Commodities and Colonialism: The Story of Big Sugar in Indonesia, 1880-1942 (Verhandelingen Van Het Koninklijk Instituut Voor Taal-, Land- En Volkenkunde)

Sugar yesterday was what oil is today: a commodity of immense global importance whose tentacles reached deep into politics, society and economy. Indonesia’s colonial-era sugar industry is largely forgotten today, except by a small number of regional specialists writing for a specialist audience. During the period 1880-1942 covered by this book, however, the then Netherlands Indies was one of the world’s very greatest producer-exporters of the commodity. How it contrived to do so is the story presented in this book. Author G. Roger Knight, associate professor of history in the University of Adelaide, has researched the history of Indonesia’s sugar industry for more than twenty-five years, using unpublished archival sources in both the Netherlands and Indonesia. His search has taken him into government records, family histories and – above all – the extensive surviving papers of the Dutch sugar companies who operated in Indonesia during the late colonial era. The result is a picture of the industry that offers important new insights into its history and its place in the framework of global commodity production over a period extending over three quarters of a century. Sugar Yesterday Was What Oil Is Today: A Commodity Of Immense Global Importance Whose Tentacles Reached Deep Into Politics, Society And Economy. Indonesia's Colonial-era Sugar Industry Is Largely Forgotten Today, Except By A Small Number Of Regional Specialists Writing For A Specialist Audience. During The Period 1880-1942 Covered By This Book, However, The Then Netherlands Indies Was One Of The World's Very Greatest Producer-exporters Of The Commodity. How It Contrived To Do So Is The Story Presented In This Book. Author G. Roger Knight, Associate Professor Of History In The University Of Adelaide, Has Researched The History Of Indonesia's Sugar Industry For More Than Twenty-five Years, Using Unpublished Archival Sources In Both The Netherlands And Indonesia. His Search Has Taken Him Into Government Records, Family Histories And - Above All - Theextensive Surviving Papers Of The Dutch Sugar Companies Who Operated In Indonesia During The Late Colonial Era. The Result Is A Picture Of The Industry That Offers Important New Insights Into Its History And Its Place In The Framework Of Global Commodity Production Over A Period Extending Over Three Quarters Of A Century--provided By Publisher. Introduction. Java Sugar And The Age Of Mass Production -- A New Epoch : The Asian Connection -- A Precocious Appetite : Fertilizer, Horticulture And Agro-industry In The Field -- Bureaucracy Versus Plantocracy : The Colonial State And 'big Sugar' -- No Business Like Sugar Business : From Profit To Investment -- Enmeshed In Lilliput : Constraints On Growth -- No Escape : The Hva And The Djatiroto Project -- Maring The Best Of It : The Twenties And The Apogee Of Big Sugar -- Commercial Nemesis : Java, Japan And The Raj -- Conclusion And Postscript : The Story Of 'big Sugar' In Indonesia -- Appendix 1. Various Data, Circa 1880-1940 -- Appendix 2. Main Export Destinations : Java Sugar, Circa 1880-1940 -- Appendix 3. Productions Costs At The Modjo Agoeng Sugar Factory, Surabaya Residency, East Java, 1905-1940 -- Bibliography -- Index. By G. Roger Knight Includes Bibliographical References (pages [251]-284) And Index. Cover 1 Commodities and Colonialism 4 Contents 6 Abbreviations 8 Preface 10 Introduction 14 Java sugar and the age of mass production 14 Chapter 1 30 A new epoch 30 The Asian connection 30 Chapter 2 66 A precocious appetite 66 Fertilizer, horticulture and agro-industry in the field 66 Chapter 3 110 Bureaucracy versus plantocracy 110 The colonial state and ‘Big Sugar’ 110 Chapter 4 136 No business like sugar business 136 From profit to investment 136 Chapter 5 166 Enmeshed in Lilliput 166 Constraints on growth 166 Chapter 6 178 No escape 178 The HVA and the Djatiroto project 178 Chapter 7 202 Making the best of it 202 The twenties and the apogee of big sugar 202 Chapter 8 224 Commercial nemesis 224 Java, Japan and the Raj 224 Conclusion and postscript 248 The story of ‘Big Sugar’ in Indonesia 248 Appendix 1 Various data, circa 1880-1940 254 Appendix 2 Main export destinations Java sugar, circa 1880-1940 256 Appendix 3 Production costs at the Modjo Agoeng sugar factory,Surabaya Residency, East Java, 1905-1940 260 Bibliography 264 Index 298 In Commodities and Colonial Production, G. Roger Knight provides an account of colonial Indonesia's world-class sugar industry from the 1880s through to the beginning of the Second World War