H2 History Decolonisation
A - Level H2 History
C1
Decolonisation
South-East Asia Nationalism
1945-
- Impacts on decolonisation [Reasons, Pace,
Nature]
H2 History Decolonisation
Impacts on Decolonisation
Nationalists [Internal]
***Strengths of Nationalists [Mass Support,
Arms]
Possession of Mass Support
Possession of Armed capabilities
Strong position to accelerate pace of decolonization
Made it difficult for the colonial powers to counteract
Forced them to concede independence
Outcome
Burma
Indonesia
AFPFL
Contained wide-range of political
grouping and had nationwide
structure, military formations and
access to arms
Demanded immediate
independence
Organised strikes with massive
public support throughout Burma
until it was clear that Labour
government was unable to
implement policies and maintain
order in the country
Broad base support and armed
capabilities manifested in PVO
Republican Government
Were able to command the
support of the pemudas and
masses who were desirous of
independence
Despite two police actions, were
unable to retain control
Conflict made it unsustainable
for Dutch to maintain its
position
Led to negotiations for
independence in 1949
Made it ungovernable for British
Convinced British their position
was untenable
Led to negotiations for transfer of
power
Ability to Expulse communist
Proved their strength over
control
Proof of moderate and anticommunist stance
Quelled Communist PKI-led
revolts at Madiun in 1948
Ability to convince USA of their
ability and to pressure the exit
of the Dutch
H2 History Decolonisation
Internal
Nationalists
Accelerated Process
Can be argued as both smooth / struggle
-
Alternate Outcome
Vietnam
Vietminh
Strength in military
Lead to defeat of French at Dien
Bien Phy 1954
Led to a drawn-out conflict
Process was complicated and
prolonged by the escalation and
transformation of conflict
Internal
Nationalists
Prolonged Process
Violent
-
Conclusion
However, it still accelerated the pace as it led to the withdrawal of the
French which could have proven otherwise without the strength of the
nationalists as the French had no plans to withdraw from Vietnam
H2 History Decolonisation
***Approach by Nationalists
Impacted the process by making it one which was marked by transfer of
sovereignty through use of negotiations
Collaborative Approach
Outcome
Philippines
Malaya [Strength of Nationlists]
Manila Elite led by Roxas
Well-entrenched which offered
United States prospect of a return
to stability
Cooperated with returning
Americans
In contrast to leftist Huks who
offered endless prospect of
political strife and social upheaval
Pave the way for smooth transfer
of power through series of
negotiations
Led to Tydings
Bell Acts
Signed which set the context for
post-independence relationship
Ability of Malay and Chinese
political elite to forge interethnic compromise
Malay laws were not challenged
while Chinese were given full
autonomy over economic power
Later joined by Indian political
leaders
Demonstrated ability to work
together
Offered prospect of a stable
nation
Convinced British of their ability
of compromise
Paved way for negotiations
between the alliance and British
Resulted in incremental doses of
self-governance which
culminated to independence in
1957 led by Alliance
government
Link
H2 History Decolonisation
Internal
Nationalists
Peaceful
Positive Impact on Nationalists
Confrontational Approach
Marked by outright conflict
Seek to recover control through violent means
Alternate Outcome
Vietnam
Indonesia
Vietminh and French
Engaged in 8 year long war
Culminated to defeat of French at
Dien Bien Phu
Link
Internal
Nationalists
Prolonged??? Accelerated??
