Summary This dissertation examines Indonesia’s Confrontation policy against Malaysia from the perspective that it was a significant event to the re-organisation and development of the international relations of Southeast Asian post-colonial states, with a special focus on the Indonesia-Singapore relationship. This analysis is important because, first, Confrontation has been largely examined from the domestic political and British/Commonwealth forces strategic points of view, which, while are crucial angles from which to understand the conflict, nonetheless not provide a sufficient account of the logic and motivations of the Southeast Asian political elites who were key personalities in affecting how the conflict developed and affected the conduct of international relations among Southeast Asian states. Second, the extent to which Confrontation shaped Singapore-Indonesia relations has been relatively under-studied. However, this is an important issue because Singapore played a significant role in shaping the development of Confrontation, which therefore influenced the nature of bilateral relations before, during and beyond Confrontation. Finally, discourses surrounding Malaysia’s formation and Confrontation have been largely westerncentric in that the conflict was deemed to be irrational and strange. However, this dissertation argues that it is through an analysis of Singaporean and Indonesian perspectives, strategic interests and behaviour with regard to the concept of Malaysia and Malaysia’s formation that we can understand better why the conflict started and took the course it did. The period of analysis for this dissertation is from 1957 to 1973. The most important underlying and proximate “causes” for Confrontation from 1957 to 1963 are examined from the perspective that the historical circumstances and events during that period were, on their own, not determinative, but instead were played upon by Singaporean and Indonesian interests, thereby predisposing the move i towards Confrontation. From the Singaporean and Indonesian political leaderships’ perspective, the main issue in Confrontation was the contest over Malaysia’s “moral personality”, which centred on the question of whether Malaysia was formed out of the free will of its inhabitants or whether it was a post-colonial state foisted upon them. However, while the contest over Malaysia’s right to exist was to a large extent couched in moral terms, there were, simultaneously, other strategic interests being pursued by both the Singaporeans and Indonesians under the cover of the moral argument. This two-pronged pursuit of moral ideals and strategic interests was played out in the political, military, economic and diplomatic fronts of Confrontation, which also reflects the move towards the closure of the conflict. In addition, Singapore’s separation from Malaysia, which was to a large extent provoked by the PAP leadership, was a wildcard which provided the impetus towards the resolution of Confrontation. Finally, this dissertation examines how Confrontation affected the reorganisation of Singapore-Indonesia relations in the years 1965 to 1973 in the form of enduring lessons learnt about the other from the experience of the Confrontation years. ii List of Abbreviations ABRI: Angkatan Bersenjata Republik Indonesia ANRI: Arsip Nasional Republik Indonesia ASA: Association of Southeast Asia ASEAN: Association of Southeast Asian Nations BPKI: Badan Penjelidik Kemerdekaan Indonesia (Indonesian Independence Investigatory Body) BS: Barisan Sosialis/Barisan GESTAPU: September 30th Movement/Coup KMM: Kesatuan Melayu Muda (Young Malays’ Association) KOSTRAD: Komando Cadangan Strategis Angkatan Darat (Army Strategic Reserve Command) MPRS: Majelis Permusyawaratan Consultative Assembly) Rakyat Sementara (Provisional People’s MSCC: Malaysia Solidarity Consultative Committee NAA: National Archives of Australia NAS: National Archives of Singapore NECOLIM: Neo-colonialism, Colonialism and Imperialism NEFOS: New Emerging Forces OHC: Oral History Centre OLDEFOS: Old Established Forces PAP: Peoples’ Action Party PKI: Partai Kommunis Indonesia/Indonesian Communist Party PKM: Partai Kommunis Malaya/Communist Party of Malaya PNI: Partai Nasionalis Indonesia/Indonesian Nationalist Party PRB: Partai Rakyat Brunei SAF: Singapore Armed Forces SPA: Singapore People’s Alliance UMNO: United Malays’ National Organisation UN: United Nations iii . towards the resolution of Confrontation. Finally, this dissertation examines how Confrontation affected the re- organisation of Singapore-Indonesia relations in the years 1965 to 1973 in the form of. role in shaping the development of Confrontation, which therefore influenced the nature of bilateral relations before, during and beyond Confrontation. Finally, discourses surrounding Malaysia s. interests, thereby predisposing the move ii towards Confrontation. From the Singaporean and Indonesian political leaderships’ perspective, the main issue in Confrontation was the contest over Malaysia s