The Political Economy of Human Development: Colonial Asia, 1900–2000

Tomlinson, Tom

Abstract

How did Asian states and peoples try to achieve better lives across the twentieth century, and how far did they succeed? Modern discussions of development concentrate on the importance of enhancing personal capabilities and human development, rather than on simple economic growth. The comparative history of colonial Asian countries, both before and after political independence, shows the range of economic, political, social, and environmental conditions necessary for such improvements. Increases in life expectancy across the range of countries are a useful metric to compare public health and the supply of basic needs. Countering endemic disease – especially malaria – has played an important part here. One key to success in the fight against malaria has been the ability of states, local authorities, and communities to provide support-based security to those who require it. Some colonial Asian countries have been better at this than others and have prospered accordingly.

Citation

Tomlinson, T. (2023). The Political Economy of Human Development: Colonial Asia, 1900–2000. Asian Review of World Histories, 11(2), 165-179. https://doi.org/10.1163/22879811-12340126

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Jul 27, 2023
• Deposit Date: Aug 14, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: Aug 14, 2023
• Journal: Asian Review of World Histories
• Print ISSN: 2287-965X
• Electronic ISSN: 2287-9811
• Publisher: Brill Academic Publishers
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 11
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 165-179
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1163/22879811-12340126
• Keywords: human development; support-based security; life expectancy; malaria; colonial Asia
• Publisher URL: https://brill.com/view/journals/arwh/11/2/article-p165_2.xml