Session 2 - analysing the shift in dominance in the world

Brief Overview/Summary of the themes/topics addressed during the session
Session two was fascinating in the sense that we went in depth and learnt about the shifting of powers between different societies and the lengths at which societies would go to achieve such power, and the wealth and glory that came along with it. It was not until I watched the “History of the World in 7 minutes” again that I realized how small we are in history. We are simply “dots” on the long timeline (which serves to indicate what we have experienced, what we have witnessed). And sometimes, we may not even be represented at all. This made me think that since what we gain in our lifetimes are so minute and so insignificant in history; why don't we choose a more meaningful way to live, without the sacrificial of others? Yet, again, many have different interpretations of “meaningful”, and with that, lead to a need for sacrifices.

The second part of the session touched on the measurements of human development. We were asked to define human development. This made me realized that technology has played a significant role in directing human development the way it is today, i.e. we have a low infant mortality rate in Singapore due to the safe and clean water and living environment that are achieved through good use of technology. It seemed as if the progress of technology has a direct implication on the pace of human development.

Interesting Observations and Ideas (ideas and concepts that captured your attention)

I felt that Professor’s Shahi’s triangle model for identifying dominant players, rising stars and fall stars is rather captivating. This form of classification helps me shape my view of the place of different countries in the world today. However, what I feel that is the most important in this model is the characterising of these players. It is essential to recognise that people who are open, optimistic and hungry for new knowledge tend to be the rising star because they are willing to invest in new ideas, whereas falling stars are the exact opposite of the former. Being able to recognise the different characteristics help us learn from mistakes and successes. 

The dominant player interests me the most, and not because it holds the greatest power but because of how this player changes so frequently. The Professor mentioned that once someone becomes the dominant player, there is a very high chance of him becoming a falling star due to complacency. This may seem to be a very common idea, but it is very intriguing. The past session taught me that we become dominant when we hold certain technology that give us an edge over others. However, this theory of complacency brings more perspective in which why the dominating player changes so often, and why it is hard to remain dominating. Being complacent is in the nature of human beings because we feel satisfied and proud of the achievements we have, and thereby form a sense of entitlement. It is difficult to continue to be open and keep working hard when we are satisfied with what we have.

This got me thinking – that actually, not only technology is changing rapidly, but the mindset of people is changing as well, and both of these contribute greatly to the shift in dominance in the world. This relates well to the previous session, as it emphasizes that the fate of our future lies in our hands, and that we, in fact, do have a say the direction we are heading towards.

Key Take Away Points (the 2 or 3 key messages from the session that you intend to keep in mind going forward)

I believe that one important thing to take away in this session is that Singapore is a lucky country that did not have to go through what other colonies went through at the beginning of the process of colonialism. When I first read “The Colonial Holocaust and its Legacy”, I was rather tied between two facts. The first fact being that there was indeed the colonial holocaust in the past, and that the natives suffered great loss due to colonialism. The second fact was familiar and is happening in present. The British once colonized Singapore, and the indigenous people did not suffered any massacre or any violent treatments. In fact, the treaty between the British and the indigenous people seemed rather political and civilized. Singapore has an organised structure today, due to what the people learnt from the British. 

So, I questioned how could they (the colonisers) be so different in the past (during the Holocaust in America)? Was the cruelty simply an exaggeration or had the British learnt to be more civilized and more humane throughout the years?

The article recorded many horrifying acts carried out by the invaders, and their self-righteous story of self-defense that they tell their people and their descendants to simply justify their inhumane actions. I did not know what to believe at first because there were so many different stories and uncertainties. But, when the Professor shared his personal account of the perspectives of colonialism, I could assert my stand in the history of colonialism. It was easier to understand and accept the past with a live confirmation from the Professor that such cruel actions actually took place.

History of colonialism is ugly. The Professor said that colonizing may not necessary be a bad thing, because if one has the capability and skills, he would want to dominate. However, I do not agree completely. Colonisation may be an act of human nature because the quest for wealth and power is inborn, yet,  I believe that we still have a sense of compassion that make us human. The fact that a person has the ability to care for others shows that it is deeply instilled in our nature to be empathetic and ethical. I believe colonialism could have been carried out in a less brutal way, without the idea of violence at all. However, I understand that it is difficult to balance selfishness and fairness, and this too, is in our nature. And once again, I truly believe that our choice matters a lot in such things and nature cannot be blamed completely.

Another idea that was rather significant to me was “The Millennium Development Goals”. The Professor shared with us a video on the goals societies have devised on to help other societies catch up. I had a brief knowledge on the Millennium Development Goals through my past education. However, I never paused over it to consider its deeper meaning. I merely scoffed at the goals being impossible to achieve. However, I now have a different perspective. Even though it is hard to accomplish all goals, the fact that there are goals set in place, gives people the direction to work towards. And this, allows one to gauge how much more can be improved and thereby, plan accordingly.

The Professor’s words “don’t keep your eyes down, help others if you can” were really meaningful. It taught me that even if we see a lost cause or a situation that is at its worst state and is not improving, we should still attempt to help and not simply sit back and watch while everything happens. I do believe that we are able to coexist harmoniously only when we are willing to do something to help others. Watching as an audience does not change anything, but practical acts will be able to make a difference. And I want to remember these words and be able to apply them because this is an idea I wish to pass on to others.

Issues for Further Discussion (stuff you wish had been considered or given more air-time in class – and why)

An issue I wanted to be further discussed was the prediction that Africa will become more powerful economically. I was always under the impression that Africa had not been improving much and in many regions, Africans are plagued with diseases. I was therefore, taken aback when I saw that the prediction is that by 2050 AD, Africa’s economy would surpass that of US (which is the currently the strongest). I was really curious and am still wondering how it is possible.

The following article “Africa’s Economic Boom” throws fresh information into my mind, proving that Africa is really on the rise.  I think it would have been interesting to hear the Professor’s view and others’ take on this. I never thought that Africa could rise to be strong because of all the sufferings in the continent. However, with this fact brought up, I am excited to witness the change in dominance that could actually take place in my lifetime.

Personal Ratings for Session (how you would rate the session on a scale of 0 to 10. Feel free to be as subjective as you like in your assessment)

This session has been greatly informative, especially with the input of individual presentations by students. These presentations brought up more discussions of existing issues. I really enjoyed the process of listening facts about the colonialism and then, finally coming into acceptance that history is indeed, vicious and frightening. It also made me feel grateful that we have gradually moved away from that stage and are becoming kinder to each other. Although there are still existing cases of brutality in the world, I believe that we working towards a better future. It would be a difficult journey, but through better understandings and objective regulations, I hope that we will not repeat the same errors that we made in the past. I would give this session a nine out of ten.