New social movements
Political independence soon turned out to be only the first step. Structural problems, sometimes related to colonialism, proved tenacious obstacles along the quest for greater economic and social equality. Political movements based on the model of European parties or trade unions were far from a simple solution. That was why new social movements arose throughout the ‘Third World.’
Some were revolutionary and aimed for total political transformation, such as the Naxalites in India (188) and the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia (189). The Naxalites continue to operate daily, whereas the Khmer Rouge disappeared after an exceptionally bloody regime in 1975-1979. Others were less violent but sometimes more effective, such as the movements against Indonesian President Suharto (190-192) and against Thai Prime Minister Thaksin (193). The governments targeted by the new social movements obviously reacted to their criticism. Soon after Malaysia became independent, for example, rigid domestic security laws were introduced in this country (194).
Other social movements arose among minorities who felt threatened, such as Christians in Bangladesh (195) and the Karenni people in the east of Burma (196). In the past decade the IISH has made tremendous efforts to chart the social movements in this country with its extended history of military dictatorship: the Burmese opposition is either in prison (197-198) or abroad (199).
The third type of new social movements in Asia called attention to important duties neglected by governments. They are collectively identified as non-governmental organizations (NGOs), a term that has become increasingly popular since the 1990s but already appeared in the United Nations charter. The IISH is particularly interested in organizations dedicated to promoting better working conditions and rights for workers (200).
