Thayer Nationalism and the Asia Pacific

Thayer Nationalism and the Asia Pacific
Nationalism in Indonesia, 1900‐45

• Evolution of perspectives from local
– 1908: Budi Utomo (Glorious Endeavour)
– 1918: Minahasa Study Union and Ambonese Youth

• Regional perspective:
– 1911 Sarekat Islam (Islamic Union)
– 1917: League of Sumatran Youth

• National perspective:
– 1912: National Indies Party
– 1914: Indies Social Democratic Union
– 1921: Partai Komunis Indonesia (PKI)
– 1927: Union of Chinese of Indonesia
– 1929: Partai Nasional Indonesia (PNI)

• Youth Oath 1928
– One nation, one homeland, one language (Bahasa Indonesia)

• 1920s ‘Indonesia’ took on a political meaning, Netherlands Indies ‘renamed’ by locals who referred to themselves as Indonesians
– Graduates of Dutch language schools trained in Dutch and Malay, professionals and technicians
– 1928: Congress of Indonesian Women

• 1930s formation of federations of like‐minded political groups

Japanese Occupation, 1942‐45
• European rule overthrown
• Indonesians recruited into government,
bahasa promoted
• Sought support from nationalists and
Muslim leaders
• Established mass organisations
• Created Masyumi
• 1943 created auxiliary forces ‐ PETA

Independence August 17, 1945
• Panca Sila (Five Principles)
• Independence of Dutch territories
• 1945 Constitution
• Jakarta Charter dropped


Thayer Nationalism and the Asia Pacific