INTERNATIONAL ECONOMICS RELATIONS DURING THE TENURE OF TUNKU ABDUL RAHMAN AND DR MAHATHIR MOHAMAD: A COMPARATIVE STUDY

Abstract

This article compares Malaysia’s foreign policies during the tenure of Tunku Abdul Rahman and Dr Mahathir Mohamad in terms of international economic relations. Tunku’s foreign policies were influenced by the Cold War whereas Mahathir was the Prime Minister during the post-Cold War period from 1981-2003. Foreign policies in both periods were influenced by  international environments besides elements of idiosyncrasy, as well as internal and external factors. Tunku and Mahathir were dominant personalities who significantly influenced  the formulation of the country’s foreign policies. Tunku’s period indicates that pro-Western and anti-communist’s policies were significant in all aspects of foreign relations,whereas Mahathir’s foreign policies were more flexible. Foreign policies during both periods were affected by different situations and conditions in the respective periods. These factors contributed towards many similarities and differences in decision making in terms of international economic relations during the two periods examined in this article.