Content Folder 1: Overall Govt Approaches and Strategies towards national unity

Question 1

What is national unity?

Answer 1

The process of bringing together a group of different peoples, ideally to forge a national identity among them. Creates conditions for stability

Question 2

What are the two types of government policies? (not the same as implementation)

Answer 2

Dominant Culture/Assimilative and Multicultural/Integrative

Question 3

Types of policies for each?

Answer 3

Dominant: Language, religion, education; Transmigration; Economic Exploitation

Integrative: Language, religion, education; Others

Question 4

Examples of language policies in Burma

Answer 4

B: 1966 Basic Education Law. Burman as official language for education. Burman as official language in frontier areas (D)

Question 5

Examples of religious policies in Burma

Answer 5

B: Spread of Buddhism to hill tribes as the official religion - Bhuddist missions to Karen areas, Christian schools and madrasas closed down and replaced by Buddhist schools (D)

Question 6

Examples of language policies in Thailand

Answer 6

T: From 1967, enforced use of Thai in education. Standardised Thai language (D)

Question 7

Examples of religious policies in Thailand

Answer 7

T: Buddhist conversion missions Thammathut and Thammacarik programmes in the minority hill tribe areas (D)

Question 8

Examples of language policies in Malaysia

Answer 8

M: By 1982, all pri and sec school English schools converted to the Malay medium. National university of Malaysia used Malay as sole medium of instruction until 1993. From 1971 Malay culture as National Culture (D)

Question 9

Examples of religious policies in Malaysia

Answer 9

M: In response to Islamic resurgence in 1980s - 1983 Islamic Bank and International Islamic University, compulsory courses (D)

Question 10

Examples of language policies in Singapore

Answer 10

SG: Bilingual education policy and a common curriculum to instill a Singapore-based loyalty - the mother tongue policy as a ballast against western values, National anthem and pledge, National Education in schools, 1980 establishment of NUS using English as the medium of instruction (I)

Question 11

Examples of religious policies in Singapore

Answer 11

SG: Freedom of worship - 1990 Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act (I)

Question 12

Example of language policy in Indonesia

Answer 12

I: Neutral Bahasa Indonesia language (I)

Question 13

Examples of other integrative policies in Singapore

Answer 13

National Service, HDB ethnic requirement, GRC system guaranteeing minority representation

Question 14

Examples of integrative policies in Malaysia

Answer 14

1971 constitution banned discussion of “sensitive” topics e.g. Chinese citizenship - protected Chinese space

Question 15

Examples of Transmigration policies

Answer 15

I: 1969 - 1989, estimated 730 000 families moved from Java, Madura into the Outer Islands. Outbreak of the 2001 Madurese Dayak violence in Central Kalimantan as a manifestation of tensions

P: Transmigration from Luzon and the Visayas into Mindanao such that by 1990 Muslims constituted barely 19% of the population in Mindanao, in contrast to 76% in 1903

Question 16

Examples of economic exploitation

Answer 16

I: Acehnese resources contribute close to 11% Indonesia’s national wealth but is one of the poorest regions in the country

T: In 1976, northeast allocated 18% of state budget even though it had 34% of Thai population

Question 17

2 types of government implementation (not the same as policies)

Answer 17

Coercive vs Accomodative

Question 18

Use of force (coercive) vs Concessionary in practice (accomodative) case studies

Answer 18

C: B, P, I vs A: S, M , V

Question 19

Government implementation in Burma

Answer 19

Coercive: 1950s Shan state under military administration; administrative powers of leaders terminated, 1995 sacked Karen strongholds at Manerplaw and Kawoorah

Question 20

Government implementation in Philippines

Answer 20

Coercive: 1968 Jabidah Massacre of Moros. Denied Moros the autonomy granted in the 1976 tripoli agreement

1981: Escalation into anti-govt guerilla campaigns under the MILF (Moro Islamic Liberation Front) after govt reneged on autonomy agreement

Question 21

Government implementation in Indonesia

Answer 21

Coercive: 1991 crackdown of Timorese resistance which had followed decades of military rule

1990s, around 3000 killed in suppression of Acehnese resistance

Question 22

Government implementation in Singapore

Answer 22

Accomodative: Freedom of worship, 2nd language policy from different groups

Question 23

Government implementation in Malaysia

Answer 23

Accomodative: Freedom of worship permitted on the ground despite a National Culture Program

Question 24

Government implementation in Vietnam

Answer 24

Accomodative: 1960 Constitution guaranteed equal rights in the north. Establishment of 2 autonomous regions. Schooling in vernacular language provided

Question 25

Time trend?

Answer 25

Increased focus on minority development from 1990s and Ceasefires/autonomy agreements

Question 26

Examples of increased focus on minority development

Answer 26

T: NGOs in northern areas since 1970s

V: 1993 Committee for Ethnic Minorities and Mountainous Areas (CEMMA); projects with international organisations

Question 27

Examples of ceasefires/autonomy agreements

Answer 27

B: Signed with 17 armed groups by end 1990s but failed in long run - ethnic alliance to fight government in 1999

P: Ramos agreed to Cordillera Autonomous Region (CAR) in 1997. But not fulfilled even in 2005