Wednesday 9 February 2011

How far did colonial rule benefit the Southeast Asian states? Explain your answer. [13]

Introduction:
The Europeans came to Southeast Asia and colonised many areas. Their period of rule had benefitted the locals in many ways. However, there were disadvantages too.

Main Body:
One major benefit was the development of the Southeast Asian economies. Most of the Southeast Asian economies opened up as many of them were converted to cash economies. With the introduction of cash economies, the volume of trade increased greatly. The development of many areas into plantations also took place during colonial rule. This was the case in Malaya, where many rubber plantations were set up, and in Indonesia, where cash crops were cultivated on a massive scale in Java and Sumatra. All these economic activities brought prosperity to the Southeast Asian colonies.

Another benefit resulting from colonial rule was modernisation. Colonial societies started to develop socially, as western technology was introduced. Communications between different Southeast Asian states also improved, as railways and roads were built. For example, in Malaya, a railway line linking Penang to Singapore was completed by 1923. For Indonesia, sea links were provided by the KPM. Western technology also helped to improved economic and farming practices. In Indonesia, the Dutch introduced new irrigation systems and provided more effective fertilisers. In education, locals started to receive western knowledge in science and technology. The exposure to Western concepts of democracy, nationalism and communism would also unconsciously benefit the locals in their pursuit for independence subsequently.

However, the existence of resistance to colonial rule certainly showed that colonial rule was not without disadvantages

One of the disadvantages of colonial rule was the negative impact of the economic changes. While the colonies prospered in general, it made the economies of the colonies dependent on the world economy. This would cause instability in the income of the workers and farmers. In addition, there was economic exploitation on the locals. The local workers often suffered from poor working and living conditions. The profits resulting from the prosperity were rarely passed down to them. For example, in Vietnam, it was the French and the Chinese who reaped the profits from the plantations they owned. This was also the case in Indonesia, where the Dutch owned most of the plantations.

Another disadvantage of colonial rule was the loss of authority experienced by the local rulers. They could no longer rule the state without reference to the colonial masters. In some cases, the traditional leaders were entirely removed. This was the case in Cochin China, where direct rule was imposed and caused the Vietnamese court to lose its prestige. Even in places where indirect rule was imposed, the rulers had to rule in a way desired by the colonial masters. This was the case even in some colonies under British rule, where the Resident had more power than the Sultan.

The threat to local culture could be another disadvantage to Southeast Asian states. In Vietnam, Confucianism was challenged by Catholicism. At the same time, Vietnamese writing was forcibly replaced by Roman writings. In Indonesia, the Balinese resisted fiercely against the imposition of Dutch influence.

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