Asian Nationalism And Decolonisation: ‘the Useful Ones8 Flashcards
Why were Malaya and Singapore considered beneficial to the empire?
. Malaya was a major producer or rubber which would undoubtedly produce huge profits post-war with cars etc
. Singapore was strategically important for trade due to it controlling the straits of Malacca
What problems did Britain face when trying to re-establish control in the Malay Peninsula in 1945?
. It suffered from ethnic tensions between the Malay peoples, the Chinese and the Indian populations, who were encouraged to come to the colony by the British
- March 1946 - United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) created to argue for rights of the Malay people (nationalism brewing)
- Conversely, the Chinese were represented by the Malayan Chinese association (MCA)/ Malayan communist party (MCP)
How did the Malaysian Chinese come about and how did they establish themselves in Malaya?
. Large numbers of Chinese immigrates arrived in Malaya in late C.19 under British encouragement as they needed labour for tin mines and rubber plantations
. More arrived during the Chinese civil war
. They developed their own communities and schools, flourishing in business and commerce, enjoying a very high standard of living among the minority groups in the Malay peninsula
How did the Chinese population in Malaya develop over time?
1947 - 38.4% Chinese, 49.5% Malay
1957 - 45% Chinese,
1961 - 36% Chinese
When did ethnic tensions in the Malay peninsula become too much and how did Britain respond?
By 1947, British colonial administration abandoned plan to create a ‘Malay Union’, which would have ensured equal Malay citizenship for all ethnic groups while keeping Singapore as a separate crown colony
- Britain believed they needed more control over Malaya as the ethnic tensions were too great
How were Britain somewhat to blame for the ethnic divisions in Malaya, creating their own problem that came back to bite them?
. Britain were the ones who encouraged Chinese and Indian immigrants to come to Malaya for labour
. Britain held social Darwinist views that regarded the different ethnic groups as exclusive groups with different strengths at weaknesses, which created a forced ethnic divide that didn’t allow them to integrate
. Ethnic tensions were worsened during WW2 as the Japanese occupation of Malaya left the Chinese population treated awfully
What was Britain’s new scheme for Malayan independence in June 1947?
Offered a much more restricted definition of Malay citizenship:
. Needed to prove competence in Malay and English languages, which was discriminatory against much of the Chinese population
- the new arrangements led to the creation of the Federation of Malaya
What was established in the federation of Malaya?
Jan 1948:
. ‘Federation of Malaya executive council’, seven official and seven unofficial members, headed by the British high commissioner. This council held the real power over Malaya
. Federation of Malaya legislative council - 62 members representing the various states and other groups, becoming an elected body in 1955
. Governments established within individual Malay states to which some of the financial powers of the central colonial administration were devolved
Overall Britain held the main real control
How did the federation of Malaya cause significant problems for British control there?
. Difficult to maintain control with difficult post-war economic circumstances, attracting communism
. Chinese dissatisfaction with the British restricting ‘Malay nationality’ to ethnic Malayans
How did the Malayan emergency come about and when was it?
Chinese grievances in Malaya were exploited by Malayan communists (Malayan National Liberation Army - MNLA)
June 1948 - Britain declares state of emergency in Malaya as they were so afraid of rebel attacks at rubber plantations.
- empowered the colonial authorities to use military force and legal powers to arrest suspects and impose order on the country
How did communist insurgents in Malaya start their rebellion?
Attacked rubber plantations, mines and police stations, derailed trains and burned workers’ houses
What war was the Malayan emergency very reminiscent of and how?
Vietnam war:
. Guerilla warfare were the communists had the benefit of local knowledge and terrain while the British army didn’t.
. Britain tried isolating guerrillas from sources of food and created a sense of security in populated areas so people would side with Britain and provide information on the rebels
How did Britain try to win the support of nationalists in the midst of the Malayan emergency?
. Brigg’s plan - Britain split active communist insurgents from passive supporters of rebellion for Chinese grievances by rehousing Malayan Chinese (non-communist) in purpose built new villages
. Britain tried to win the ‘hearts and minds’ of the population by building more new settlements for Malayans and promising independence once the guerrillas were defeated
. Tried to win over support of Chinese population by promoting the MCA who wanted independence under the criteria that there would be equal rights for the Chinese
How did Britain end up taking the offensive in the Malayan emergency?
. After promising independence and providing a sense of security in Malaya, the British were supported enough to receive sufficient information on the rebels to combat the MNLA in jungle operations
How was it a bit of a mistake for Britain to promise independence for Malayans and Chinese Malayans?
Although Britain were just trying to keeping support during the Malayan emergency, they actually ended up getting both the Chinese and Malayan hopes up in terms of independence to the point where there was a fear that the Malayans would want these promises delivered, escalating a full national rebellion
How was the Malayan and Chinese cooperation against British rule a massive threat to imperial dominance in Malaya?
