The Decolonization Process The end of the European control of the World

Global Events Leading Up to Decolonization Imperialism Growing Nationalism World War I World War II Cold War

WWI’s influence Promises of self-determination Use of colonial soldiers in trenches Locals filled posts left by colonial powers during war Financial strain on empire Treaty of Versailles

Metropolis-Colony Relations Economic crisis between wars that led to WWII, that favoured The apparition of liberation movement The bipolarization of the world made easier the creation of these movements

Economic crisis and WWII Metropolis became feeble due to the economic crisis Colonies were isolated due to the War Metropolis inverted fewer money in the colonies This helped the Decolonization process

Other aspects of WWII Increased nationalist uprisings following WWI (as a result of the global depression) Costs of empire US support of anti-colonial liberation movements Atlantic Charter (1941) “right of all people to choose the form of government under which they live” Soviets condemned colonialism

Cold War Provided inspiration a blend of capitalist and socialist economies and agendas. Provided arms to those who sided with one or the other (proxy wars and arms races). Encouraged violent recourse for some as a result of the power politics of cold war competition.

Decolonization causes Growing strength of nationalism in the colonies International opposition Democracies opposed to racism after WWII Big superpowers opposed to colonialist control Ideologies such as communism opposed to it Superpowers pressure to put an end to colonialism

Decolonization causes Old colonial empires preferred to begin the decolonization process: New European governments opposed to racist theories Empires were expensive to maintain They preferred to focus on Europe rather than in the colonies Neo-colonialism was more appropriate for the new situation

Cultural causes Metropolis maintained links with colonies through press, media, etc Some supra-national organizations keep the links with the colonies such as the case of the Commonwealth and the activities related to this, specially in the sport field.

Political causes United Kingdom and France created `clubs´ to continue their link with the new independent states These supra-national institutions were aimed at helping the new states in economy, culture and policy They used to meet with a deter frequency

Military causes Metropolis maintained armies in the colonies to safeguard peace Some states established bases in the old colonies The metropolis intervened to support some regimes In some areas such as in Africa the intervention of the metropolis was `at will´

Social causes Economic help was given Not given by the mother country Given by the mother country with a counterpart: buy products made in that mother country Europeans sold weapons in the colonies Poor militarised countries were frequently involved in wars

Economic causes Colonial economies depend on a limited Number of products Multinationals that have been in a country kept their activity Regions in which the new governments nationalised the industries were penalised Enterprises from the metropolis continued having links with the ex - colonies

Other Powers’ Intervention Some of the founder members of the EU established links with the Third World and wanted to include their old colonies The 1963 Yaoundé Convention focused on: Offer markets to the ex – colonies Economic helps given to the colonies to spend in their trade with the metropolis Lome I (1975) and Lome II (1980) agreements created new social meassures for the poor

Liberation Movements They were possible thanks to the colonial elites, whose sons were educated in European countries The new elites defended the national values The influence of the communism was also important

Bipolarization The anti-colonialism was put into practice It made easier the creation of the ONU, that determined The right to auto determination The equality between countries It legitimated the decolonization process

Process of Decolonization and Nation-Building Surge of anti-colonial nationalism after 1945. Leaders used lessons in mass politicization and mass mobilization of 1920’s and 1930’s. Three patterns: Civil war (China) Negotiated independence (India and much of Africa) Incomplete de-colonization (Palestine, Algeria and Southern Africa, Vietnam)

The Decolonization Process It happened in Asia Africa Near East and Israel

Decolonization in Asia

China Japanese invasion interrupted the 1920s and 1930s conflict between the Communists (Mao Zedong) and the Guomindang (Chiang Kai-shek) During the war, CCP expanded peasant base, using appeals for women (health care, divorce rights, education access, graduated taxes, cooperative farming). Growth of party during the war in part through use of anti-Japanese propaganda. Resumption of civil war after Japanese surrender. 1949 Great People’s Revolution- Mao; Nationalist leaders fled to Taiwan.

India India and other Asian colonies were the first to establish independence movements. Western-educated minorities organized politically to bring about the end of modification of colonial regimes.

India Civil disobedience campaigns Indian National Congress directed by Gandhi Power was transferred in 1947

India British Indian Empire was divided: India (Hindi) Pakistan (Muslim) Republic of India proclamed in 1949

Vietnam French rule since 1880s – rice, mining, and rubber exports Rise of foreign educated intelligentsia (Ho Chi Minh) Formation of Viet Minh in 1941 Guerrilla War with France (1946-1954) (aided by China) Divided country in 1954 (Geneva Conference) led to gradual US entry to contain communism.

Vietnam Cold War stalemate Viet Cong Bombing campaign (President Johnson), ground troops in 1965 Until 1973Paris Peace Accords 1975, last American troops leave

Decolonization in Africa

Africa Nationalists composed of ex-servicemen, urban unemployed & under-employed, and the educated. Pan-Africanism (Marcus Garvey) and Negritude (Senghor) Senghor (Senegal) and Dubois (African- American) 

Africa 1957, Gold Coast (renamed Ghana) independence, led by western- educated, Kwame Nkrumah. By 1963, all of British- ruled Africa, except Southern Rhodesia, was independent.

