Establihsing Political Structures And Legitimacy

Question 1

Decol. By clusters:
- Colonial attitudes (peaceful/violent indep., tutelage?)

Answer 1

Colonial attitudes:
- Peaceful transfer of Power with tutelage:
- Philippines, Malaya, Singapore

• Peaceful transfer of power without tutelage:
  
  • Burma, Cambodia, Laos
• Violent imposition of control:
  
  • Vietnam, Indonesia

Question 2

Decol. By clusters
- communist influence (suppressed?, by who?)

Answer 2

Suppressed with colonial support:
- phillipines, Malaya, Singapore, Burma

Suppressed with constitutional monarchies;
- Cambodia, Laos

Communist as forefront of revolution:
- Vietnam, Indonesia

Question 3

Decol. By clusters:
- military status (is it independent from politics?)

Answer 3

Professionalized and independent from politics:
- Phillipines, Malaya, Singapore, Burma, Cambodia, Laos

Legitimisation and politicisation of military:
- Vietnam, Indonesia

Question 4

Colonial attitudes of UK towards Malaya post war (intention, main concern)

Answer 4

• British returned after WW2 intending to grant Malaya independence
• main concern was communalism -> Brits had to be convinced that indigenous political elite could find stability

Question 5

What were in Britain’s plans to grant Malaya Independence, and what was the outcome?

Answer 5

1946: Malayan union plan -> intention to form an independent Malayan union state
- rejected by Malays, favoured by Chinese and Indian minorities
—> overall rejected:

• 1948: Federation of Malaya plan -> guaranteed special status of Malays

Question 6

How did Malaya address the main concerns of Britain during decol?

Answer 6

• 1954 formation and formalisation of UMNO-MCA-MIC alliance
• 1955 elections: secured 51/52 seats (helped by British initiatives such as member system in 1951, and pressure by MCP)
• indep in 1957 (British convinced)
• Westminster style government
• Malayan military remained professional and indep.

Question 7

When was Malaya independent

Answer 7

1957 indep from british

Question 8

Initiatives of US towards Philippines independence (2)

Answer 8

• 1907 Jones act:
  —> elected legislature
• 1934 Tydings-McDuffie act:
  —> granted Philippines independence by 1946 (10 yr transition plan)

Question 9

Did the US attempt to preserve its economic interests in the Philippines, and how?
- reactions?

Answer 9

• 1946 bell act:
  —> provided funding for rebuild of Philippines (800mil) after WW2 jap occupation, BUT
• US corporations granted access to Philippine’s natural resources
• Philippine peso tied to USD
• unpopular with nationalists (limited sovereignty)

Question 10

How did the US preserve its political (and in part economic) interests in Philippines with respect to the local political scene?

Answer 10

1. Ilustrados (land owning educated elite)
   - exchanges political power and economic benefits for serving American interests
2. Communist control:
   - 1932: communist party banned

Question 11

What was the key contention and dissatisfaction of the public during decol Philippines and how was it addressed (wrt elites)

Question 12

What was the key contention and dissatisfaction of the public during decol Philippines and how was it addressed (wrt elites)

Answer 12

• democratic system of government but leaders all came from a tiny elite class
• other parties suppressed / marginalised

-> 1946 - 1954: Post war Hukbalahap movement (insurgency) defeated with US help (1954) - guerilla warfare supporting communist cause due to
1. Peasant dissatisfaction
2. Nationalism
3. Communist party sought for independent communist Philippine state

Question 13

When did Philippines gain independence

Answer 13

4th July 1946 (one of the first SEA nations)

Question 14

How willing were the British in granting SG independence (esp wrt Malaya) and why?

Answer 14

• less willing to grant indep
  1. Strategic location + entrepôt
  2. Hard to imagine Singapore being independent given its size and resources

Question 15

Significant milestones in the decol of Singapore? (Up till merger and indep)

Answer 15

1. 1953 Rendel commission: mainly elected assembly
2. 1959: Full internal self government after Lim Yew Hock took control of communists
3. 1961: idea of merger with Malaya (British thought that would guarantee security)
4. Indep + merger (1963)
5. Indep (1965)

Question 16

Characteristics of post decol Singapore
- political system
- communists
- military

Answer 16

1. Political system: Westminster style parliamentary system
2. Communists: suppressed with the help of British and LKY
3. Status of military: peaceful transfer of power, military remained indep