This volume provides a lucid, concise analysis of the development of British policy in Southeast Asia in the twenty years following the defeat of Japan. The principal themes concern nationalism and communism and how Britain worked to achieve accommodation with nationalism while containing communist challenges.

'Based on extensive research in the archives, this book presents a comprehensive and straightforward account of post-war British policy in South East Asia that will be of much value to scholars.' - Matthew Jones, University of Nottingham, UK

'Dr. Lowe has comprehensively achieved what he set out to do. [...] He has presented discussions between officials and ministers, with meticulous respect for the sources and he has illuminated them with a running commentary which becomes a persuasive overarching thesis.' - A. J. Stockwell, Asian Affairs

'...this book provides new international perspectives on the origins of South East Asia and on the evolution of international politics towards the region.' - Journal of Contemporary History

Autorentext
PETER LOWE is Author of six books and editor or co-editor of an additional three books. A member of staff at the University of Manchester, UK from 1965-2004, most recently as Reader in History and then Honorary Senior Research Fellow, he is also a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society.

Inhalt
List of Maps Acknowledgements List of Abbreviations Introduction The Return of Colonialism, 1945-48 The Communist Challenges in Malaya and Indochina Two Approaches to Containing Communism: The Colombo Plan and SEATO, 1950-65 Democracy, Communism and Militarism in Burma, 1948-65 Ambivalence and Commitment: Vietnam, 1955-65 Britain, Cambodia and Laos, 1955-65 Britain, Thailand and the Philippines, 1945-65 Britain, Indonesia and the Creation of Malaysia, 1959-65 Conclusion Appendix: List of British Officials Endnotes Select Bibliography Index