4.1.4

Decolonisation in Asia

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Decolonisation in Asia

World War Two became the death knell for the British Empire, welcoming a period of rapid and often rushed decolonisation.

Burma (now Myanmar)

Burma (now Myanmar)

  • Aung San’s Anti-Fascist People’s Freedom League fought against the British in World War Two, but then switched sides before the end of the war.
  • Aung San campaigned for independence from British influence.
  • In July 1947, Aung San was assassinated by soldiers hired by the former Prime Minister of Burma, U Saw. A British Army Captain, David Vivian was then imprisoned for selling weapons to U Saw.
  • Burma was granted independence in 1948. The country fell into civil war, which has continued ever since.
The Malay peninsula

The Malay peninsula

  • Britain tried to create a ‘Malayan Union’, but the area was very divided ethnically and was divided into 11 provinces.
  • The Malay people opposed the establishment of the Malayan Union. The new union took powers from the Sultan and the United Malays National Organisation was founded. The UMNO was a new political organisation created purely to protest against the Malayan Union, which was created with little local population consultation.
  • Their campaign of civil disobedience made the British reconsider. After consulting different ethnic and racial groups in Malaya the British created the Federation of Malaya in February 1948.
Malaysia

Malaysia

  • In June 1948, the Malaya Emergency saw a guerrilla war take place between Malayan Communists, the Malayan National Liberation Army, and forces from Malaya, Australia, and New Zealand.
  • In 1951, Henry Gurney (the British High Commissioner in Malaya) was assassinated by the Malayan Communist Party.
  • In 1957, Malaya was granted independence under Prime Minister Tunku Rahman.
  • In 1960, after a 12-year state of emergency and 6,710 MRLA fatalities, the state of emergency and guerrilla war ended.
  • In 1963, the country was renamed Malaysia.
Singapore

Singapore

  • Singapore is an island south of Malaysia that is 50km wide.
  • In 1945, the British recaptured Singapore from the Japanese.
  • In 1947, a Legislative Council with members elected by the Singaporean people was created.
  • Lim Yew Hock's strong opposition to communist insurgents in Singapore helped him earn full self-government in 1958.
  • In 1963, as part of the creation of Malaysia, Singapore joined Malaya.
  • Ethnic tensions between the Chinese and Malayan population of Singapore led to Singapore's expulsion from Malaysia in 1965.
The rise of Singapore

The rise of Singapore

  • In 1965, Singapore was a new country, 50km wide and 27km tall, with no freshwater supplies and a diverse ethnic population.
  • Lee Kuan Yew was the Singaporean Prime Minister from 1959 and 1990. Lee is often cited as one of the only examples in history of a 'benevolent dictator'. His rule was authoritarian, mandating people to move from farms into apartments in cities, and enforcing policies very strictly. Lee tried to stamp out corruption in Singapore.
  • In 2020, Singapore's GDP per capita was $65,000 relative to $11,000 in Malaysia.
Jump to other topics
1

High Water Mark of the British Empire, 1857-1914

1.1

Development of Imperialism, 1857-1890

1.1.1Empires over Time1.1.2Key Questions About Empires1.1.3Expansion into Africa1.1.4History of Egypt1.1.5Control of Egypt1.1.6Control of Sudan
1.2

Imperial & Colonial Policy, 1857-1890

1.2.1The British Empire & India1.2.2The British Raj1.2.3International Relations with other Powers1.2.4Scramble for Africa1.2.5The Informal Empire
1.3

Trade & Commerce, 1857-1890

1.3.1Trade & Commerce in the Empire1.3.2Infrastructure of Trade & Commerce1.3.3Products of Trade & Commerce
1.4

Attitudes Towards the Empire, 1857-1890

1.4.1Explorers1.4.2Missionaries1.4.3Traders & Colonial Administrators1.4.4Government Attitudes Towards Imperialism
1.5

Relations with Indigenous Peoples, 1857-1890

1.5.1Relations with India1.5.2Relations with South Africa1.5.3British-Boer Relations
2

Imperial Consolidation & Liberal Rule, 1890-1914

2.1

Consolidation & Expansion in Africa, 1890-1914

2.1.1Consolidation & Expansion into Africa2.1.2Consolidation & Expansion in South Africa2.1.3Historical Interpretations: Expansion into Africa
2.2

Imperial & Colonial Policy, 1890-1914

2.2.1Policy in India2.2.2Policy in Egypt2.2.3Native Policy in Colonies2.2.4International Relations with Other Powers
2.3

Trade & Commerce, 1890-1914

2.3.1The Benefits of Trade2.3.2Costs of the Empire2.3.3Debates Over Trade
2.4

Attitudes Towards the Empire, 1890-1914

2.4.1Key Administrators - Chamberlain & Rhodes2.4.2Key Administrators - Baring & Milner2.4.3Key Administrators - Curzon2.4.4Government Attitudes to the Empire2.4.5National Efficiency & the Boer War2.4.6Popular Attitudes Towards Imperialism
2.5

Relations with Indigenous Peoples, 1890-1914

2.5.1Challenges in India2.5.2Challenges in Africa2.5.3Challenges in South Africa2.5.4Historical Interpretations of the Boer War2.5.5Relations & Business with Iran
3

Imperialism Challenged, 1914-1967

3.1

Expansion & Contraction of Empire, 1914-1947

3.1.1Impact of WW13.1.2Palestine3.1.3Ireland & WW13.1.4Impact of WW2 on the British Empire
3.2

Colonial Policy & Administration, 1914-1947

3.2.1Administration in India & Palestine3.2.2Administration in Iraq & the Dominions3.2.3Imperial Defence
3.3

Trade, Commerce & Economic Impact of War

3.3.1Economic Impact of WW13.3.2Inter-War Trade & Commerce3.3.3Economic Impact of WW2
3.4

Attitudes Towards the Empire, 1890-1914

3.4.1Colonial Administrators3.4.2Trusteeship3.4.3Gandhi3.4.4Montagu, Haig & Linlithgow3.4.5Cameron, Mitchell, Cohen & Furse - African Admins3.4.6Imperialist Ideals
3.5

Relations with Indigenous Peoples, 1914-1947

3.5.1Ireland & India 1914-19473.5.2The Middle East and Africa
4

The Wind of Change, 1947-1967

4.1

Decolonisation in Africa & Asia, 1947-1967

4.1.1Reasons for Decolonisation4.1.2Decolonisation in East & West Africa4.1.3Decolonisation in Central & South Africa4.1.4Decolonisation in Asia
4.2

Colonial Policy & Administration, 1947-1967

4.2.1Relations & Business with Iran after WW24.2.2The 'Winds of Change'4.2.3The Suez Canal Crisis - 19564.2.4International Relations 1947-1967
4.3

Trade & Commerce, 1947-1967

4.3.1The Economic Impact of WW2
4.4

Attitudes Towards the Empire, 1947-1967

4.4.1Colonial Administrators: Cohen & Arden-Clarke4.4.2Local Leaders in the Independence Movement4.4.3Pan-Africanism in Nationalism
4.5

Post-Colonial Ties, 1947-1967

4.5.1Windrush & Immigration4.5.2Commonwealth Immigrants Act4.5.3Residual Impact of the Empire
4.6

Relations with Indigenous Peoples, 1947-1967

4.6.1Challenges to Colonial Rule Post 19474.6.2Kenya & the Mau Mau Uprising4.6.3Nigeria & Rhodesia

Practice questions on Decolonisation in Asia

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  1. 1
    Which of these are true of Aung San & the Anti-Fascist People’s Freedom League?True / false
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Decolonisation in Central & South Africa

Relations & Business with Iran after WW2