Singapore · MOE Syllabus Outcomes
JC 2 History
JC 2 History: international history encompassing the Cold War, decolonisation, globalisation, the United Nations, and 21st-century challenges. Students engage with global perspectives and develop rigorous historical analysis skills.
The Cold War: Superpower Rivalry and Global Impact
An in-depth analysis of the ideological, strategic, and military tensions between the USA and USSR from 1945 to 1991.
Students examine the ideological, political, and strategic factors that led to the breakdown of the wartime alliance.
Evaluating the economic dimensions of the Cold War and the division of Europe into two blocs.
Analysing the first major hot war of the Cold War and its impact on the globalization of containment.
A study of the 1962 confrontation and the brinkmanship that almost led to nuclear war.
Evaluating the limits of American power and the complexities of proxy wars in Southeast Asia.
Examining the period of improved relations in the 1970s and the motivations for cooperation.
The return to hostility following the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and the Reagan presidency.
Analysing the internal and external factors that led to the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Decolonisation and the Rise of New Nations
The transition from colonial rule to independence across Asia and Africa and the challenges of nation-building.
Exploring how WWII eroded the prestige and economic power of European empires.
Comparing different models of nationalism and the role of charismatic leaders.
A case study on the diplomatic and military struggle against Dutch rule.
Examining the communist insurgency and the path to Merdeka.
Analysing the transition from colonial extractive economies to national development.
The birth of the Non-Aligned Movement and the search for a "Third Way".
Investigating why many democratic experiments failed in newly independent states.
The United Nations and Global Governance
Evaluating the successes and failures of the UN in maintaining peace and security.
Comparing the UN to the League of Nations and understanding its charter.
Analysing how superpower rivalry paralysed or empowered the UN.
From "thin blue lines" to robust multidimensional peacekeeping operations.
Examining the failures of the UN to prevent genocide and ethnic cleansing.
The development of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and its enforcement.
Evaluating the role of the UN in managing global health crises.
Debating the future of the UN and proposals for structural change.
Globalisation and the Global Economy
The rise of an interconnected world economy and its socio-political consequences.
The shift from fixed exchange rates to the era of floating currencies and neoliberalism.
Examining the rapid economic growth of Singapore, Hong Kong, South Korea, and Taiwan.
The power and influence of global companies in the 21st century.
How the internet and technology have compressed time and space.
A study of contagion, economic vulnerability, and the role of the IMF.
Analysing the causes and consequences of the Great Recession.
From Maoist isolation to the "World's Factory" and the Belt and Road Initiative.
Conflicts and Challenges in the Middle East
The historical roots of regional instability and its global implications.
The creation of the State of Israel and the first Arab-Israeli War.
The 1967 conflict and the occupation of the Palestinian territories.
The fall of the Shah and the rise of the Islamic Republic.
The eight-year conflict and its impact on regional stability.
The invasion of Kuwait and the UN-sanctioned response.
The wave of protests in 2011 and the subsequent regional shifts.
Southeast Asian Regionalism and ASEAN
The history of regional cooperation and Singapore's role in Southeast Asia.
The 1967 Bangkok Declaration and the motivations for regional unity.
The role of ASEAN in resolving the Third Indochina War.
The inclusion of Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, and Cambodia into the bloc.
The journey from a Free Trade Area to the ASEAN Economic Community.
Navigating the relationship between the US and China in the region.
The challenge of the non-interference principle in the face of domestic turmoil.
Singapore's Foreign Policy and Global Role
The principles and practice of Singapore's diplomacy as a small state.
Understanding the constraints and opportunities of Singapore's geography and size.
Analysing the core tenets: being a "friend to all," upholding international law, and relevance.
A history of cooperation and occasional friction between close neighbors.
Navigating the relationship with a large regional neighbor.
The contributions of Singaporean diplomats to the international order.
The link between domestic resilience and foreign policy credibility.
Current Issues and the Future of International History
Synthesizing historical knowledge to address contemporary global challenges.
The rise of identity politics, populism, and the challenge to democratic norms.
The historical development of climate policy and its impact on geopolitics.
The new frontier of international conflict in the digital age.
The impact of AI on the economy, military, and international order.
Reflecting on the resilience of the international system in a multipolar world.
Concluding the course by reflecting on the value of historical thinking.
Synthesizing all units to project Singapore's place in the future world.