Bandung 1955: Little Histories (Monash Papers on Southeast Asia)

The Bandung Conference, held in Bandung, Indonesia, was one of the great political events of the 1950s. Its glittering array of international stars - including Sukarno, Nehru, and Zhou Enlai - ensured headlines in newspapers around the world. More than half a century after the first great gathering of heads of independent Asian and African countries, this book presents some new and unusual perspectives on the history of the conference. Focusing on under-researched individuals, countries, and themes - Lebanon's Charles Malik, Egypt's Gamal Abdel Nasser, Japanese intellectuals, Burmese socialists, Australian politicians - the book reflects the historical depth and repercussions of the conference. It brings fresh insights into an historic gathering that was once dismissed as a matter of 'words, words, words,' and it shows why the 'spirit of Bandung' remains a term full of significance, particularly in Asian countries.