|
|
|
|
|
2. Would contemporary Southeast Asia be significantly different if formal colonial rule had never been imposed on most of the region?
|
|
|
Contemporary Southeast Asia is what it is today rich in diversity of culture and achieving general economic and political stability due to a combination of factors. However to find out whether Southeast Asia would be different without colonialism, there is a need to examine the European role and the extent of their impact politically, socially and economically. Also there is a need to examine the pre colonial Southeast Asia and “have an awareness of the rich and important history of Southeast Asian states”.(Osborne : 1998: 61) .It is necessary to examine all these factors to determine whether there would be a significant change in Southeast Asia without colonialism. The impact of colonialism in Southeast Asia before the nineteenth century was negligible. It was after the Portuguese conquered Malacca that the thrust of European imperialism in Southeast Asia was felt. Though Thailand is the only Southeast Asian state that is never colonized, it is still as competitive as the rest of the states in its economy and as modernized. However it must not be forgotten that it was still under pressure from colonial powers that it adopted policies of westernization and modernization to avoid being colonized. Though never under colonialism, it still experienced indirect colonial rule in this manner. It might be argued that colonial rule did not shape Southeast Asia significantly by using the example of Thailand since it has achieved a similar state of progress however it must not be forgotten that it was still under indirect colonial influence. What was most evidential in modern Southeast Asia that was established during colonial rule was modernization and westernization. It was possible that colonialism did act as a catalyst to modernization in these states. It must be noted that pre colonial Southeast Asia was not inferior to the colonial powers as by Osborne’s words ( 1998: 68), Vietnam was “unified and expanding” and other states also had organized political systems and peaceful societies.
|
|
|
|
Still Can't Find What Your Looking For? Then Try a Essay Search!
|
