Decolonization in Southeast Asia

Cambodia

Cambodia--Independence

•French colony•Occupied by Japan from 1941-45•King Sihanouk declared it independent

after WWII and France granted it in 1953

Important People

Pol Pot: Leader of the Khmer Rouge

King of Cambodia today

Cambodia—Post-Independence Problems•1. Vietnam War destabilized the country

▫Tried to stay neutral▫1970-King overthrown in a coup led by

General Nol, who was supported by the US•2. Cambodian Genocide

▫King allied with (Communist )Khmer Rouge rebels to fight against Nol, causing civil war

▫Khmer Rouge eventually took power in 1975

▫Their leader was Pol Pot

Cambodian Genocide

•Renamed Democratic Kampuchea•Pol Pot instituted a radical transformation

of Cambodian society•Tried to destroy all urban and civilized life•Emptied the cities, killed all the educated

people, and everyone worked in agriculture

•1.5 million people died (out of 7 million)•Vietnam overthrew Khmer Rouge in 1979

& fighting raged throughout the 1980s

Cambodia—Post-Independence Successes•1. 1991- Peace achieved and today it is

again a constitutional monarchy•2. Still trying to rebuild from devastation

caused by the Khmer Rouge

Indonesia

Indonesia--Independence

•Dutch colony•Occupied by Japan from 1942-45•Indonesians fought Dutch for 4 years and

won independence in 1949•First president was Sukarno

Important People

Sukarno

General Suharto

Indonesia—Post-Independence Problems•1. Sukarno-authoritarian leader who

pushed country close to bankruptcy•2. General Suharto took power in 1965—

also authoritarian and corrupt•3. Terrorism and ethnic violence are also

problems in some areas

Indonesia—Post-Independence Successes•1. Suharto resigned in 1998 which

strengthened democratic elements•2. Under Suharto the economy revived

and Indonesia experienced substantial economic growth.

Malaysia

Malaysia--Independence

•British colony•Occupied by Japan 1942-45•Malayan Communist Party launched

guerilla attacks against the British to force them to leave

•Federation of Malaya became independent in 1957

Malaysia—Post-Independence Problems•1. Conflict with Indonesia over the

formation of Malaysia•2. 1965 Singapore left the Federation of

Malaya•3. Anti-gov’t rallies demanding electoral

reform

Malaysia—Post-Independence Successes•Between 1980s and 90s Malaysia

experienced significant economic growth•Focused on manufacturing & industry in

electronics and computers•Built a number of mega-projects to

showcase their increasing wealth

Kuala Lumpur International Airport

Bakun Hydroelectric

Dam

Vietnam

Vietnam—Independence

•French colony•Occupied by Japanese1941-45•Communist Ho Chi Minh led the Vietminh

in guerilla attacks against the French•1954 Vietnam temporarily divided •Elections were never held to reunite the

country because US intervention prevented a Communist victory

•US pulled out in 1973 & Vietnam was reunited in 1976

Important People

Ho Chi Minh

Vietnam—Post-Independence Problems•1. Lengthy Vietnam War and US use of

napalm and defoliants devastated the environment

•2. Economy was crippled•3. Communist gov’t collectivized farms

and factories so reconstruction was slow•4. Brief war with China in 1979

Vietnam—Post-Independence Successes•1. 1986 Vietnam implemented free-

market reforms which resulted in rapid economic growth