9:Understanding Decolonisation Flashcards
what is decolonisation?
the process by which European empires were dissolved
It was one of the most important developments of the 20th century
Why did the membership of the UN grow so exponentially?
it had 51 member nations in 1945
it had 159 by 1989, because of Asian and African states winning their independence
what country saw itself as an anti colonial power?
the USA
Describe the metropolitan theories of decolonisation
-focused on great European powers
- a decline in European power is seen as the key to understanding the end of empire
describe the peripheral theories of decolonisation
-focused on colonised peoples
-action by non-europeans forces (such as the rise of anti-colonial nationalist movements) are viewed as the key to expanding imperial decline
nationalist movements in Europe before 1918
Ireland- a long tradition of resistance to British rule:
1798,1867,1916-easter rising
Nationalist movements in Asia before 1918
India: 1857’mutiny’: 1885 National Congress Established
China: 1900 Boxer Rebellion & 1911 revolution
Nationalist movements in the East/Middle East before 1918
Turkey: 1899 Committee of Union and Progress established, 1908-9 ‘young turk’ revolution
Iran: 1905-11 constitutional revolution
Emerging conflicting nationilsm either side of WW1-zionism and Arab nationalism
Evidence of imperial decline before 1945
-decline of European global powers, and the emergence of alternatives
-WW1 destroyed colonial empires
-1917-18 anti imperial ideologies emerging
-anti-colonial uprisings in 1920s
what were the anti-imperial ideologies that emerged in 1917-1918?
-Lenin and the Bolsheviks
-Woodrow Wilson and American liberal internationalism
for how long did major European imperial powers manage to hold onto their colonial possessions for?
until 1939
Evidence of empire in the First World War
2 million French African colonial troops served, over 200’000 were killed
where did Empire stand in the inter-war years?
-colonial conquest was largely over, but decolonisation had not begun
-there were new ways of justifying imperialism; ‘trusts’, ‘mandates’, ‘the commonwealth’
How was empire a strength/seen as a strength in the interwar years?
it was a source of men, money, bases and resources
How was empire a vulnerability during the inter-war years?
how could far-flung territories be defended if they were struggling with internal/external challenges at home
Impact of WW2 on the French empire
the fall of France in 1940 had huge implications for colonial rule in Africa, Asia and the Middle East
Britain took away French Syrian territory- they were afraid of Nazi expansion
impact of WW2 on the US role in empire
August 1941:Atlantic Charter
-expressed anti-fascist and anti-imperialist values
-Roosevelt didn’t want to be seen as supporting British imperialism
-self determination key
Impact of the War on Japanese Imperialism
1941-42: Japanese conquests in the name of anti-colonial liberation shattered European supremacy
Fall of Singapore-significant defeat of British power by a non-europeans
-justified it by anti-europeans Colonial liberation language
why did the war have significant economic consequences for India?
-it provided a stimulus for industrialisation
- Indian manufacturers were encouraged to produce chemicals, cars and light tanks
Examples of how changes at the international level was a reason for decolonisation after 1945
-Long term historical trends; the relative decline of European power that WW2 accelerated
-US faith in self determination
-Soviet anti-colonialism
-Anti-colonial principles fundamental in the new UN charter
explain soviet anti-colonialism
Marxist-Leninist theories denounced imperialism as “the highest stage of capitalism”
the relationship between decolonisation and the Cold War
- it did not cause decolonisation, but contributed to the end of European empires
-decolonisation helped shape the Cold War
-newly independent countries were important arenas for conflict between USA and Soviet Union
Examples of how changes at the European national level was a reason for decolonisation after 1945
-ability of European powers to retain colonies diminishing, they were all relatively weaker economically and militarily
-public opinion about the desirability/legitimacy changed
-political elites changed attitudes
-the will to hang on to colonies not as strong after 1945
Examples of how changes at the colonial level was a reason for decolonisation after 1945
Independence wasn’t just granted, colonies had to fight for it
increased nationalist groups and parties and increased willingness to fight for independence
forces of nationalism in India
-indian nationalism was split between the Hindu Congress Party and the Muslim League
events of decolonisation of India and Pakistan
Aug 1942: Ghandi launched the ‘Quit India’ campaign
1945: Clement Attlee’s Labour government committed to British withdrawal from India
1947: Britain announced its intention to withdraw from India by June 1948
when did India and Pakistan gain independence ?
14th August 1947: partition and independence for India and Pakistan
when did Sri Lanka and Burma get independence?
1948
when was the majority of decolonisation in Africa?
1960s
why was decolonisation in Africa complicated?
white settler populations and white minority governments in colonies like Algeria,Rhodesia and Kenya
French African colonies that gained independence
Tunisian and Moroccan independence in 1956
west/Central African independence struggles were concluded between 1958-60
the ‘French community’
1958
a plan for a decentralised federal system for African Territories
undermined when Guinea refused to join
the collapse of the French federation
August 1960
it led to the emergence of 10 new independent African States
End of the British African empire in the 1950s
1956: Sudan
1957: Gold Coast (Ghana)
End of the British empire in the 1960s
- wind of change speech
1960: Nigeria
1961: Sierra Leione
1962:Uganda
1964: Zambia, Malawi, Zanzibar and Tanganyika united as Tanzania
1966: Botswana
1968: Swaziland
End of British empire in the 1970s
1979: end of white minority rule in south Rhodesia
independent Zimbabwe In 1980
when was south Rhodesia occupied?
1890
When was it established as a Crown colony?
after 1923
what sparked independence in Zimbabwe
1964: right wing Rhodesian front, dedicated to preserving white minority rule came to power
-condemnation from Britain and commonwealth states led to Unilateral Declaration of Independence in 1965
establishing independence in Zimbabwe: british action
UK imposed sanctions
there was diplomatic deadlock until the 1979 Lancaster House Agreement set out a timetable for transition to black majority rule
when did Zimbabwe become independent?
April 1980
with Robert Mugabe elected Prime Minister
