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

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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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.

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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.

11. 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

12. 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´

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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)

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

20. Decolonization in Asia

21. 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.

22. 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.

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

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

25. 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 ( ) (aided by China)
Divided country in (Geneva Conference) led to gradual US entry to contain communism.

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

27. Decolonization in Africa

28. 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) 

29. 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.

30. 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.

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

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

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

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

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

36. 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

37. 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.

38. 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

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

40. 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

41. 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

42. 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)

43. Chronology of decolonization 20s-30s
To UK German colonies & mandates on ex-Ottoman empire countries.
Egypt given complete independence. ->Apart from Suez Canal zone Both acquiring & relinquishing colonies at the same time.
Rhodesia gains limited self governance. ->White farming elite minority gained self-governance powers, not black majority.
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.

44. Chronology of decolonization 20s-30s
Iraq gains independence.
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 Britain declared war on Germany. Colonies expected to join war also. Dominions declared war also.

45. 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.

46. 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

47. 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

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

49. 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.

50. 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.