Meritocracy ... Over-achiever ... Inferiority Complex ...

"Meritocracy" is defined by Merriam-Webster's online dictionary as:
"a system in which the talented are chosen and moved ahead on the basis of their achievement"

As the world moves ever closer to a true global economy, we realize that the strength of an individual is beneficial to the corporation and/or institution. Thus, we award success to these individuals who have performed well in hopes that they will continue performing well.

So for Meritocracy to continue its current role as a foundation of democracy, it means that all members of its society must be able to perform and proof their performance through various means.
For the young it means that they have to be able to achieve success in school. Be it with the Elementary School final exams, their GCE 'O' or 'A' Levels, the IB Diploma &etc. It is important to achieve paper results.
While we tout Meritocracy as a model of efficiency and a necessary evil for us to move forward while ensuring that all are subjected to the same brutal standards, there are some who start to wonder where standards are devised and ascertained.

"Inferiority Complex"is defined by Merriam-Webster's online dictionary as:
"an acute sense of personal inferiority often resulting either in timidity or through overcompensation in exaggerated aggressiveness"
(Note: that aggressive is not necessarily one of physical agression)

Now that I have added the second component of my title into the mix, I wish to tie them together.

Once you enter the so-called rat-race of chasing down qualifications, you start to question as to why there are people who excel at their work. Some people call it competitiveness, some call it "the edge". I offer another explanation - inferiority complex.

American and UK university students have given anecdotal evidence that when they sign up for a class and encounter 1st and 2nd generation immigrant students or foreign students, they are in for a tough time fighting for a high grade.

Many people have placed an emphasis on the upbringing and/or cultural background wherein these "superstudents" are driven to succeed. I beg to differ - I point my finger an innate sense of inferiority forcing us to prove that we are better.
Maybe it is the instinctive "fight or flight" nature that has been hard-wired in our brains. Since taking courses in university is not life-threatening (for most people and discounting the drink bingeing effect), most students will take the "fight" path. Of course, to lose only means that you get a B grade and not an A grade.

Tied into this argument of inferiority complex is the flip side of the coin - superiority complex.

To investigate the basis of inferiority complex, we have to look at the basis of superiority complex. Superiority complex was evident from the various empires that spanned the centuries. The most heinous of which was the Nazi movement - wherein it specifically targeted "weaker" races and/or ideologies.
The pan-Asian immigrants and local population of the 18th and 19th Century who worked for the colonial masters (Dutch, English, Spanish, and Portugese) also felt that these "masters" were of a superior class. The result was the so-calledPinkerton Syndrome wherein women think that Caucasian men are better husbands or working for a foreign company is better. The fact that these Asian/African countries were "conquered" gave the conquerers the "superiority". Once subjected to such "humiliating defeat", the colony's population naturally felt that they were "inferior".

So now - almost 200 years hence - we are still struggling with this dilemma. But it has been made more pronounced by the fact that the new emerging global leaders may not be the previously "superior" class.
With India and China now moving up the international rankings - and incidentally having about 2 billion (1/3 of the world's population) we are seeing that people are looking East.
Yet, these emerging markets have a population is looking West. Fast food concepts, Hollywood movies, learning English. Why?
1. Feeling that Western ideas/culture is better - eg. drinking French wine
2. Learning English will give one better prospects
3. Foreign movies are of better quality

So how are small countries like Singapore going to balance this view?
This brings in the third component of my title - "OVER-ACHIEVEMENT!!!"
We are taught to be proficient in multiple languages - either English, Mandarin, Malay, or Hindi. Yet, we know that getting the paper qualification is just a first step. Just getting an A1 in your exam does not mean that one can comfortably communicate much less get business done in the China, Malaysia, or India.

Over-achievement is our only solution. We have to prove that we are better than the others. We strive for the best airport, the best harbour, the best governance, the best public transportation &etc.

But now we are told to get out of our mould of following the rules ... "Be an entrepreneur" ...

The day we can balance these three issues, we can sit down and move forward in this competitive world and still live a healthy lifestyle.

... More to come ...