Sei sulla pagina 1di 37

Pre-Colonial Influences i P C l i l I fl in t e s a ac c eg o the Asia-Pacific Region

Emeritus Professor Carl Thayer Presentation to Centre for Defence and Strategic Studies March 5 2012 5,

1. Background
Geography, climate, water, domestication of crops and animals, surplus production, sedentary d ti d t societies, writing, political systems (kings, bureaucrats, military, corvee labour, craftsmen) technology bronze/iron, trade b /i d navigation, commerce epidemics

Expansion of Modern Humans from 100,000 years ago f 100 000

PrePre-Colonial Civilisations

Indus Valley 33001300 BCE

Yellow River 1700 1046 1700-1046 BC

Pre-colonial Asia: States and Securityyy

The Silk Road

2. Pre-Colonial States in India PreUnified sub-continent Ashoka first universal emperor Budhism peaked Kautilya, Arthashastra Bramin advisers Land revenue Mandala Border with Greece

Mauyra Dynasty 321 BCE 183 CE

The Spread of Buddhism 6th C


First area of Buddhist missionary activity i i ti it Rise of Mahayana y Buddhism

Gupta Dynasty (250-550 CE) (250The Golden Age of India Dynasty based on Hinduism Tolerance towards T l t d Buddhism SubSub-continental focus

Moghul Empire
15261526-1858 CE Northern India subjected to repeated invasions by Persians, Greeks, Greeks Arabs and Central Asians Islam and Hinduism cocoexisted

Indianization of Southeast Asia

Chola Dynasty 9th-13th Century CE 9th-

Khmer Empire 9th-15h Century

Angkor Wat complex

Indianization of Southeast Asia

Prambanan Temple, Java 850 CE

Srivijaya Empire 10th-11th Century

Majapahit Empire 1293-1527 1293-

3 Formation of Imperial China 3.

Ming & Ching Dynasties

The Chinese Tribute System

Chinese Imperial System


World viewed as a single unit China was the Middle Kingdom Ki d Emperor had authority over all people under heaven Conquest t oug Co quest through culture and virtue No inter-government inter-g relations per se No role for international l i i l law or cooperation Force used to:
Secure recognition Chastise a state that had strayed from proper rules of conduct

Chinese System The Ideal


Inequality of nations a fundamental feature Insistence on I i t hierarchy in relations T ib t l ti Tributary relations based on personal obligations China recognized as superior Strong dynasties were expansive China did not interfere in internal affairs Compliant behavior rewarded Rogue states R t t chastised or punished

Chinese System The Reality y y


Principle of righteous righteous war China unified by y war War and organizing g g for war mainstays of government Two strategic cultures Idealized Operational Korea and Vietnam subjected to periodic invasion Korea seen as a model tributary state Vietnam seen as a noncompliant and rebellious b lli

Sinification

Admiral Cheng Ho, 1405-33 1405-

Indian and Chinese Systems


NonNon-universal ruler Hereditary nonnoncentralized administration Aggressive interstate behavior, need to prove superiority through manifestation of superior power Universal Emperor NonNon-hereditary centralized administration Relatively benign, y g , superiority manifest in cultural terms, superiority not i i amenable to proof by force of arms

Indian and Chinese Systems


Vague definition of borders Distribution of international political p power in form of concentric circles; enemies and friends alternate, alternate closest neighbor primary enemy Clear notion of own borders but not of barbarian kingdoms Concentric circles representing p g decreasing cultural influence, hostility greatest from center center, neighbors like younger brothers

4. 4 The Spread of Islam

5. The Age of Commerce 14501450-1680

Two Trade Networks Combined

Iberian Trade Routes

Islam and the West


Direct contact with Mecca and Ottoman Caliphate Portugal attacked and seized Malacca Sultanate 1511 Span fought the Moors in the Philippines Christian-Muslim conflict discourse of jihad
Collision of Christianity and Islam set off violent confrontation Portugal attacked and destroyed Muslim trade in Indian Ocean f M li t d i I di O from late 15th Century

Aid received from Ottoman Empire Indonesian volunteers fought in India

PrePre-colonial Forces as Fundamental Drivers in the Contemporary Period


Hinduism h t k a nationalist political has taken Hi d i ti li t liti l form
Bharatiya J Bh ti Janata Party in India t P t i I di Malaysia in 2007-08 2007-

B ddhi l t t domestic ti Buddhism plays an i important d political role in Thailand, Cambodia, Tibet and Sri Lanka
Opposition to government Vietnam, Myanmar Regime legitimization in Laos

PrePre-colonial Forces as Fundamental Drivers in the Contemporary Period


Islam - political role I l liti l l
Pakistan/Malaysia/Brunei Domestic politics in Indonesia & Malaysia
Introduction of sharia law/re-establishment of law/reCaliphate

EthnoEthno-nationalist conflicts in Kashmir, southern Philippines southern Thailand Philippines, Thailand, Xinjiang (China)

Islam connects Southeast Asia to Middle East

PrePre-colonial Forces as Fundamental Drivers in the Contemporary Period


Confucianism
China, Vietnam and South Korea Role in Asian values debate Hu Jin-tao harmony and harmonious world Jin-

Chinas economic and political influence in Sout east s a Southeast Asia


Ming Dynasty stimulated production for China market Revival of tribute system

PrePre-colonial Forces as Fundamental Drivers in the Contemporary Period


Territorial di T it i l disputes t
East and South China Sea Cambodia d Preah Vihear T C b di and P h Vih Temple di l dispute

Piracy
International trade passes through strategic straits and choke points of Southeast Asia

Global trade and identity politics remain potent drivers of change China and India re-emerge re-

Impact of Colonialism
Direct and Indirect colonial rule Territory rigidly demarcated Centralized administration & law & order
Taxation, covee labour

Alien immigrants Economic development Transport systems developed Media developed Population growth/urbanization

PrePre-Colonial Influences in the Asia Pacific

Emeritus Professor Carl Thayer c.thayer@adfa.edu.au

Potrebbero piacerti anche