Asia Europe

Asia Europe

Asia Europe

Direct and indirect rule is a significant concept in Southeast Asian colonial history. It refers to the method of rule that colonial powers practiced on the Southeast Asian nations which they ruled.

Definitions and Examples of Direct and Indirect Rule

‘Direct’ rule means relying on colonial administrators to run the colony, with little reliance on the locals, such as in the case of Burma since their annexation in 1886.

Upon Burma’s annexation by the British, many of its political systems were abolished, such as the Ava Court and the Hlutdaw. Instead, the British imposed their own form of rule on Burma, which was patterned after the Indian model. Burma was divided into districts, each with an assistant commissioner and police assistant, for the sake of administrative efficiency. Moreover, they got rid of the traditional Burmese circle system and enforced the Indian village pattern, which because it required fewer village headmen, and was hence easier to administrate. From top to bottom, Burmese rule was profoundly altered.