Conflict And Confrontation In South East Asia 1961-1965: Britain, the United States, Indonesia and the Creation of Malaysia

by Matthew Jones

This fascinating study looks at the origins, outbreak and course of the Indonesian-Malaysian confrontation of 1963-1966, within the context of British and American policies in South East Asia during the 1960s as a whole. Matthew Jones uses new archival sources to throw fresh light on such subjects as British Colonial policy and the creation of Malaysia, Anglo-American tensions over the confrontation itself, and the diplomacy of that important, but often neglected, international dispute.

Genres: History

348 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

Professor Matthew Charles Jones is a Head of the Department of International History at the London School of Economics. His research interests relate to Cold War history, US foreign relations, post-war South East Asia and the history of nuclear weapons. In 2008, he was appointed as an official historian by the Prime Minister.

Reviews

[Jonah Lo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably the best synthesis of Malaysia/Singapore/Indonesia/US and UK history in the early 1960s. Shows the interplay between the developments in the Vietnam War, Malaysia Project, Confrontation, the Guided Democracy power struggle, and the efforts of the oil barons in Indonesia.
Draws from UK/US archives well, some illuminating new findings, overall written well.

[teohjitkhiam · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a Malaysian, it is my opinion this book has illuminated much of the background to Konfrontasi that has not appeared in Malaysia's history books.

First off the bat, Malaysians may see some troubling, but perhaps not misplaced, nuance to Tunku's attitude towards the ethnic Chinese minority and Lee Kuan Yew's political ambitions. It is hard to say whether that aspect of Tunku's attitude with regards to the Chinese Malayans are shaped by his personal beliefs or merely reflecting the ultra-nationalist hardline faction's stance within Umno. As to Lee Kuan Yew, it seems his political ambitions were coupled with impatience, for it is hinted that if he had merely let events play itself out, it was possible Sabah & Sarawak would have lined up behind him.

In other respect, this book merely confirms my perception that Tunku did not take too kindly to Sukarno's condescending "Abang" i.e. Big Brother attitude. Sukarno himself, judging by this book, careened between the communists and nationalists, siding whichever side that served his short-term political worldview. But the British, unlike the Americans, correctly surmised that the greater danger lay with the nationalist elements keen upon expansionist designs in Southeast Asia.

All in all, since this book is written by an non-Southeast Asian, it can be fairly said the author has no axe to grind and thus can be considered fairly objective in transcribing the history behind Konfrontasi.

[Stefan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ein wirklich interessantes Buch, das leider etwas mühsam zum lesen ist und deswegen einiges an Überwindung kostet.