South and Southeast Asia [individual assignment]
South Asia
In 1947, India and Pakistan together separated from the Britain Empire. By this time the region was in deep conflicts between Muslims and Hindus. Territorial disputes between India and Pakistan costed at least million lives in 1947. Gandhi was assassinated in 1948 — ironically, by a Hindu extremist who opposed his rhetoric of toleration between the two faiths. Further history of India and Pakistan was overshadowed with border wars over the Kashmir frontier zone and nuclear arm race. Unlike India Pakistan developed authoritarian regime and during the Cold War pursued alliance with the United States.
Southeast Asia
The decolonization processes continued after the end of World War II. In 1946, Philippines received independency from the U.S, according to its promise during the war.
In the 1940s, the Dutch were expelled from Indonesia by an army led Sukarno. The region consists of 18,000 islands with high ethnic and linguistic diversity what made it harder to control. Gradually Sukarno created repressive authoritarian regime inclining to Communism and the USSR. In 1967, Muslims revolted (half a million were killed) and forced him to resign. From 1967 to 1998, Indonesia was ruled by Dictator Suharto, who promoted alliance with the U.S and abused human rights.
From 1945 to 1954, Indochina (Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia) led national liberation war against France backed by the U.S. The liberators were led by the Vietnamese communist Ho Chi Minh. In 1953, Laos and Cambodia went free, while Vietnam appeared divided into a northern communist zone and a southern non-communist zone. The war reassumed in 1959 and, from 1964 to 1973, involved forces of U.S. fighting against Communists backed by the USSR. Finally, by 1975, Vietnam had been united under the Communist rule.
From 1976 to 1979, Cambodia was ruled by dictator Pol Pot, leader of Khmer Rouge (Cambodia national-Communists). His programme on ruralization of country by way of forced resettlement of urban dwellers resulted in numerous deaths of 1 to 3 million people.
In 1967, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and the Philippines founded the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to boost economic and security cooperation. It has since taken in other members, including Vietnam.
Questions for experts
1. What were the most significant events in the regions? Why have you chosen them?
2. What factors influenced on the development of the given regions?
3. What is common and different between the regions and other regions and countries considered in this topic? (Before answering read about other region in the topic 12-2).