Nekolim

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Nekolim is a neologism and concept introduced by Indonesian President Sukarno used to describe "the enforced conditions of imperial control without formal rule." [1] It derives from the combination of the terms neocolonialism, colonialism and imperialism (in Indonesian, spelled NEokolonialisme-KOLonialisme-IMperialisme). [2] [3] [4] This term was used by Sukarno in his speech at the 1960 Bandung Conference after Indonesia was liberated from Japanese occupation following World War II to describe imperial interests of Western powers, including the Netherlands and the United States. [1] [5]

Qualities that distinguish nekolim from related concepts involve the intentional restructuring of a country in order to make it dependent upon a foreign power, often economically and culturally. Once this is achieved, force is not needed because independence becomes infeasible for the dominated country. [6] Likewise, nekolim leads to the establishment of puppet governments in exploited regions to remove the need for traditional military control of a country. [1] Sukarno's criticisms made of US involvement in Indonesia which he deemed to be "nekolim practices" are largely entailed by the modern understanding of the concept of neocolonialism. [7] [1]

Nekolim in Indonesia

During Sukarno's administration, there were several instances of nekolim being imposed by the US on Indonesia, such as nekolim through economic aid which caused Indonesia's national economy to become dependent on the US, and through cultural and scientific cooperation that prevented the development of national culture and knowledge. In response to these practices, Sukarno took firm action to oppose nekolim by promoting the Berdikari (meaning standing on one's own feet) Movement and advocating for the principle of national personality. [8]

A CIA-backed coup against the Sukarno administration resulted in the Indonesian anticommunist mass killings of 1965-66. These killings have often been described as a genocide [9] [10] and caused an estimated 500,000 to over 1,000,000 deaths. [11] [12] [13] [14] It has been referred to as the "biggest US-backed genocide" as a result of US support. [15] After Sukarno's administration was overthrown, it was replaced by that of the pro-American President Suharto. [1]

During Suharto's administration, nekolim practices re-emerged. Citing Indonesia's economic downturn at the time, Suharto agreed to accept loans from the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. This led to bilateral political agreements for the United States and Europe to control Indonesia's natural resources through the establishment of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (renamed the World Trade Organization). [16] Another form of nekolim that emerged in Indonesia is the large amount of foreign capital entering the country in the form of foreign companies or domestic companies that have been privatized. The emergence of these companies taught the Indonesian people the "perspective" that parties with large capital will push out those with smaller capital. [16]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Bevins, Vincent (2020). The Jakarta Method: Washington's Anticommunist Crusade and the Mass Murder Program that Shaped Our World. PublicAffairs. p. 47. ISBN   978-1-5417-2400-6.
  2. ↑ Wardaya, Baskara T.; Adam, Asvi W.; Aditjondro, George J.; Setiawan, Hersri; Gusmian, Islah; Abdullah, Mudhorif (2007). Sick of the Mystery of Soeharto's Power. Yogyakarta: Galang Press. ISBN   978-979-23-9981-3.
  3. ↑ Said, Umar. "Peranan Nekolim dalam Tragedi Nasional 1965". Umar Said (in Indonesian). Archived from the original on 2023-06-21. Retrieved 2024-09-02.
  4. ↑ Setiawan, Hersri (2003). Gusmian, Islah (ed.). GOESTOK Dictionary. Yogyakarta: Galang Press. ISBN   979-9341-81-7.
  5. ↑ "Sukarno". Encyclopædia Britannica. Archived from the original on 2024-07-17. Retrieved 2024-09-02.
  6. ↑ Abdullah, Gamil (2010-06-27). "Mewaspadai Nekolim (Neo Kolonialisme)". Gamil Opinion. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
  7. ↑ "Mengenal Neo-Kolonialisme". Berdikari Online. 7 October 2012. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
  8. ↑ Setiawan, Hersri; Gusmian, Islah, ed. (2003). Kamus GOESTOK. Yogyakarta: Galang Press. ISBN 979-9341-81-7.
  9. ↑ Cribb, Robert (2004). "Case Study 4: The Indonesian Genocide of 1965-1966". In Totten, Samuel (ed.). Teaching about Genocide: Approaches, and Resources. Information Age Publishing. pp. 133–143. ISBN   1-59311-074-X.
  10. ↑ Melvin, Jess (2017). "Mechanics of Mass Murder: A Case for Understanding the Indonesian Killings as Genocide". Journal of Genocide Research . 19 (4): 487–511. doi: 10.1080/14623528.2017.1393942 .
  11. ↑ Robinson, Geoffrey B. (2018). The Killing Season: A History of the Indonesian Massacres, 1965–66. Princeton University Press. ISBN   978-1-4008-8886-3. Archived from the original on 2019-04-19. Retrieved 2024-09-02.
  12. ↑ Melvin, Jess (2018). The Army and the Indonesian Genocide: Mechanics of Mass Murder. Routledge. p. 1. ISBN   978-1-138-57469-4. Archived from the original on 2019-06-08. Retrieved 2024-09-02.
  13. ↑ Mark Aarons (2007). "Justice Betrayed: Post-1945 Responses to Genocide." In David A. Blumenthal and Timothy L. H. McCormack (eds). The Legacy of Nuremberg: Civilising Influence or Institutionalised Vengeance? (International Humanitarian Law). Archived 5 January 2016 at the Wayback Machine Martinus Nijhoff Publishers. ISBN   9004156917 p.  80.
  14. ↑ The Memory of Savage Anticommunist Killings Still Haunts Indonesia, 50 Years On Archived 2017-03-01 at the Wayback Machine , Time
  15. ↑ Michaels, Samantha. "It's Been 50 Years Since the Biggest US-Backed Genocide You've Never Heard Of". Mother Jones. Archived from the original on 2017-07-22. Retrieved 2024-04-12.
  16. 1 2 Anonym (2015, July 3). Neocolonialism and Imperialism (Nekolim). Blogspot. Accessed January 3, 2016, from .
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