Cheong Kah Wah

Vuong Ho Quan
Nicole Chan
Alex Yeo

The development of nationalism in South East Asia before

World War 2 was characterized by common opposition to
colonial rule rather than a collective sense of nationhood.
How far do you agree with this statement?
Intro:
Definitions:
Development: emergence or a growth
Common opposition: anti-colonial sentiments => get rid of colonial rule.
Collective sense of nationhood: national identity +unity .
Time frame: 1900-1941
Scope/Criteria:
-Common opposition > nationhood
-Evolution
-Neither opposition nor nationhood.
Stand: In the early stage of nationalist development, it was more of common
opposition. However, progressively, it turns to more of collective sense of
nationhood.
Body:
1/ Yes. It was characterized by common opposition. ( Opp > nationhood)
1.1: Nationalists are branches of common opposition to colonial rule.
-Due to political, social, economic marginalization of the locals, they rose up
against their colonial masters to fight for better living condition or/and to restore
traditional way of lives.
-Example: Pongyis rebellion in Burma, Can Vuong movement in Vietnam.

-Link: these rebellions were mostly caused by the removal of center of

loyalty/religious belief and the worsening living condition => Opposition to
colonial actions.
1.2: Not much of collective sense of nationhood.
-Objectives of the nationalists were diverse, including: economic/political/social
aims.
-Not all nationalist movements have national identity (ethnocentric movements)
-Example: Malaya, Indonesia early movements ( Sarekat Islam-economic &
religious objectives)
-Link: Since the agenda of individual movements were diverse & some were even
based on ethnocentrism.

2/Evolution (gradual changes):

2.1: Developing sense of nationhood over time.
- Nationalist movements have the objective of establishing nation states.
-Example: Sukarno PNI, Vietminh in Vietnam
-Link: these common aims of building a independent nation states indicate that
national identity existed.
2.2: Evolution ( Nationhood grew more significant over common opposition )
-In the earlier stage of nationalist development, most movements were based on
common opposition. However, gradually due to Western ideology and education
and various factors, nationhood grew to become a more significant force driving
the nationalist movements rather than common opposition to colonial rule.
-Example: Indonesia, Vietnam.
-Link: The progressive replacement of nationhood over opposition shows that
development of nationalism was characterized less by common opposition to
colonial rule but more of a collective sense of nationhood in the later stage.
3/ Not common opposition and collective nationhood:
3.1/ No opposition and nationhood
-In some countries, the nationalist movements were based on neither opposition
nor nationhood. This is due to collaborative nature of colonial rule & the locals
lack a sense of nationhood ( due to society being based on ethnocentrism).
-Example: Malaya, Philippines.

-Link: In these countries, there were no significant nationalist movements based

on opposition to colonial rule or/and nationhood. Hence, it shows that there was
not any major opposition and sense of nationhood.
3.2/ Nationalist movements were not collective and common.
-Nationalist movements in this stage lack unity and thus, cannot be classified as
collective and common.
-Example: Indonesia, Burma.
-Link: Nationalist movements were fragmented and aimed at achieving different
agendas. Hence, they cannot be seen as unified faction.
Conclusion
-Criteria: Time frame
In the early stage of nationalist development, it was more of common opposition.
However, progressively, it turns to more of collective sense of nationhood. This is
due largely of Western education which leads to nationalist leaders realizing the
need for a unifying force.
-Summarise:
It was characterized by common opposition,
Evolution,
Not common opposition and collective nationhood
-However, exception exists whereby there wasnt any common opposition nor
common sense of nationhood eg. Phillippines.