The Socio-Political Context Behind the Malayan Insurgency, 1948-1960

Abstract

This article examines the socio-political context surrounding the
Malayan Insurgency (1948-1960) and how it shaped the outcome of counterinsurgency
(COIN) operations in the Malayan peninsular. It will put forward
the idea that the success of British COIN in Malaya was primarily due to
the structure of Malayan society that was inhospitable towards a communist
insurrection by analysing the significance of race relations, religion, culture
and the impact of diaspora towards the changing social landscape of Malaya.