NATIONALISM IN ASIA

Y. SRIRAMAMURTY, M.A., M.A. (Hons)

The Japanese victory over Russia in 1905 is an important landmark in Asian history. Japan, smaller than her adversary both in area and population, administered a decisive blow to a mighty Western power which until then had conquered more Asian territory than any other “white EMpire” and threatened to control Mangolia, Manchuria, Northern China and all of Korea. This was largely due to the modernisation of Japan based on Western methods and techniques beginning with the Meiji restoration. The Japanese victory gave an impetus to the rise of nationalism in various Asian countries. It proved that an Asian country, with necessary training and equipment would be able to face and withstand a strong and aggressive Western power.

This is not to say that the rise of nationalism in Asia was entirely due to the Japanese victory over the Russians. Japan paved the way for the resurgence of Asia by providing an example. But nationalism came to Asia after altering the structure of governments in various Western countries. England took the lead in establishing and following a democratic constitutional government and influenced the growth of constitutional liberty in European countries. Later she tried to create gradually necessary conditions for self-government in her dependent territories in the world over. It is true that England as the ruling power tried to exploit the Asian countries economically. But one admirable thing she did in the direction of self-government for the Asians. With a long tradition in democratic government, she educated the people and prepared the ground for democratic institutions in the dependent territories over which she ruled. She granted partial independence in 1922 and complete independence in 1936 to Egypt. She had declared Iraq independent in 1932. The United States, as the greatest champion of democracy in the twentieth century, promised in 1934 to give complete independence to Philippines after a transitional period of twelve years. In the case of India, Burma and Ceylon, Britain dodged for sometime, but after the Second World War, liberated those countries also. The formation of Malayasia recently is another step the British took in fulfilling their promise to liberate their dependent territories.

The rise of Asian nationalism was largely the result of organised efforts of Western educated leaders in the Asiatic countries. Sun Yat-sen and Chiang Kai-shek in China, Mustafa Kemal Pasha in Turkey, Gandhi and Nehru in India, Tengku Abdul Rahman in Malayasia–all these leaders received their training in Western educational institutions and after returning back to their country, they preached to their countrymen the necessity of fighting for the democratic institutions which they saw in operation in the West. A great English educationist Macaulay predicted the possibility of Asians craving for Western institutions if they received instruction in European learning. His predeliction of 1835 came true in the twentieth century.

The rise and growth of nationalism in various parts of Asia proceeded on different lines depending on the political and economic conditions. Nationalism in Asia became a significant social force where the nation faced competition, rivalry or danger from other nations. In a country like Japan, nationalism developed under conditions of unusual economic growth over a long period of time. Consequently, nationalism in such countries did not become an aggressive and militant force; it helped the development and progress of the country on sound lines. But in other countries where there was foreign danger and no economic growth, nationalism played a destructive role in trying to free the country from foreign domination. In countries of the later type, the nationalist leaders had common agreement in getting rid of the foreign power and not in organising a sound government in its place. Consequently, in some of the Asiatic countries the success of the nationalit movement resulted in bloodshed when people with conflicting interests failed to accommodate themselves after achieving their common goal of independence.

Several factors were responsible for the development of national consciousness in Asian countries; popular education, popular press, conscription armies, industrial revolution, and foreign danger. In addition to these, geographical separateness that a nation enjoys, religion and common national language, also helped considerably in strengthening the bounds of nationalism. Islam influenced profoundly the rise and growth of nationalist movements in the Arab countries. In Pakistan, Islam is the State religion and allegiance to a single State supported religion works as a powerful factor in strengthening nationalism. Similarly in Japan Shintoism, until very recently, was an active force in unifying the Japanese people on sound lines of nationalist sentiment.

Development of strong nationalism becomes easier if the people in a country are homogeneous and have a single national language. The Japanese are one of the most racially homogeneous people in the world and have a common national language. In Indonesia there was no common national language when they attained independence, but within fifteen years they succeeded in developing Basha Indonesia as a national language. The new national language is today one of the strongest bonds of unity among the Indonesians.

The Asian nationalist leaders adopted different methods in different countries to achieve their nationalist aspirations. The Islamic people generally resorted to force to drive the alien power out of their country and to obtain independence. The Turks fought with a crusading zeal to win their freedom. The only striking example where people did not resort to force in gaining their independence is India. In this country the nationalist movement followed a policy of non-violence under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi. Gandhi successfully conducted the Indian masses in the path of non-violence. Consequently India attained independence with the least amount of bloodshed. This non-violent approach to politics gave great moral strength to the cause of Indian national movement. The comparative ease with which Indian democracy is able to work for the last twenty years and more is largely due to the peaceful methods the country adopted in winning independence.

The success of nationalist movements in Asiatic countries brought stability and prosperity where foundations for liberal democracy and modern nationhood existed. But in some cases the unifying forces of the old order were hastily destroyed without adequate planning for a substitute. In such cases, the country fell into political chaos. For example, in China Sun Yat-sen formulated the San Min Chu I, the Three Principles of the People and hoped to build up a strong Chinese nation. But Yuan Shikai, on coming to power, gave up the constructive programme of Sun Yat-sen. He actually planned to crown himself emperor. Though his coronation did not occur, the forces of nationalism which Sun Yat-sen sought to unify, lost their strength. Chiang Kai-shek was more of a visionary than a constructive statesman. His policies, coupled with Japanese aggression, paved the way for the rise of, Communist nationalism in China.

The strength of Asian nationalism lies in the reawakening of the people who came to realise that the future of this great continent depends on their own individual effort. Most of the people are conscious that national integration and economic development are the most immediate needs of resurgent Asia. The leaders of the nationalist movements in various Asiatic countries are men of broad international outlook who envisage the good and prosperity of their country in terms of a world community.

A strong sense of nationalism among the people is always conducive to the development and progress of any country. But an extravagant pride in one’s nationalism and too much national consciousness may sometimes lead to very dangerous consequences. This is what happened in the case of the Japanese in the twentieth century. They carefully analysed the factors which made the Western countries so powerful and great. Starting in 1868 they launched a programme of westernisation which by the beginning of the twentieth century made them the most powerful nation in Asia. Their victories in the Sino-Japanese War and the Russo-Japanese war encouraged them to entertain imperialist ambitions. They got control over Korea and erected the puppet Republic of Manchukuo. The climax of Japan’s vain nationalist ambition was their attack on Pearl Harbour. Having won against Russia and China, they thought they would be able to win a similar victory against U.S.A. General Tojo and his party in 1940 represented the militant and dangerous Japanese nationalism. The fate which befell Japan during the Second World War should serve as an example to all the new nation states of Asia.

The most important danger which Asian nationalism is facing today is the rivalry and disagreement among the leaders regarding a sound policy of reconstruction and development. The unity which existed among them during the nationalist struggle disappeared with the attainment of independence. As a result, the country is hard hit internally. Moreover, nationalist leaders belonging to one country sometimes try to thwart the ambitions of a fellow Asian country in realising its nationhood. President Sukarno’s meddling with the formation of Malayasia can be cited as an example of how a leader of one nationalist country could prevent, at least temporarily, another country from realising its nationalist aspirations. Asian nationalism is also in grave peril where, in place of parliamentary democracy, “guided democracy” and “direct democracy” are in operation.

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