Elemen Sejarah dalam Pembentukan Negara: Kemunculan Negara Bangsa di Eropah dan Proses Kolonialisasi dan Dekolonialisasi dalam Konteks Malaysia

Historical Element in the Formation of Nation: The Emergence of Nation-State In Europe and Colonilisation and Decolonialisation Process in the Context of Malaysia

Abstract

This article discusses the origins of nation-states in Europe and its historical development in the context of the formation of Malaysia as a nation. It examines the extent of universal and contrasting characteristics in the historical formation of nation-states in Europe and Malaysia. It highlights the formation of Malaysia which was associated with the the expansion of European rules in the 19th and 20th centuries known as imperialism and colonialism. This was followed by the emergence of national consciousness or nationalism which resulted to independence. However, this article argues that the independence was more determined by the process of decolonisation rather than the success achieved through nationalism.