Violent
-
Conclusion
4
Republican government
Adopted policy of diplomacy and
confrontation
Engulfed Dutch forces in a
conflict which they could not
sustain
Formed the backdrop of the
Indonesian revolution
H2 History Decolonisation
Colonial Powers
***Focus of Colonial powers
Depended on colonial attitudes and priorities
Affected nature and pace of process
Outcome
Philippines
Burma
USA
Based on guaranteed timetable
for Philippines independence
even before the war
Saw Roxas a compliant individual
who could be relied upon to
secure country against radical
social change
Led to peaceful process marked
by negotiations
Link
Labour Government
Had changing priorities after the
war
Conceding of independence to
India in 1947 set the stage for
transfer of power in Burma was
accelerated
Mountbatten placed pressure on
Hubert Rance to involve key
nationalists in the AFPFL in the
process
Knew that if they wanted to
maintain future relations with
Burma, they had to grant
independence
H2 History Decolonisation
Internal
Colonial
Accelerated Process
Peaceful
Positive Impact on Nationalists
Alternate Outcome
Indonesia
Vietnam
Dutch
Importance of colony in post-war
pans
Reconstruction was the aim of the
Dutch
Aim of nationalists and dutch
were in direct conflict
Dutch desirous aim to reconstruct
while nationalist wanted
independence
Link
Internal
Colonial
Prolonged Process
Violent
Negative Impact on Nationalists
Conclusion
French
Sought to perpetuate control
through French Union and
Indochinese Federation
Continued intransigence of the
French to negotiate or consider
compromise with Vietnminh led
to the prolonged and violent
conflict
H2 History Decolonisation
**Cost of Second World War
Brought new pressures on the metropole
Caused re-evaluation of post-war policy
Increased costs of recovering and maintaining control
Outcome (+ve for nationalists)
Burma
Indonesia
Labour government
More focused on domestic
economic reconstruction
Maintenance of empire was
placed aside
Further complicated by threat
by US to withhold Marshall Plan
Incapacitated Dutch economic
inability to pursue its control
over Indonesia
Led to Indians independence in
1947 which further reduced the
need for retaining Burma
Link
Escalating costs of colonial
conflict
Pressured Hague to negotiate
with Republican government
External
Colonial
Accelerated Process
Positive Impact on Nationalists
7
H2 History Decolonisation
Superpowers / Cold War [External]
***Fear of Communism
Fear of communist
Cold War impact
Domino theory manifested
Importance of intervention
Outcome [Anti-communist nationalists]
Indonesia
Philippines
USA fear of communism
Convinced USA it had to support
non-communist nationalists
Republican government, Sukarno
and Hatta
Perceived as a valuable ally after
it quelled PKI-led revolts at
Madiun in 1948
Placed pressure on Dutch through
UN and threatened to withhold
Marshall Plan aid
External influence forced Dutch
into negotiations with nationalists
Washingtons thinking was
shapred by anticipation that
efforts to sustain colonial rule
would generate instability and
provide fertile ground for
communist agitation
Belief that progressive evolution
to native self-government was
key to defusing tensions
Conceded independence to
Manila elite
Swift transfer of leadership to
Liberal Party under Roxas
Offered Roxas Endorsement of
pre-war Filipino oligarchy was
favoured over potential
instability which could result
H2 History Decolonisation
from accommodating the leftist
Huks within the poltical process
Link
External
USA, Cold War
Accelerated Process
Peaceful
Positive Impact on Nationalists
Alternate Outcome [Communist nationalists]
Vietnam
Malaya (Outcome on Nationalists
only)
USA fear of communist regime
which Vietnam was led by
communist Vietminh
USA extended military and
economic aid to French
Further complicated colonial war
and prolonged its duration
MCP
Claims of creating an
independent socialist Malaya
marked by armed insurgency in
1948
British retaliated by declaring
Emergency and launching
reprisals
By 1950, MCP was nullfied
Link
External
USA, Cold War
- (Prolonged)
Violent
Negative Impact on Nationalists
H2 History Decolonisation
Conclusion
**International Pressure / UN
International opinion of freedom
UN became platform to which international pressure placed on colonial
powers to give independence
Outcome
Philippines
USA
Took the lead in extending
independence in 1946
Provided an example for its
wartime allies to do the same
Indonesia
UN
Played a role in garnering
international opinion against
continued Dutch attempts at
restoring control
Particularly after secondary
police Action
Turned the tide of international
opinion against Hague to
reconsider its policy in Indonesia
Link
External
UN
Accelerated Process
10
H2 History Decolonisation
Peaceful
Positive Impact on Nationalists
Possible Intros:
The process of Decolonisation in Southeast Asia depended on
Although ____ had caused the decolonisation in Southeast Asia,
Possible Conclusions:
Summary Table
Nature of Process of Decolonization
Cause/Result
Accelerated Process
Nationalist Strength
Yes:
Exception:
Peaceful Transfer
Nationalist
Cooperative
Nationalist
Confrontational
Colonial
Responsible for Decolonization
Cause/Result
Prevented Process
Nationalist Strength
Nationalist
Cooperative
Nationalist
Confrontational
Colonial
11
Allowed Process
H2 History Decolonisation
Summary
Nationalist
***Strengths of
Nationalists [Mass
Support, Arms]
Colonial Powers
***Focus of Colonial
powers
Superpowers
***Fear of
Communist
**Cost of Second World
War
**International
Pressure / UN
***Approach by
Nationalists
Collaborative Approach
Confrontational
Approach
12
