When the Europeans powers came to Southeast Asia, their main interest was for their own economic gain, to exploit the resources of the Southeast Asian colonies. However, the traditional administrative system at that time was unable to facilitate their motive. Therefore, they introduced changes to the traditional system so as to strengthen their control of their system. As these changes were there for the better, it was, in one way or another, the path towards modernization. However, the above assertion seem to mean that the colonial powers came to Southeast Asia with the main intention to modernize Southeast Asia, which is an unfair assessment of colonial rule. Rather, there were certain areas in Southeast Asia, which did not become a modern sate but rather remained as it was in the traditional past. Therefore, though colonial rule brought modernization to Southeast Asia, it would be too extreme to consider it as a true achievement.

We have to observe that colonial expansion had modernized Southeast Asia in several ways, leading to

Similarly, colonial expansion saw the improvements in the financial and commercial areas of Southeast Asia, which were important to the economic exploitation process of Southeast Asia. There was gradual restriction and then rapid termination of revenue farming, especially the lucrative opium farms. State now collect revenues directly and on its own account. In Siam, Chulalongkorn controlled expenditure, set up a proper accounting and auditing system, and revamped the Customs and Inland Revenue. He also employed a British financial adviser in 1896 and published the government’s first budget. This removed the privilege of revenue farming farm the Siamese nobilities. Also, commercially, there was the improvement in infrastructure which helped to facilitate trade and business in the region. In Java, the first state railway was connected from the rich sugar regions of east Java to the great port of Surabaya, which often allowed Java to tap its rich sugar supplies for its economic growth. Commercial and financial expansion allowed the economy of Southeast Asia to shift from being more domestic to become more international, and also facilitated the exploitation process of the European powers.

However, to say that the creation of Southeast Asia may seem as a true achievement may be too unfair to the Southeast Asians, as the Southeast Asians had also suffered under the colonial system. Also, there were certain areas in Southeast Asia which still remained as it was in the traditional era. The area of education and schools was largely undeveloped and still remained as similar as it was in Southeast Asia’s traditional past. Schools were not able to run efficiently due to the lack of funds, facilities and teachers. The French practically spent nothing on education, as there was no real need for educated Khmers in the administration and the economy. Much of the education was focused at the elementary level, as it was too costly. Thus did not prepare the colonial masses for the rapidly modernizing economy. Very few natives received a tertiary education. This hindered the development of a ruling class capable of governing Southeast Asia. Traditional ruling classes received the best education, which helped them to remain in power even after independence. For example, in Siam, Mongkut’s educational policies merely benef

Some topics in this essay:
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