Ideas of nation and Malayness in Malaya 1809-1942: A history of inclusion and exclusion

Abstract

This thesis looks at the constitution of ideas of a??nationa?? and a??Malaynessa?? by British, Malay and later, American authors. Nation and Malayness have typically been studied as inclusive and static. Yet, the authorsa?? use of the terms shows that changing exclusions were integral to the establishment of the termsa?? meanings. From 1809 to 1942, the terms were used strategically to further aims such as perpetuating colonialism, building a community and gaining independence. In the early twentieth century, ideas of nation and Malayness linked to the Malay Peninsula coincided in excluding particular groups of people from belonging to Malaya such as Chinese and Indians. When nation and Malayness were used in the 1930s and 40s to argue for independence, previous exclusions were incorporated into authorsa?? visions of an independent state. Both concepts were tools to exclude those who were seen as threatening or not belonging to a Malay nation in Malaya.