The history of Indonesia’s economic exploitation under Dutch colonial rule is a complex one, marked by the struggle against the culture system that was implemented to benefit the colonial powers. The publication of Edward Dekkar’s article and pamphlets by Isaac F. Putte played a significant role in strengthening the resistance against this exploitative system. However, the motives behind the liberal opposition to the culture system were not purely altruistic; they were also driven by the economic interests of Dutch private capitalists.
The Culture System and Economic Exploitation
The culture system was a form of forced cultivation implemented in the Dutch East Indies, now known as Indonesia, during the 19th century. It required Indonesian farmers to grow certain crops designated by the colonial government, which were then sold on the international market. The profits from these sales were a major source of income for the Dutch government and private enterprises. This system led to significant economic exploitation of the local population, as it prioritized Dutch financial gain over the welfare of Indonesian farmers.
Liberal Opposition to the Culture System
The liberals’ outcry against the exploitation of Indonesia was not entirely based on concern for the well-being of the local people. Their push for private enterprise to replace the government-controlled culture system was largely motivated by the interests of Dutch private businesses. These capitalists sought to remove restrictions that limited their economic activities and wanted a greater share of the profits from the lucrative colonial trade. The liberal movement, therefore, had a dual nature: it opposed government control but also sought to advance the interests of private capital.
Partial Abolition of the Culture System
Despite the apparent opposition to the culture system, its abolition was selective and gradual. While the forced cultivation of some crops like pepper, cloves, indigo, tea, and tobacco was abolished between 1860 and 1863, the most profitable crops—sugar and coffee—remained under forced cultivation. The Sugar Law of 1870, often regarded as the peak of the struggle against the culture system, mandated that the government would only withdraw from the forced culture of sugar. Coffee cultivation, which generated the highest profits, continued under the exploitative system until January 1917.
Questions for UPSC
1. How did the liberal movement’s advocacy for private enterprise reflect the economic interests of Dutch capitalists during the colonial period?
2. What were the consequences of the selective abolition of the culture system on the economic conditions of Indonesian farmers?
3. Why did the Dutch colonial government retain the forced culture of coffee until 1917 despite the gradual abolition of other crops from the culture system?