The Decline of the Chinese Council of Batavia

This dissertation examines the administrative, political and social developments in the twentieth century that challenged the traditional system of Chinese community leadership in Batavia. To offer full scope for the analysis of these developments, which had far-reaching implications for the elite status of the Chinese Council and its officers, this dissertation is divided into seven chapters. The first chapter gives an historical overview of Chinese migration to Southeast Asia, the Chinese in Batavia, and the start of the officer system. Chapter two serves as a detailed introduction to the inner-workings of the Chinese Council. Chapter three deals with the intensification of Dutch colonial rule in the Netherlands Indies and its effect on the Chinese community and the Chinese Council. Chapter four looks back on Chinese nationalism and analyses how new ideas about community leadership began to threaten the position of the Chinese Council and its officers in the Chinese community. Chapter five analyses the response of the colonial government to the social changes within the Chinese community and also in colonial society in general. Chapter six evaluates the surprising Chinese response to the plans of the colonial government to abolish the institution of Chinese officers. Finally, chapter seven deals with the final years of the Chinese Council of Batavia and shows how the Chinese officers resumed their tasks after a period of great confusion and uncertainty.