American Response to Revolutionary Nationalism in Asia

In the aftermath of World War II revolutionary nationalism emerged as a powerful force in Asia. As a response to this, the American foreign policy evoked three main images that identified the United States with the power it had over other states. The first image was that of a firefighter. America was seen as firefighting machinery that moved forward to put out the military and political blazes. The United States after the Second World War was seen as the missionary who came to save the souls for democracy in Asia. The last type of image that America presented was that of an accountant.

As an accountant, America intervened in Asian countries to add up the balance sheets as well as warning the individuals who the economical policies considered to be unfair to the United States. The rise of nationalism in Asia was seen as the era of decolonization and a principle of self-determination. Particularly the issues that involved Japan and the World War II had exploded the myths of western supremacy and America was ready to rebuild the tattered perception. Asia had so much contact with the western culture and their allied technology which had almost taken up the societies in the Asian states.

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Some factors enabled the emergence of India to become a state and to make Asia be for Asians. Perhaps it can be identified that the society propaganda together with the British labor party played a pivotal role in the enabling revolutionary nationalism that became a powerful force in Asia. The revolutionary nationalism took three major phases development where the first phase took place as early as 1885 to 1905. During this period, the Indian National Congress was mainly dominated by the moderates. During the first phase, the Indians who were taught in English had strong beliefs that the British would lead the country into self-governance.

The second phase ensured after the first phase and lasted for thirteen years from 1906 to 1919. Here, the extremists emerged shaking the faith of the Indians in Great Britain. The key architect for this swindle was the Rouwlatt Bill, the repressive methods that were adopted by the British government and the Bagh massacre which led to the death of several people as the British troops closed the only fire exit without giving any warning. The third phase was mainly characterized by the Indian father, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi from 1920-1947.

Gandhi offered to bring India out of suffering and ensured that India attained its independence. The third phase experienced a lot of transformation in the entire Asian continent when activists rose up to fight for their rights to be free. The success of Gandhi was mainly due to his six main principles which he followed during his mission and in his entire life. The truth, vegetarianism, non-violence, faith, simplicity and brahmacharya were the main principals that Gandhi lived by in his life and became a father and a man to emulate in the entire Asia.

The phase marked the end of the struggles of nationalism and after the World War II, India attained independence in 1947. The purpose of America in fulfilling its roles was perceived to be invariably successful although they were played in a simultaneous manner. The United States emerged as an imperial power during the World War I and after the postwar period, the America came in posing as a missionary, accountant and more of a firefighter. The main instrument after the World War II was Bill Knowland who was one of the ten most influential members of the Congress.

William F. Knowland was named as a man who hardened the United States policy towards the Asian communism. He was also recognized as a man whose convictions spoilt his mission as a leader. As it was expected, in the aftermath of the second world war, almost the entire Asia was very fragile with a number of pressures which helped move towards the order of authoritarian as that to provide the rapid economic growth directed by the state and stability. The United States provided an authoritarian order which came in the form of one party system of authoritarian.

Another form of machinery was communism which was seen to be very dynamic. The mass mobilization using communism capacity combined with the skilful application of the visionary promises and the military powers resulted to a major challenge to the individuals who wished to preserve and create an open system. The American goal was in Asian continent was to set up security structure in China which could not halt any further communism expansion. The communism expansion was characterized by the rising Chinese and Soviet powers.

In this effort, a major disagreement resulted whether the United States commitments should be limited to the island chain away from the extensive continent of Asia or the commitments should also involve the individual needing some assistance. At a very great cost, the United States se up a strategic balance in the Asia pacific that centered upon the bilateral ties with the ROK and Japan. The bilateral ties were also established with the Philippines as well as Thailand.

This balance was greatly assisted by the split between the Soviet Union and the People’s Republic of China. This led to a critically important liaison between the PRC and the US. The plan was also supported by the increasing economic growth of the market economies of the East Asia where Japan served as a guide and a forerunner. It may not be said that the United States succeeded in its response towards the powerful force in Asia brought by the revolutionary nationalism.

As it can be seen of today, the Asian societies are facing great economic hurdles and the Americas effort to act as a missionary and accountant have not been seen to be successful. There are problems related to excessive exuberance and insufficiency in regulatory measures together with the unhealthy ties between the government and the corporate sector. These problems have been outshined by the new and complex problem of globalization. It is expected that majority of Asian states will start the recovery process shortly with the hope of a more improved economic sector.

There is one strong lesson which can be learned from the intervention of the United States into the revolutionary nationalism in Asia. The economic strategies, however successful they may look like, cannot be exhaustive and entirely good for all times. This typical scenario can be seen in Japan. At the same time, it should be recognized that the changes that are required in states go beyond the economic circles and touch deeply into the cultural spheres. Bibliography Chen Jan. 1997.

The Myth of America’s Lost Chance in China: A Chine Perspective in Light of New Evidence. Diplomatic History, Vol21: 77-86 Hershberg James. 1996. The Cold War in Asia. London: DIANE Publishing Jian Chen. 2001. Mao’s China and the Cold War. University of North Carolina Press. Newman, Robert. 1961. Recognition of Communist China? A Study in Argument. New York: Macmillan Offner, Arnold. 2002. Another Such Victory: President Truman and the Cold War; 1945-1953. Stanford University Press

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