ABSTRACT
The conventional literature on decolonization tends to focus on political consequences, both for former colonies and former mother countries. Far less attention has been given to the urgency of a reorientation in economic terms in newly independent nations. This chapter shows how three major former colonies in Southeast Asia, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Malaysia, confronted the dilemma of economic reorientation and chose different options in their efforts to solve it. Four aspects of postcolonial experiences are considered here: the economic challenges, economic policies, investment climate, and actual development of foreign capital commitments. All three former colonies felt the need to rid themselves of an excessive dependence on exports of primary products and to industrialize in order to secure economic growth in the future. All three also felt compelled to assert their national identity in economic life as well as in other spheres. Economic policies chosen varied quite markedly.
