Meanwhile, the race for territorial expansion by the West was a result of the industrialization of its nations that resulted in better means of production, faster means and method of transportation, and greater need for raw materials. Scientific and technological developments had produced a technological gulf between …show more content…
They also established economic, administrative, and political frameworks. Likewise, to some extent, colonizers also helped to usher in industrialization in its territories, however, these were mostly limited to what were required to produce greater raw materials needed for production and export, and for the production of goods for immediate local consumption.
Increased production, on the other hand, attracted even more outsiders which caused the introduction of [more] new cultures and religion leading to change and even prejudice and stereotypes. Colonialism introduced new religious beliefs that supplanted indigenous and traditional ones, and was a means to set the populations apart from one another. Cultural differences and distinctions gave rise to nationalism or “indigenism” (in the local context).
As a whole, ASEAN states have a similar or shared negative perception of colonialism. Nationalism is seen as the movement to liberate the national society. Nationalists and revolutionists understood that an efficient bureaucracy was intrinsic to the functioning of the state and so did not object to the usurpation of power from local chieftains; they objected to the foreigners being in power. Therefore, they worked to displace the colonial rulers while maintaining the trappings of …show more content…
However, colonizers did not provide opportunities for positions to these returning scholars. Hence, colonizers nurtured nationalism by combining political repression with opportunities for Western education.
Meanwhile, the Japanese occupation (1940-1945) during World War II was a catalyst for independence movements and thoughts from colonizers. The Japanese introduced their racial policy of liberating colonial people from the imperialist (foreign) rule to establish the “Asia for Asians”. They espoused colonial self-rule and eventual independence. However, it quickly became evident that Japan only intended to create puppet governments and use their expanded territory as sources of raw materials for production.
After the defeat of Japan, some colonizing powers assisted the new nation-states to transition towards complete independence based on Western political structures – although self-government was initially, in most cases, limited. “Constitution”, “elections”, “forms of government”, and “representative leadership” are just a few of the concepts that were taught and passed on. Colonial powers also helped control and put down rebellions against the newly independent