Africa French-Ruled: Initially more resistant than the British. Encouraged closer French ties- assimilation, not autonomy. Not willing to go far enough in granting rights. With exception of Algeria, by 1960 had granted independence.

Africa Senghor was a Western educated Francophone intellectual from Senegal Poet who became first president of Senegal. Advocated democratic socialism and negritude.

Africa There were several conflicts such as: The Congo War The Algerian War

Conflicts in Africa: Argelia Led by the guerrillas of FLN Indochina’s independence set the precedent European farmers Pied Noirs escaped to the cities

Conflicts in Africa: Argelia Bloody random massacres by Muslim Algerians French population asked for government intervention French army’s intervention: Argel

Conflicts in Africa: Argelia De Gaulle came back to power FLN directed disturbances continued 1961 Argelian independence was agreed

Conflicts in Africa:Congo French colony After WWII began its fight for independence Problems between different candidates in elections hold 1961 gained independenceCentral African Republic

Conflicts in Africa: Kenya Presence of settlers prevented smooth transition of power. Kenya (20,000 Europeans only) led to violent revolt. Mau-Mau Revolt, 1952, led by Kikuyus suppressed by British. 1963 independence granted to black majority, led by Kenyatta.

Conflicts in Africa: South Africa 4 million white residents After 1901, denied civil rights to black population Strong economy, both mining & industry Black workers demanded change Afrikaner-dominated (white) National Party won 1948 election

Conflicts in Africa: South Africa The country became independent in 1934 Problem of the Apartheid: 87% of land for whites; other classified by race

Conflicts in Africa: South Africa No protests tolerated (African National Congress, Mandela, Sharpeville massacre 1960) Evoked international opposition 1989, end of apartheid 1990s: black government elected 1994, Nelson Mandela: 1st black president

Middle East: Palestine and Israel It is an strategic area because of the petroleum There were Jewish migrations (Israel) The Arabian nationalism is important Everything led to: Conflicts Palestinian problem Arabian-Israeli war

Middle East: Palestine and Israel Zionism 1917 Balfour Declaration Immigration of Jews to Palestine European Holocaust Increase of migration 1947- end of British mandate of Palestine and failed UN partition solution 1948 establishment of Israel Regional conflicts (persist nowadays)

Chronology of decolonization 20s-30s 1919 - To UK German colonies & mandates on ex-Ottoman empire countries. 1922 - Egypt given complete independence. ->Apart from Suez Canal zone. -Both acquiring & relinquishing colonies at the same time. 1923 - Rhodesia gains limited self governance. ->White farming elite minority gained self-governance powers, not black majority. 1931 - Statute of Westminster Act to give effect to resolutions from Imperial Conferences 1926 & 1930. Gave increased power to the Dominion states. Complete control of domestic affairs and most foreign affairs Still governor general. Appeals still went to House of Lords. Few other small reservations of power but Dominion states made effectively independent.

Chronology of decolonization 20s-30s 1932 - Iraq gains independence. 1932 - Ottawa conference. Empire countries got favourable trading terms with Britain. Helped Dominion states (& colonies) but harmed Britain. Dominion states able to avoid protectionist tariffs & quotas within empire. Able to export raw materials to Britain. Form of protectionism for the empire. Sept 1939 - Britain declared war on Germany. Colonies expected to join war also. Dominions declared war also.

Key factors of decolonization 1918-39 Growth of Socialism USSR Influence. Lenin regarded colonies as a stage of capitalism. Labour governments in the UK. Socialist attitude was generally anti-colonial. Population growth across the world. Growth of the middle classes Particularly in India. Problems with world trade Great depression etc. Growth in nationalism (?) Historians disagree on this point.

Colonialism consequences Psycological: metropolis always thought about their own interest The benefit for the ex – colonies was determined by the metropolis Advantages of the colonial rule were: Building of infraestructures Education and health system New technoligies, eg in agriculture

Colonialism consequences Colonies were exploited systematically, offering limited help to the locals The colonies had been considered as raw material sources and markets Negative economic consequences Money generated was not invested there Locals got little benefit Arbitrary establishment of borders led to conflicts

Colonialism consequences Culturaly, European languages spread, ruining local culture Important impact of European education Migration from the colonies to their former metropolis

Challenges of Independence Ethnic disputes Dependent economies Growing debt Cultural dependence on westreligious revivalism as backlash Widespread social unrest Military responses to restore order Population growth Resource depletion Lack of middle class in some locales Education deficit and later, brain-drain. Neo-colonialism through economic debt.

Conclusions Decolonization was sometimes a violent process- dependent in large part on how many settlers had come to the colony. In many parts of world, decolonization was not revolutionary. Power passed from one class of elites to another. Little economic and social reform occurred. Significant challenges faced independent nations. Western economic dominance of the global trade system continued unabated.