Activity 1 - Which events should we revise?

  1. Mind-Map - Create a concept-map using Padlet, Mindmup or any other similar mind-mapping tool (or create a sketchnote by hand!). In the middle write ‘The Malayan Emergency 1948-60’.
  2. Summarise - Now fill in your mind-map with key historical information and facts about the main events of the unit. Review your notes and summarise using the following headings and events:
    1. Causes - British colonialism, Malay nationalism and ethnic tensions, Japanese Invasion, MPAJA, Malaya Union Protests, UNMO, Federation of Malaya, postwar economic problems, general labour unions, banning of trade unions, Sungai Siput Incident, MNLA, South East Asia Youth Conference
    2. Course - Phase 1 (1948-50), MNLA hit-and-run attacks on economic targets, Min Yuen, ambushes, use of terror and violence, assassination of Henry Guerney, Emergency Regulations; Phase 2 (1950-52), Briggs Plan, New Villages, Operation Starvation, Special Branch, War Council; Phase 3 (1952-54), Templer Plan, Independence promised, political talks with elites, citizenship for minorities, hearts and minds campaign, search and destroy missions, use of airpower, deep jungle; Phase 4 (1955-60) general election, Baling talks, independence, Hor Lung, MLA into Thailand.
    3. Resolution - Orthodox perspective: hearts and minds focus, Richard Stubbs, Templer Plan, political concessions, civil rights, amenities, psychology warfare; Revisionist perspective: Karl Hack, Briggs Plan, population control, food denial, MCP October Resolutions.
    4. Legacy - On Malaya: Independence, unity government with Malay majority, Tunku Abdul Rahman, Alliance Party, authoritarian laws, social tensions, race riots 1964/69, Greater Malaya, Brunei Uprising, Sarawak Insurgency, Konfrontasi with Indonesia, federation of Malaysia, expulsion of Singapore, Second Emergency, Economic growth; On Britain/Commonwealth: preservation of British interests, Commonwealth military forces until 1966, denial of war crimes, Batang Kali; On Region: seperatist struggle in Thailand, military coup against PKI in Indonesia, Marcos in Philippines, creation of ASEAN, extension of SEATO: On Cold War: US support for Malaysia, containment, SEATO, Non-Aligned Movement.
  3. Revise - Use your mind maps to help you revise the historical content for your upcoming assessment and final exams. Make sure you store a copy with your other revision materials.

Activity 2 - What was our inquiry?

  1. Recall -  Examine the statement of inquiry for this unit again and consider how it applies to what you’ve studied:
    1. The success of counterinsurgency depends not just on the significance of its military strategy but also on winning cooperation with civil society
  2. Analyse - With a partner, discuss how this statement of inquiry could be applied to the Malayan Emergency 1948-60. Consider the following questions:
    1. Connect - How is the statement of inquiry connected to what you have studied?
    2. Extend - Does the statement of inquiry extend your thinking about the Malayan Emergency in any way?
    3. Challenge - What is challenging or confusing about the statement of inquiry? 
  3. Discuss - Does the statement of inquiry apply to the Malayan Emergency? What other events in history might it also apply to?
  4. Evaluate - The key concept of this unit was significance. To what extent was the Malayan Emergency a significant Cold War conflict? Use the following criteria it to measure the historical significance of the Malayan Emergency:
    1. Novelty - Did the event usher in something new or never seen before?
    2. Applicability - Does the event teach us about the present? Is it relevant?
    3. Memory - Do we still remember the event? Is it actively commemorated?
    4. Effects - Did it change things? Did it affect many people? Does it still impact?

Activity 3 - How might we be assessed?

  1. ​Essay Plan - Try practicing for your end of unit review by essay planning previous questions on this topic. Use this essay mark-scheme to help:
    1. Evaluate the impact on Malaya of the British/Commonwealth response to the Malayan Emergency (1948–1960) - May 2018
    2. To what extent was British success in Malaysia due to the success in 'winning hearts and minds' of the Malayan population? - Teacher Example
    3. Discuss the causes, and the consequences, of the Malayan Emergency (1948-60) - Teacher Example
    4. Evaluate the consequences, for Malaya and the Cold War, of British victory in the Malaya Emergency - Teacher Example

Further Reading for Revision

OBLIGATORY READING
  1. Cheah, Boon Cheng. (2012). Red Star over Malaya: Resistance and Social Conflict During and After the Japanese Occupation of Malaya 1941–46
RECOMMENDED READING
  1. Scurr, J., & Chappell, M. (1982). Osprey Men-at-Arms Series: The Malayan Campaign 1948-60. Osprey Publishing: London
SUPPLEMENTAL READING
  1. Barber, N. (2013). War of the Running Dogs: How Malaya Defeated the Communist Guerillas 1948-60. Cassell
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