1st Edition

The Stakes of Democracy in South-East Asia

By H. van Mook Copyright 1950
    314 Pages
    by Routledge

    314 Pages
    by Routledge

    Will national independence bring to the peoples of South East Asia liberty and democracy? Or will it mean corrupt government, factional strife and insolvency? Or will it mean eventual absorption by totalitarian communism? In this book, first published in 1950, the author analyses these questions, using the case history of Indonesia since 1940, in which he played a leading role, to illustrate his points. He gives an outline of the history of South East Asia, its domination by the West and its convulsion by war and nationalism. The seven nations of South East Asia – Ceylon, Burma, Siam, Indo-China, Malaya, Indonesia and the Philippines – have a great deal in common: except for Siam, they are all struggling through the formative years of nationhood; except for Ceylon, they were all occupied and pillaged by Japan during the War. They are of great value to other nations as a source of raw materials and foodstuffs. Their political and economic structure is of vital importance, both to themselves and to us and unless their new nationalism can be strengthened, the free world may lose a valuable asset to its economy and an ally against totalitarianism in Asia.

    1. The Foundations of South East Asia  1.1. The Origins of South East Asia  1.2. Invasion from the West  1.3. Imperialism at the Flood  1.4. The Birth of Nationalism in South East Asia  1.5. Two Colonial Cases  2. War and Revolution  2.1. Invasion from the North  2.2. Transient Empire  2.3. An Unforeseen Peace  2.4. The Nationalist Revolt  3. The Future of South East Asia  3.1. United Nations and Divided Counsels  3.2. The Bad Conscience of the West  3.3. The Economic Mainspring  3.4. Capitalist Adventurers and Communist Agitators  3.5. Voluntary Association in South East Asia

    Biography

    H. J. Van Mook