A little comment while reading Andrew Heywood's
Politics (4th edition).
Quote : 'For African and Asian nations,
the quest for political independence was inextricably linked to a
desire for social development and for an end to their subordination to
the industrialized states of Europe and the USA. The goal of national
liberation therefore had an economic as well as a political dimension.
This helps to explain why anti colonial movements typically looked not
to liberalism but to socialism.' ( Chapter 5, Nations and Nationalism, subtitle 'Anticolonial and
postcolonial nationalism', page 122)
Comment : The argument is flaw. For Malaysia and Singapore, as well as greater part of Southeast Asia, the anti colonial movements looked for socialism or marxism
because the communists from Russia and China, although disseminate their ideology
during the political campaign in Southeast Asia, were championing national liberation
together with the people. There was no liberal movement because
the liberals in Europe especially the colonial master country did not
help in that cause. British had been colonized Malaya from 1874 till
1957, whether conservative party or labour party in power, the political
elites in UK only uphold democracy and human rights in UK, they have no shame to continue colony policies to the benefit of their own country. In the
history of Malaya and Singapore, i have never heard any British liberals
come to Malaya to propagate liberation of the people, such as communist. 'Free world' is
only for British citizens but not those enslaved by them.
