A Level H2 History Practice Paper 5

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TuitionGoWhere Practice Paper - History H2 A-Level

TuitionGoWhere Practice Paper (AI) - Version 5

Subject: History H2 Level: A-Level Paper: Paper 1 (Southeast Asian History) - Source-Based Case Study Duration: 3 Hours (Total Paper) | Section Focus: Source-Based Case Study (1 Hour) Total Marks: 100 (Total Paper) | Section Marks: 40 Name: __________________________ Class: __________ Date: __________

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Instructions to Candidates

1. This section consists of a set of sources (Sources A–F) and a series of questions.
2. Answer all questions in the spaces provided.
3. You are expected to demonstrate skills in comprehension, cross-referencing, reliability assessment, and synthesis.
4. Use your historical knowledge to contextualize the sources, but ensure your answers are grounded in the evidence provided.

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Case Study: ASEAN and the South China Sea Dispute (1992–2020)

Source A: Extract from the 1992 ASEAN Declaration on the South China Sea "The ASEAN member states... emphasize the importance of the peaceful resolution of all disputes... and the need to avoid any action that would complicate the situation. We call upon all parties to exercise self-restraint in the conduct of their activities in the South China Sea... and to seek a peaceful settlement of disputes through negotiation and consultation."

Source B: A memorandum from a regional security analyst (2014) "The 'ASEAN Way'—characterized by non-interference and consensus—has become a liability in the South China Sea. While it prevents open conflict between members, it renders the organization paralyzed when facing a superpower. The requirement for total consensus means that a single member state, influenced by external economic ties, can veto a joint statement of condemnation, effectively neutering ASEAN's collective voice."

Source C: A political cartoon (2016) (The cartoon depicts a large ship labeled 'Great Power' pushing aside a small raft labeled 'ASEAN'. The people on the raft are arguing with each other about which direction to row, while the large ship continues to move forward, claiming the water around them.)

Source D: Excerpt from a speech by a Southeast Asian Foreign Minister (2018) "Critics claim we have failed, but they misunderstand the nature of our success. Success for ASEAN is not the immediate resolution of a thousand-year-old sovereignty dispute; success is the fact that despite the buildup of military installations, we have avoided a full-scale naval war. Our diplomacy provides the only viable channel for communication that prevents miscalculation."

Source E: Data Table - Number of 'Incidents' (Close encounters/collisions) in the South China Sea

Year	1995	2000	2005	2010	2015	2019
Incidents	2	5	12	18	24	31
(Source: Compiled from regional maritime security reports)

Source F: Academic Journal Article (2020) "The failure of the Code of Conduct (COC) negotiations is the definitive evidence of ASEAN's impotence. For decades, the organization has chased a legal framework that is perpetually 'under negotiation.' This strategic ambiguity has allowed the status quo to be changed on the ground through land reclamation and militarization, while the diplomats continue to exchange pleasantries in conference halls."

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Questions

Question 1 Compare and contrast the views presented in Source A and Source F regarding the approach to resolving the South China Sea dispute. [10]

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Answer Key & Marking Scheme: ASEAN and the South China Sea Dispute

Question 1: Compare and Contrast (Source A vs Source F)

Marking Guidance:

• Comparison (Similarities): Both sources acknowledge that the primary mechanism for resolution is diplomatic/legal negotiation rather than military conflict. Both recognize the existence of a formal framework for dialogue.
• Contrast (Differences):
  • Source A is optimistic and prescriptive; it emphasizes "peaceful resolution," "self-restraint," and "consultation" as viable paths to stability.
  • Source F is cynical and retrospective; it views these same diplomatic efforts as "impotence" and "strategic ambiguity," arguing that while diplomats "exchange pleasantries," the actual situation on the ground (militarization) worsens.
• Conclusion: Source A represents the ideal of ASEAN diplomacy, while Source F represents a critique of its practical failure.

Question 2: Reliability/Utility (Source B & C)

Marking Guidance:

• Source B (Analyst): High utility for understanding the structural weaknesses of the "ASEAN Way." However, reliability may be questioned based on the analyst's perspective (likely a realist school of international relations).
• Source C (Cartoon): Useful for illustrating the perception of ASEAN's internal disunity and the power imbalance between ASEAN and a "Great Power." It is a subjective interpretation, not a factual record, but captures the political sentiment of 2016.

Question 3: Synthesis/Evaluation (Using all sources)

Prompt: "ASEAN has been completely ineffective in managing the South China Sea dispute." How far do you agree?

Arguments for "Ineffective":

• Source B: The consensus model allows single members to veto collective action.
• Source C: Internal bickering prevents a unified front against external pressure.
• Source E: The steady increase in maritime incidents (2 in 1995 $\rightarrow$ 31 in 2019) suggests a failure to maintain stability.
• Source F: The failure to finalize the Code of Conduct (COC) allows for land reclamation and militarization.

Arguments against "Ineffective" (or "Partially Effective"):

• Source A: Established the foundational principle of peaceful resolution.
• Source D: Argues that "success" is the absence of full-scale naval war. Diplomacy prevents total miscalculation.

Conclusion: Students should conclude that while ASEAN has failed to resolve the sovereignty claims or stop militarization (Source F, E), it has succeeded in managing the conflict to prevent an all-out war (Source D).