Southeast Asian History Essay Outlines 1 
Southeast Asian History – Essay Outlines
1
‘Before 1941, nationalist movements across Southeast Asia were characterised by their rejection of colonialism.’ Discuss. [AJC 2008]
Characterised – main feature of, marked by
Rejection of colonialism – nationalism = anti-colonialism, implies the movement towards achieving independence from colonial rule, abrogation, and the rejection of colonial institutions, changes wrought by colonial rule. Some forms of nationalism – cultural/religious, economic, ethnic – some of these variants of nationalism are linked to the effects of colonial rule.
No
Modernist Reform
An idea pertinent to nationalism is the idea of modernity and progress. Early nationalist movements were focused on the idea of their nation’s progress and how it could be achieved. Many early leaders sought national revival and some advocated western education as a way of making progress. Kartini in Indonesia, Phan Chua Trinh in Vietnam were examples of nationalist figures that sought national progress through the imbibing of Western education, ideas and values.
Ethnic
Minority groups forging their sense of nationhood, fear of/reacting against majority domination and perceived undermining of their way of life. Examples can be seen in the Karen and Shan in Burma and the Moros in Mindanao. Thai kings also emphasised the importance of ethnicity, which was tied in with the concepts of Kind, Nation and Religion.
Yes/No
Cultural/Religious
Early nationalist movements tended to be focused on religious and cultural progress/concerned about the impact of colonial rule on native religion and culture. The YMBA was concerned about the role of Buddhism in Burmese society as a result of growing popularity of western education and the abolition of the Burmese monarchy by the British. Early Indonesian nationalists were also concerned about the preservation of Javanese culture in a time of profound change. Sarekat Islam also included Islamic revivalism as part of its programme.
1
‘Before 1941, nationalist movements across Southeast Asia were characterised by their rejection of colonialism.’ Discuss. [AJC 2008]
Characterised – main feature of, marked by
Rejection of colonialism – nationalism = anti-colonialism, implies the movement towards achieving independence from colonial rule, abrogation, and the rejection of colonial institutions, changes wrought by colonial rule. Some forms of nationalism – cultural/religious, economic, ethnic – some of these variants of nationalism are linked to the effects of colonial rule.
No
Modernist Reform
An idea pertinent to nationalism is the idea of modernity and progress. Early nationalist movements were focused on the idea of their nation’s progress and how it could be achieved. Many early leaders sought national revival and some advocated western education as a way of making progress. Kartini in Indonesia, Phan Chua Trinh in Vietnam were examples of nationalist figures that sought national progress through the imbibing of Western education, ideas and values.
Ethnic
Minority groups forging their sense of nationhood, fear of/reacting against majority domination and perceived undermining of their way of life. Examples can be seen in the Karen and Shan in Burma and the Moros in Mindanao. Thai kings also emphasised the importance of ethnicity, which was tied in with the concepts of Kind, Nation and Religion.
Yes/No
Cultural/Religious
Early nationalist movements tended to be focused on religious and cultural progress/concerned about the impact of colonial rule on native religion and culture. The YMBA was concerned about the role of Buddhism in Burmese society as a result of growing popularity of western education and the abolition of the Burmese monarchy by the British. Early Indonesian nationalists were also concerned about the preservation of Javanese culture in a time of profound change. Sarekat Islam also included Islamic revivalism as part of its programme.