve international economic, social, cultural and humanitarian problems.



Aims of the UN

Promote respect for human rights and basic freedom regardless of race, religion and gender.

To be a centre for harmonising the actions of nations in attaining the aims listed.

Role of the UN Organisations

Security Council

• Maintains peace and security among member countries

Economic and Social

Council

• Helps the people of the world to improve their lives

General Assembly

• Functions like a world parliament where all the member countries can vote on various matters

Role of the UN Organisations

Trusteeship council

• Currently suspended. Function is to help countries gain self-government or independence.

International Court of Justice

• Functions as a world court to help member countries settle disputes peacefully.

Secretariart

• Implements the decisions taken by member countries of UN.

Singapore and the UN

Became a UN member in 1965

Allowed Singapore to gain recognition as a sovereign state

Helped Singapore to develop socially and economically through the help of Dr Albert Winsemius, who helped Singapore’s industrial planning and development


UN Law of the Sea Conference Defines how countries can draw

territorial borders in the sea and states clearly the rights of landlocked states to access the seas.

It also provides guidelines on how to safeguard the marine environment and protects the freedom of scientific research on high seas.


UN Law of the Sea Conference Singapore played an important

part in the UN Law of the Sea Conference.

Singapore’s former representative to the UN, Professor Tommy Koh, was President of the Third UN Conference on the Law of the Sea from 1980 to 1982.


UN Security Council 5 Permanent Members: USA, UK,

France, China and Russia

10 Rotating Members

Singapore was a non-permanent member for 2 years (2001 to 2002) and served as President of the Council

The role of the Security Council is to maintain international peace and security.

The election to the council showed the confidence member countries have in Singapore as well as Singapore’s commitment to the UN.


UN Peacekeeping Missions Peacekeeping is a way to help

countries torn by conflict to create conditions for long-term peace.

Peacekeeping operations are authorised by the UNSC and peacekeepers are soldiers and military offi cers, civilian police offi cers and civilian personnel deployed from many countries.

Most of these operations involve military duties such as observing a ceasefire between the warring factions or requiring civilian police and personnel to organise elections or monitor human rights.


UN Peacekeeping Missions Singapore has been involved in UN’s

peacekeeping efforts since 1989.

By 2005, Singapore was involved in 13 operations in 11 different countries and contributed about 1,500 personnel for the missions.

The End

Documents

7 Diplomacy. What is Diplomacy? Why is Diplomacy Necessary?