John Sydenham Furnivall
Encyclopedia
John Sydenham Furnivall was a British
-born colonial
public servant and scholar in Burma. He is attributed with coining the concept of plural society
and had a noted career as an influential historian of Southeast Asia
, particularly of Dutch East Indies
(modern-day Indonesia) and British Burma.Throughout his career, he published several books, including the influential Colonial Policy and Practice and wrote for more than 20 major journals, although his work is now criticised as being Eurocentric.
, Essex
in England
. For secondary schooling, he attended The Royal Medical Benevolent College
(now Epsom College). He won a scholarship
to Trinity Hall
, Cambridge University in 1896. Four years later, in 1899, he obtained a degree in natural science.
In 1901, he joined the Indian Civil Service. He arrived in Burma on 16 December 1902 and took up the appointment of Assistant Commissioner and Settlement Officer. That same year, we wed Margaret Ma Nyunt, a Burmese and native of Taungoo
. They had two daughters together, and remained married until her death in 1920.
In 1906, he founded the Burma Research Society
, along with other Burmese scholars. Four years later, in 1910, the Society began publishing the Journal of Burma Research Society. He was made Deputy Commissioner in 1915 and Commissioner of Land Settlement and Records in 1920. He retired from the ICS in 1923. During his career, he advocated education for native Burmese, to prepare them for self-rule. In 1924, he founded the Burma Book Club and in 1928, the Burma Education Extension Association. Furnivall returned to England in 1931 to retire. From 1933 to 1935, he studied colonial administration at Leiden University
. Following his retirement to Britain, Furnivall became Lecturer in Burmese Language, History and Law at Cambridge University (1936-1941). In 1940, together with C W Dunn, Furnivall published a Burmese-English Dictionary
.
In 1942, he wrote Reconstruction in Burma for the newly independent Government of Burma. Despite his retirement, Furnivall returned to Burma in 1948, after he was appointed National Planning Adviser by U Nu
's administration. That year, he also published his most well-known and influential book, Colonial Practice and Policy at the request of the British government, and argued that colonial policies had destroyed the social structure of Burma. He was awarded the degree of D. Litt by Rangoon University in 1957. He remained in Burma until his expulsion in 1960, by Ne Win
's new government, along with many other expatriates.
He died on 7 July 1960 at Cambridge
, before he could accept an offer by Rangoon University to teach there. His Times
obituary was published on 12 July 1960.
was to create the appropriate free-market institutions, in the belief that economic development, welfare and democracy
, and thus true autonomy, would follow. Furnivall argued that, contrary to this, the sequence began with autonomy leading to social welfare leading to development. Furnivall's argument began with a model
of the dysfunctional plural societies that often resulted from western
colonial rule in the third world
; arguing that economic development depends upon the prior achievement of welfare; and that only if affected peoples themselves had autonomy to develop their own criteria of welfare, would they be able to develop economically.
In his Colonial Policy and Practice, Furnivall postulated that there are three principles of economic progress:
The first principle is "survival of the cheapest":
The second principle “is the desire of gain”:
The third principle is “that progress is conditional on the observance of certain social obligations”:
For an assessment of Furnivall’s impact on the study of Burma, see R H. Taylor, “An undeveloped state: the study of modern Burma's politics (Melbourne: Monash University's Centre of Southeast Asian Studies, Working Paper No 28, 1983).
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
-born colonial
Colonialism
Colonialism is the establishment, maintenance, acquisition and expansion of colonies in one territory by people from another territory. It is a process whereby the metropole claims sovereignty over the colony and the social structure, government, and economics of the colony are changed by...
public servant and scholar in Burma. He is attributed with coining the concept of plural society
Plural society
A plural society is defined by Fredrik Barth as a society combining ethnic contrasts: the economic interdependence of those groups, and the ecological specialization...
and had a noted career as an influential historian of Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
, particularly of Dutch East Indies
Dutch East Indies
The Dutch East Indies was a Dutch colony that became modern Indonesia following World War II. It was formed from the nationalised colonies of the Dutch East India Company, which came under the administration of the Netherlands government in 1800....
(modern-day Indonesia) and British Burma.Throughout his career, he published several books, including the influential Colonial Policy and Practice and wrote for more than 20 major journals, although his work is now criticised as being Eurocentric.
