The myth of ‘hearts and minds’ in cold war Borneo 1962–74

‘Hearts and minds’ is inextricably associated with the successful British and Commonwealth ‘Confrontation’ campaign in Borneo following the earlier Malayan Emergency. Yet at the time the concept was nebulous and limited in application. This article examines its actuality, its efficacy and its legacy. Contrary to conventional accounts it demonstrates that ‘hearts and minds’ had no role in military operations but was applied solely to propaganda supporting the ruling government. More characteristic of Commonwealth military methods were pragmatic psychological operations together with sometimes ruthless force. Nevertheless, the development of a retrospective ‘hearts and minds’ mythology has had a deleterious and lasting impact which has still to be properly unravelled.