Indonesia's Model of Development: a Latecomer in Industrialization

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Indonesia’s Model of Development: A Latecomer in Industrialization Indonesia had experienced a long history of colonization under different colonial powers. One of the main reasons was Indonesia’s strategic location that make it possible to grow out different types of spices. Back at that time, spices were important as it helps not only to add more flavors in the foods, but also it helps with the preservation of the foods. On top of that, they were also common in medical use. Having the geographical advantage, Indonesia had attracted merchants and traders from different parts of the world. The first Europeans to come and penetrate an area which then became the main destination for in-and-out trade was the Portuguese. Maluku islands or the Mollucas were indeed the first place where the Europeans settled down in. This was done during the European’s Age of Exploration. The Mollucas was well known for its richness of spices and ever since the Portuguese’s settlement in Indonesia, different European powers began to come in and dominate the archipelago. The Dutch and the British were the other two dominating powers who later fought against each other in order to gain full access of the Mollucas’ spice production. Indonesia then fell into the domination of Dutch East Indies Empire leading to another opening of colonization. Not only Indonesia had experienced the good and the downfall of European colonialism but it also had to go through another years of occupation under a new empire, the Japanese empire. During the 19th century, the Japanese empire succeeded their own way of modernization and was able to take control of different areas such as Korea, Taiwan and Manchuria without being beaten by either the European or American power. The Japanese empire, then, made their way to annex Indonesia by gaining the people’s trust that they would bring liberation out of the
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