Biography
Furnivall was born on 14 February 1878 in Great BentleyGreat Bentley
Great Bentley is a village and civil parish in the Tendring district of North East Essex, England, located midway between the towns of Colchester and Clacton-on-Sea. It is home to the largest village green in the country, at a size of and has won 'Village of the Year' several times...
, Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. For secondary schooling, he attended The Royal Medical Benevolent College
Epsom College
Epsom College is an independent co-educational public school in Epsom, Surrey, England, for pupils aged 13 to 18. Founded in 1853 to provide support for poor members of the medical profession such as pensioners and orphans , Epsom's long-standing association with medicine was estimated in 1980 as...
(now Epsom College). He won a scholarship
Scholarship
A scholarship is an award of financial aid for a student to further education. Scholarships are awarded on various criteria usually reflecting the values and purposes of the donor or founder of the award.-Types:...
to Trinity Hall
Trinity Hall, Cambridge
Trinity Hall is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England. It is the fifth-oldest college of the university, having been founded in 1350 by William Bateman, Bishop of Norwich.- Foundation :...
, Cambridge University in 1896. Four years later, in 1899, he obtained a degree in natural science.
In 1901, he joined the Indian Civil Service. He arrived in Burma on 16 December 1902 and took up the appointment of Assistant Commissioner and Settlement Officer. That same year, we wed Margaret Ma Nyunt, a Burmese and native of Taungoo
Taungoo
-Administration:*Taungoo District Peace and Development Council - List of Six Townships*Taungoo Township Peace and Development Council*Taungoo Ward Peace and Development Council - 22 Wards*Taungoo Municipal*District and Township Immigration Dept...
. They had two daughters together, and remained married until her death in 1920.
In 1906, he founded the Burma Research Society
Burma Research Society
The Burma Research Society was founded on 29 March 1910 at a meeting held at the Bernard Free Library in Rangoon by J S Furnivall, J A Stewart, Gordon H Luce and Pe Maung Tin....
, along with other Burmese scholars. Four years later, in 1910, the Society began publishing the Journal of Burma Research Society. He was made Deputy Commissioner in 1915 and Commissioner of Land Settlement and Records in 1920. He retired from the ICS in 1923. During his career, he advocated education for native Burmese, to prepare them for self-rule. In 1924, he founded the Burma Book Club and in 1928, the Burma Education Extension Association. Furnivall returned to England in 1931 to retire. From 1933 to 1935, he studied colonial administration at Leiden University
Leiden University
Leiden University , located in the city of Leiden, is the oldest university in the Netherlands. The university was founded in 1575 by William, Prince of Orange, leader of the Dutch Revolt in the Eighty Years' War. The royal Dutch House of Orange-Nassau and Leiden University still have a close...
. Following his retirement to Britain, Furnivall became Lecturer in Burmese Language, History and Law at Cambridge University (1936-1941). In 1940, together with C W Dunn, Furnivall published a Burmese-English Dictionary
Myanmar English Dictionary
Myanmar–English Dictionary is a modern Government project in Myanmar , first published in 1993 by the Government of Myanmar's Myanmar Language Commission. It is a guide dictionary for translating between English and the Myanmar Language...
.
In 1942, he wrote Reconstruction in Burma for the newly independent Government of Burma. Despite his retirement, Furnivall returned to Burma in 1948, after he was appointed National Planning Adviser by U Nu
U Nu
For other people with the Burmese name Nu, see Nu .U Nu was a leading Burmese nationalist and political figure of the 20th century...
's administration. That year, he also published his most well-known and influential book, Colonial Practice and Policy at the request of the British government, and argued that colonial policies had destroyed the social structure of Burma. He was awarded the degree of D. Litt by Rangoon University in 1957. He remained in Burma until his expulsion in 1960, by Ne Win
Ne Win
Ne Win was Burmese a politician and military commander. He was Prime Minister of Burma from 1958 to 1960 and 1962 to 1974 and also head of state from 1962 to 1981...
's new government, along with many other expatriates.
He died on 7 July 1960 at Cambridge
Cambridge
The city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the...
, before he could accept an offer by Rangoon University to teach there. His Times
Times
The Times is a UK daily newspaper, the original English language newspaper titled "Times". Times may also refer to:In newspapers:*The Times , went defunct in 2005*The Times *The Times of Northwest Indiana...
obituary was published on 12 July 1960.