. A violent nationalist military rebellion could come about that wasn’t just the communists but everyone vs Britain (unlikely considering ethnic tensions though)
. Malays and Chinese won 81% of votes in the 1955 federal elections, so clearly Britain couldn’t deny Malayan independence much longer
. Fear of nationalist rebellion was all the more real due to Dien-bien phu in 1955
At what point in the Malayan emergency did Britain falsely believe order had been restored?
After the communist assassination of the high commissioner Sir Henry Gurney on the 6th October 1951, it seemed like the communists got what they wanted (defeating the man at the top of British-controlled Malaya)
However, British promises for independence pushed the communists to act further past 1952
When was the federation of Malaya granted independence and how did this impact the Malayan emergency?
August 1957
. This meant the emergency lost its rationale as the war was one of colonial liberation and it had been achieved now
. Many guerrillas gave up their fight, but it wasn’t over till 1960
How was the establishment of Malayan independence an example of ‘the imperialism of decolonisation’?
Strings attached to the independence:
. Continued military presence in nearby Singapore was accepted
. Malaya still collaborated economically with Britain, remaining in the sterling area
Britain had exchanged colonial rule for informal influence, still offering the prospect of meeting economic hopes for Britain
When was Malaysia formed?
In 1963 - Malaya united with Singapore, Sabah (North Borneo) and Sarawak
- Singapore was expelled from the federation in 1965 and Malaysia formed its own path
What was the state of self-government in Singapore in 1947 and 48?
Singapore was given its own government with an executive and legislative council.
- however, although 6/25 seats on the legislative council were elected, only British subjects (10% of Singapore) could vote
Britain were making it seem as though Singapore had some autonomy but was still very much under British control
How did the government in Singapore struggle with similar things as with the federation of Malaya?
It struggled to contain communist insurgency, especially since it had a predominantly Chinese population that had been brought in by the British for labour etc.
How did Britain try to keep Singapore under control and win loyalty of the people to maintain British influence there?
. Communist insurgents were arrested and imprisoned
. Enlarged the legislative council to 32 seats, with 25 of them being chosen by an electorate of 300k people in 1953 (not just British rule this time)
Which party dominated the elected seats in the 1953 enlarged legislative council in Singapore but how did this progress?
1953 - Singapore progressive party (SPP) - conservative group favouring businessmen
1955 - SPP only won 3 seats and several new left wing parties emerged in the legislative council
What were the left wing parties that emerged around 1955 in Singapore and what did they want?
. Labour front (10 seats)
. People’s action party (PAP) (3 seats)
. Malay Chinese association (MCA) (3 seats)
They sought discussions with the British about self-rule
How successfully did the left-wing dominated elected legislative council in Singapore from 1955 convince Britain to give self-rule?
First chief minister = David Marshall = unsuccessful
Second chief minister = Lim Yew Hock = impressed the Britain by taking strong action against communists (seemed trustworthy to be independent and not let communism expand)
- this persuaded Britain to implement full self-government for Singapore in 1957
The island still technically remained part of the empire (reaped its benefits without having to administer)
This all led to the state of Singapore act in 1958
What was the impact of Lee Kuan Yew coming to power in Singapore?
Under its self-government, he came into power in 1959. He was part of the PAP, which had slight communist leanings
- these communist leanings posed a potential threat to Singaporean businessmen and for Britain
- Kuan Yew didn’t end up appearing to pose a serious threat of communism, but despite this:
Britain decided that Singapore’s future would be in safest hands as part of the federation of Malaya (forming Malaysia in 1963)
Why did Singapore get expelled from Malaysia and when?
August 1965
- race riots between the Chinese in Singapore and Malaya led to a breakdown in public order
Singapore became a fully independent state in its own right
Why did the UMNO (main ethnically Malay nationalist organisation) co-operate with Britain?
. To defeat communists who were trying to establish control in Malaya after WW2
. Offered a positive programme of action (e.g extending primary schooling)
. Ready to combat the violent tactics of the independence movements such as the MRLA and MCP
- they were a good help to Britain during the Malayan emergency
Why did Britain act so desperately with the Malayan Emergency to try and protect British influence in Malaya?
. Fears of communism
. The tin and rubber industry was very economically valuable and the dollar value of rubber was very high at this time.
. A useful strategic asset to Britain
How were the differences in race and ethnicity in Malaya highlighted through the politics in the divided peninsula?
. UMNO was main nationalist organisation containing primarily ethnic Malayans and opposing a Malayan union
. 1951 - Ja’afar of UMNO left to form the independence of Malaya party (IMP)as he failed to make the UMNO more ethnically diverse in membership
. UMNO co-operated with the MCA (Malayan Chinese association) in 1954 and the MIC (Malayan Indian congress) in 1955 to ensure electoral success and have more Malayan power
Despite any cooperations, this was mainly just to get independence from colonial rule and the racially divided peninsula was still an issue
How did the UMNO respond to the federation of Malaya?
As the Malayans now had a position of semi-autonomy, it focused on political independence as it saw a chance for full independence to be granted in the peninsula
