Analysis of the Outbreak and Dynamics of “revolutions” for Independence in Vietnam and Indonesia

Analysis of the outbreak and dynamics of “revolutions” for independence in Vietnam and Indonesia

 “Revolutions” or armed struggles for independence are used to describe the cases in which foreign colonial regimes are overthrown and transformed by popular movements in an armed manner. “Revolutions” or armed struggles for independence are attributed to foreign colonization, the struggle of local people and the spread of ideology about national independence. The dynamic of revolutions for independence is the excitation of contradictory between colonists and local people. This essay will analyze the factors contributed to outbreak and dynamics of revolutions for independence with the cases of Vietnam and Indonesia. In the case of Vietnam, this essay discovers that brutal colonial rule and Vietnamese militants’ armed and political movements triggered the outbreak of Vietnamese revolution for independence. In the case of Indonesia, this essay finds that Japan’s surrender, the vacuum of Indonesian regime and social reforms contributed to revolutions’ for independence in Indonesia.

Analysis of factors contributed to revolution for independence in Vietnam

In 1858, French naval vessels shelled Da Nang in Vietnam, which symbolized the beginning of the French colonial Vietnam. Since that time, France has invaded Vietnam and plundered its large amount of resources, including marine mineral, fishery resource and seawater resource. Having dominated Da Nang and surrounding areas, France actually controlled central coastal area of Vietnam in 1858. Sutherland (2005, pp.153-166) reveals that since 1858, France has commenced its colonial rule in Vietnam. French colonization violated sovereignty of Vietnam and damaged to Vietnam’s national interest. French colonization has transformed Vietnam from sovereignty to a colonial country without complete territory. In 1884, France occupied the overall territory of Vietnam and forced Vietnam to obey its brutal rule (Burlette, 2007, pp. 1-91). Burlette (2007, pp. 1-91) claims that France drew Vietnam to its eastern colonial domain and attempted to rule it completely. Burlette (2007) explains that surely, the purpose of French colonization of Vietnam was to expand its imperial rule and plunder materials for its capitalist development from Vietnam. French’s complete colonization of Vietnam caused Vietnamese to lose their national autonomy and be persecuted brutally by French colonists.

To fully implement its colonial domination in Vietnam, Kampuchea and Laos, France established French Indochina. French Indochina was composed of 4 ‘protectorates’, Tonkin, Annam, Laos and Cambodia and a directly ruled region, Cochichine. Tonkin ruled the northern part of Vietnam, which factually controlled the resources and population of northern Vietnam (Smitha, 2015). To achieve their established purpose, French Indochina implemented brutal rule and exploited local resources largely. French Indochina’s brutal rule and intemperate exploitation acted as great oppression and exploitation of local people. Smitha (2015) states that under the rule of French Indochina, Vietnamese have suffered from brutal slaughter, forcing political control and deprivation of rights. It is reported that French Indochina killed about 260 thousand Vietnamese in 1908 (Smitha, 2015). Being ruled by Cochinchine, Southern Vietnam was under control and military sanction of French colonists (Kyoichi, 2001, pp.100). Burlette (2004, pp. 1-91) points out that Cochinchine controlled the economy of Southern Vietnam. Additionally, Cochinchine aggravated exploitation on Vietnamese, such as increasing tax on Vietnamese and confiscate personal property. As criticized by Sutherland (2005), massive slaughter, colonial rule and economic deprivation from French colonists constructed oppression on Vietnamese. Oppression made Vietnamese lose their national sovereignty and personal rights to live and develop. It is not until Vietnamese revolt French colonists that can overthrow oppression and achieve national revolution. Therefore, colonist oppression is the radical cause of revolution for national independence. If foreign colonists do not invade Vietnam, Vietnam’ territory would not be occupied, the resources would not be plundered and Vietnamese would not be oppressed. Because of France’s colonist oppression, Vietnamese had to achieve their national independence and protect national interests.

Local people, especially for activists’ struggle also contributed to revolutions for independence in Vietnam. Chinh (2013, pp. 1-215) claims that in spite of the necessity of colonial oppression in the outbreak of revolution for independence, local people’s struggle acts as indispensable part in motivating revolution for independence. If a nation cannot be aware of the dangers of foreign invasion and realize the importance of national independence, any revolutions for independence cannot be broken out. However, Vietnamese rebelled against French rule constantly. In 1936, Vietnamese activists established the Vietnamese independence league in Nanjing. The Vietnamese activists attempted to overthrow France’s colonial rule and restore the independence of Vietnam. The Vietnamese activists deemed that if they do not overthrow colonial rule, Vietnam would be under the rule of France and lose sovereignty. Reformism can only eliminate temporary surfacing conflicts but cannot assist Vietnam to restore true independence. In 1945, having received Marxism, Ho Chi Minh returned to Vietnam and initiated liberation movement. Ho Chi Minh’s revolution inspired the Vietnamese to resist French colonists and overthrew France’s domination in Vietnam. Kyoichi (2001, pp. 93-115) discusses that although some armed struggles for independences have been held before Ho Chi Minh, the revolution for independence did not happen until Ho Chi Minh established revolutionary group. Being affected by Marxism and caused by contradiction between local people and colonists, revolution for the independence of Vietnam was broken out.  

Analysis of factors contributed to revolution for independence in Indonesia

Factors contributed to the breakout of revolution for Indonesia are different from that of Vietnam. Since 1930s, Indonesia has been the colony of Japan. Japan built military bases, obtained military supplies and implemented political control in Indonesia. Indonesia lost its diplomatic sovereignty and right of domestic affairs. In 1945, Japan was defeated in World War II and ceded its rule in Indonesia. Chinh (2013, pp. 1-215) reveals that in 1945, there was a power vacuum in Indonesia. Various local political factions did not recognize that they were belonged to the unified regime. Indonesia did not have national army and unified diplomatic representative. Power vacuum demanded Indonesia to overthrow remnants of colonial power and merger scattered local powers. Power vacuum caused several social revolutions in Indonesia, like three regions, Karawang and Banten, Baso and Aceh. These social revolutions attempted to end power vacuum of Indonesia and establish a unified regime. Therefore, power vacuum after Japan’s surrender is one of the dynamics of revolution for dependence of Indonesia.