History of Total Defence

It is adapted from countries such as Denmark, Sweden, Switzerland and Austria, based on the understanding that besides military action aggressors can also defeat a country by:

1. wrecking its economic systems, 
2. tearing its social fabric apart, 
3. targeting Singaporeans' beliefs and commitment to defence, 
4. and its ability to recover from disasters, both natural and man-made.

The two main reasons why Total Defence is adopted are as follows:

1. As a young nation with a small population, we cannot afford to maintain a regular armed forces. Thus, involvement of every Singaporean multiplies our defence capability.
2. Nature of modern warfare has changed. Wars are no longer limited to the battlefield. Instead, potential aggressors can strike in less obvious, non-military ways.

This is where the five pillars come in place to protect a country.