Abstract
This article explores the leadership contributions of General Sir Gerald Templer, who was both High Commissioner and Director of Operations, during the counterinsurgency campaign waged by the British colonial authorities in Malaya against the Malayan Communist Party, between 1948 and 1960. This campaign has become known as the Malayan Emergency. The article explores how Templer’s leadership—marked by a combination of high intellect, sound practical nous, and the ability to galvanize governmental action and ultimately inspire the population to eventual victory—was instrumental in transforming the nature of the problematic initial British response to the Communist insurgency. The article suggests that Templer’s leadership contributions in Malaya may be useful for modern analysts and practitioners charged with dealing with complex conflicts today.
Recommended Citation
Kumar Ramakrishna
(2025)
"Gerald Templer's Leadership in the Malayan Emergency (1948-1960): Its Enduring Relevance,"
New England Journal of Public Policy: Vol. 37:
Iss.
1, Article 8.
Available at:
https://scholarworks.umb.edu/nejpp/vol37/iss1/8