Evaluate the economic and social effects of the Liberal Policy introduced in the Dutch East Indies.

The question requires that candidates make an appraisal of the Liberal Policy introduced in the Dutch East Indies, weighing up the importance or otherwise of social and economic effects. Candidates may offer equal coverage of social and economic effects, or they may prioritize their evaluation of either of them. However, both aspects will be a feature of the response. Candidates may evaluate the economic and social consequences of the Agrarian Law (1870) and the Coolie Ordinance (1880), which contributed to an injection of private capital and an export boom and the establishment of vast tobacco and rubber plantations. However, there were social costs, such as forced migration and the displacement of indigenous peoples. Candidates may also evaluate developments in infrastructure (such as railways, ports and processing and storage facilities), migration into cities, increasing inter-ethnic contact and non-agricultural employment. Candidates’ opinions or conclusions will be presented clearly and supported by appropriate evidence.

The question required that candidates make an appraisal of the Liberal Policy introduced in the Dutch East Indies, weighing up the importance or otherwise of social and economic effects. There were numerous attempts at this question. Responses varied in quality but generally they demonstrated a sound grasp of the economic and social effects. A few candidates did drift into political effects and some needed closer focus on the command term evaluate but on the whole candidates addressed this question effectively.