The Course of Asian Nationalism: South-East Asia, Western Asia

Abstract

THE course of nationalism in South-East Asia was clearly affected by nationalist developments elsewhere in Asia. The growth of political parties in India, the emergence of Japan as a major power, and the Chinese revolution of 1911; all had their repercussions in the very largely dependent countries of South-East Asia. In the case of overseas Indians and Chinese, the effect of events in their countries of origin was often to divert nationalist thoughts and aspirations towards the country of origin and thus away from the country of adoption. In so far as this process helped to delay the integration of minorities in South-East Asian countries, its long-term effect could be to promote indigenous nationalisms in response to those of India and China; it could in certain circumstances direct nationalist politics into communal groupings.