Content Folder 2: Effectiveness at creating national unity

Question 1

What are the two criteria for effectiveness of national unity policies?

Answer 1

Social stability and a widely-accepted national identity

Social stability: extent to which groups accept central national identity. Evidence of social disruptions or separatist challenge

Identity: Ideological uniformity (amorphous)

Question 2

Spectrum of social stability

Answer 2

Social stability –> Protests, demonstrations, etc. –> separatist challenge

Question 3

Evaluation of Burma

Answer 3

Generally unsuccessful. Separatist tendencies persisted, civil war, centrality of military and BWS ideology rejected from 1988

Question 4

Evaluation of Philippines

Answer 4

Separatist tendencies in Mindanao, no widely-accepted basis of national unity or identity

Question 5

Evaluation of Indonesia

Answer 5

Secession of East Timor/Timor Leste, separatist tendencies in Aceh and irian Jaya, but Pancasila democracy widely-accepted as a possible basis for national unity. At least in majority areas

Question 6

Evaluation of Thailand

Answer 6

Separatist tendencies in the south; Adaptation of “nation, religion, king” with modern citizenship gained much traction and legitimacy among people, at least in majority areas

Question 7

Evaluation of Singapore

Answer 7

Territorial unity achieved. Multiculturalism widely-accepted as basis of social relations, but absence of larger national identity beyond coexistence within CMIO model

Question 8

Evaluation of Malaysia

Answer 8

Territorial unity achieved, Malay domination accepted by different groups, but absence of larger national identity beyond elite compact and coexistence

Question 9

Evaluation of Vietnam

Answer 9

Territorial unity achieved. Marxism and CPV widely accepted as basis of national unity in politics, economics and social system

Question 10

Arguments for effectiveness

Answer 10

Peaceful coexistence amidst ethnic diversity. Some states even achieved a clear central identity: SG, M, V

Concessions pacified most ethnic groups and mitigated escalation of minority demands: I Aceh, P Cordillerans

Except Timorese, separatist groups contained

Question 11

Arguments for limited effectiveness

Answer 11

Persistent separatist challenge points to rejection of central authority. Breakdown of ceasefires. In any case, ceasefires are at best temporary political solutions: I, B

Underlying rifts despite social stability. Elusiveness of a widely accepted identity beyond ethnic definitions: SG, M