Fig. 1. Thomas Hobbes (Left) & John Locke (Right) (Source: https://www.battlefields.org/learn/articles/hobbes-locke-and-social-contract)
The closest to an ideal regime are confederal and unitary regimes, as confederations states can deal with critical issues such as defence, foreign relations, internal trades, or currency with a central government. (Wikipedia, 2022) This power structure allows countries to be civil while allowing free movement of people, goods, services within the internal market similarly to the current European Union. Contrarily, unitary states are governed as one with the central government having the supreme authority to ensure harmony. For example, in Singapore with the ban on sale for gums or having durians on public transport (Wikipedia, 2022) it is in place for people living here to be considerate with one another. To have both unitary and confederal regime combined will be ideal as we are able to live peacefully together with better economics.
Fig. 2. Citizens keeping Singapore clean (Source: https://www.cgs.gov.sg/what-we-do/keepsgclean)
Our role as Singaporeans is contributing in making Singapore a better place to live in. We were taught that even a small action will make a difference, like having social responsibility to not litter and pick up trash we see on the ground (Fig.2) with "Keep Singapore Clean Movement". (CGS, 2022) We are always encouraged in our public transit to report any suspicious behaviour. (Wikipedia, 2022) Our rights as citizens show through our pledge of peace, harmony, and equality. Having rights to freedom of speech and expression, peaceful assembly without arms, and forming an association. However, due to laws imposed by the Parliament of Singapore, many of these rights has it's limitations. (SSO, 2022) As such, the government also plays a huge part in our lives by having these laws in place to ensure peace within the country.
Fig. 3. Defensive architecture applied in Singapore (Source: https://mothership.sg/2016/03/this-defensive-architecture-shows-why-singaporeans-cant-have-nice-things/)
We are able to observe government control in Singapore public spaces such as implementing hostile architecture (Fig. 3) to prevent bicycles, e-scooters, and e-bikes from speeding through the ramp. However, such ramps may inflict inconveniences for people with mobility needs and elderly. (Lim, 2016)
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References
Clean & Green Singapore. 2022. Keep Singapore Clean [online] Available at: <https://www.cgs.gov.sg/what-we-do/keepsgclean> [Accessed 01 May 2022].
Wikipedia. 2022. Confederation [online] Available at: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confederation> [Accessed 01 May 2022].
Wikipedia. 2022. Law of Singapore [online] Available at: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_of_Singapore> [Accessed 01 May 2022].
Wikipedia. 2022. Security on the Mass Rapid Transit (Singapore) [online] Available at: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Security_on_the_Mass_Rapid_Transit_(Singapore)> [Accessed 01 May 2022].
Singapore Statutes Online. 2022. Freedom of speech, assembly and association [online] Available at: <https://sso.agc.gov.sg/Act/CONS1963?ProvIds=pr14-.> [Accessed 01 May 2022].
Mothership. 2016. This defensive architecture shows why Singaporeans can't have nice things [online] Available at: <https://mothership.sg/2016/03/this-defensive-architecture-shows-why-singaporeans-cant-have-nice-things/> [Accessed 01 May 2022].
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