Political thought
In the 19th century the sequence for preparing colonised people for independenceIndependence
Independence is a condition of a nation, country, or state in which its residents and population, or some portion thereof, exercise self-government, and usually sovereignty, over its territory....
was to create the appropriate free-market institutions, in the belief that economic development, welfare and democracy
Democracy
Democracy is generally defined as a form of government in which all adult citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law...
, and thus true autonomy, would follow. Furnivall argued that, contrary to this, the sequence began with autonomy leading to social welfare leading to development. Furnivall's argument began with a model
Model (macroeconomics)
A macroeconomic model is an analytical tool designed to describe the operation of the economy of a country or a region. These models are usually designed to examine the dynamics of aggregate quantities such as the total amount of goods and services produced, total income earned, the level of...
of the dysfunctional plural societies that often resulted from western
Western world
The Western world, also known as the West and the Occident , is a term referring to the countries of Western Europe , the countries of the Americas, as well all countries of Northern and Central Europe, Australia and New Zealand...
colonial rule in the third world
Third World
The term Third World arose during the Cold War to define countries that remained non-aligned with either capitalism and NATO , or communism and the Soviet Union...
; arguing that economic development depends upon the prior achievement of welfare; and that only if affected peoples themselves had autonomy to develop their own criteria of welfare, would they be able to develop economically.
In his Colonial Policy and Practice, Furnivall postulated that there are three principles of economic progress:
The first principle is "survival of the cheapest":
The second principle “is the desire of gain”:
The third principle is “that progress is conditional on the observance of certain social obligations”:
Books
Published works by J S Furnivall include:- An Introduction to the Political Economy of Burma (Rangoon: Burma Book Club, 1931);
- Christianity and Buddhism in Burma: an address to the Rangoon Diocesan Council, August, 1929 (Rangoon: Peoples Literature Committee and House, 1930);
- An introduction to the history of Netherlands India, 1602-1836 (Rangoon : Published for the University of Rangoon by Burma Book Club, 1933);
- Wealth in Burma (1937);
- Netherlands India : a study of plural economy (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1939);
- The fashioning of Leviathan (Rangoon: Zabu Meitswe Pitaka Press, 1939) - originally published in (1939) 29 Journal of the Burma Research Society 1-138;
- Progress and welfare in Southeast Asia: a comparison of colonial policy and practice (New York: Secretariat, Institute of Pacific Relations, 1941);
- Problems of education in Southeast Asia (New York: International Secretariat, Institute of Pacific Relations, 1942);
- Educational Progress in South East Asia (1943);
- Memorandum on reconstruction problems in Burma (New York: International Secretariat, Institute of Pacific Relations, 1944);
- The tropical Far East (London: Oxford University Press, 1945);
- Experiment in Independence (1947);
- Colonial Policy and Practice: A Comparative Study of Burma and Netherlands India (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1948/ New York: New York University Press, 1948);
- The Government of Modern Burma (New York: International Secretariat, Institute of Pacific Relations, 1958);
- An introduction to the political economy of Burma (Rangoon: Peoples' Literature Committee and House, 1957) 3rd ed;
- The Government of Modern Burma (2d ed. with an appreciation by FN Trager and a supplement on the Ne Win administration by JS Thompson), (New York: Institute of Pacific Relations, 1960);
- Studies in the Economic and Social Development of the Netherlands East Indies. I. An Introductory Survey, 1815-1930;
- Studies in the Economic and Social Development of the Netherlands East Indies. IIb. An Introduction to the History of Netherlands India, 1602-1836;
- Studies in the Economic and Social Development of the Netherlands East Indies. III. State and Private Money Making;
- Studies in the Economic and Social Development of the Netherlands East Indies. IIIc. State Pawnshops in Netherlands India;
- Studies in the Economic and Social Development of the Netherlands East Indies. IVd. Fisheries in Netherlands India.
For an assessment of Furnivall’s impact on the study of Burma, see R H. Taylor, “An undeveloped state: the study of modern Burma's politics (Melbourne: Monash University's Centre of Southeast Asian Studies, Working Paper No 28, 1983).
External links
- http://www.aim25.ac.uk/cats/19/161.htm JS Furnivall biography
- Neale, Walter C. and Schaniel, Willian C: “John Sydenham Furnivall: An unknown institutionalist", (2002) 36 Journal of Economic Issues 201 (online *http://diglib.lib.utk.edu/utj/browse.php?jid=1&vid=6&issid=16&aid=246)