What is the Background to the First Indochinese War?
ACTIVITY: Background GeographyRead page 79 of text (Hoepper 1996 Inquiry 2) and answer the three questions on page 80.
Then, using Google Earth (or just the map below) compare modern day Vietnam with the map in your text (French colonial Indochina) and note the differences to political boundaries.
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ACTIVITY: Definitions
In your glossary add or revise the following terms: SELF-DETERMINATION; NATIONALISM; COMMUNISM
ACTIVITY: Background to French Imperialism in Indochina
ACTIVITY: Background Events
Watch the following two parts of the Discovery Channel documentary titled 'First Indo-China War' and respond to the questions collaboratively on the ShamblesPad beneath. Be sure to copy and paste afterwards and add to your notes!
Considering the theory of Social Darwinism and 'survival of the fittest', do you think that France (among other imperial powers) were justified by their colonisation of Indochina?
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ReplyDeleteThe french developed an ideology to supposedly "justify" their imperial domination, stating that it was their responsibility to colonize undeveloped regions. However this conflicts with Social Darwinism as introducing new political concepts and helping to develop "backwards" and "uncivilized" societies would in turn develop a threat of them overcoming and dominating the societies who tried to help them in the first place? Therefore I don't think they were justified in their colonization of Indochina!
ReplyDeleteYes, you make an excellent point. Over time the 'civilised' peoe would advance so much that the colonisers would have to grant them independence; you are living in this time now! Great thinking Amber, well done!niw the philosophy has altered of the major powers to that of controlling developing countries' economies (not the whole country geographically) and exploiting their resources this way - if you have time, Google 'Pilger 2001 The New Rulers of the World' and watch the film online. It's a really interesting look at the post-colonialist world in which we now live.
DeleteFrance and other imperial powers were not justified by their colonisation of Indochina because their chief excuse for colonisation was to 'civilise' the unfortunates, but their main aims was to exploit and use the resources that was available. The theories of Social Darwinism and "the survival of the fittest" were based on the preservation of the people that were more likely to live longer, both physically and in history. France was inevitably helping a race destroy itself because it was a general belief among those of European heritage that they were a superior race and therefore all others were uncivilised and in need of immediate help. Considering the theories of Social Darwinism and 'survival of the fittest' France was justified in colonising Indochina during the time, but in the present day France and other imperial powers were certainly not justified in colonising Indochina.
ReplyDeleteI particularly like the point you make about the justification being valid 'back then' but not now. You are right in a sense from a French perspective, but not from a Vietnamese perspective - otherwise they would not have pursued independence. However you do illustrate the temporal nature of history, i.e. what people think then may not apply now. Good job.
DeletePersonally, I think the utilisation of Social Darwinism as a justification for the colonisation and exploitation of a nation’s resources is not ethically justifiable as what is ‘natural’ is not automatically morally correct (by contemporary standards at least). However, as Sneha stated above, during the context of the time, the utilisation of Social Darwinism and ‘the white man’s burden’ as a justification for the French to colonise Indochina was seen as acceptable. Judging only from my limited readings on the topic, Vietnamese nationalists had opportunities to adjust to the global modernisation from the technology brought by the French, as pointed by Phan Chu Trinh, a Vietnamese scholar and mandarin; he believed that ‘Vietnamese people need to get rid of outmoded institutions and to modernise Vietnam’ (in Inquiry 2 p.80). As technological progression and world modernisation were inevitable, Vietnamese regression to out-dated Confucian ideals and traditional beliefs would be inapt in a modernised world. If the French did not colonise Indochina then, surely some other imperialist nation would take over, or maybe the lack of technology and modern ideals would cause for Indochina to collapse under military, economic and social downfalls. Thus, to some extent, French colonisation of Indochina for the reason of Social Darwinism was ‘just’.
ReplyDeleteYes, as I pointed out in the reply to Sneha, it's temporal. But it also has a lot to do with perspective, as you explain here. Well done! You also use evidence to support beautifully - keep up the good work Kat!
DeleteThe French imperialists claimed it was their duty to colonise underdeveloped regions in Africa and Asia and that without European intervention these places would remain uncivilised and impoverished. In another opinion, the mission was believed to be a sham and the real motive for French colonialism was profit and economic exploitation driven by the demand for resources, raw materials and cheap labour. The development of colonised nations was rarely taken into account unless it might benefit French interests. So yes I do think that France was justified by colonising Indochina but I am yet to take a stance on what justification.
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