Decolonisation Flashcards
Was there a specific starting point?
No.
It was primarily an outcome of WW2.
What was Woodrow Wilson’s idea?
Focussed on self-determination, but this was not fulfilled.
Where did ‘east Europe’ come from?
Formed following the collapse of the Habsburg Empire.
It was the remnants of the Austro- Habsburg empire.
Did imperial powers want to give up there colonies?
Britain and France were reluctant to give up their imperial possession. Made a secret6 agreement to split areas of the old Ottoman empire for themselves.
What did the colonial powers have to do during the war?
Colonial powers forced to divide resources to EU for war leaving their colonies vulnerable to attack.
When the imperial powers returned to their former possessions (after colonies had to defend themselves) and reassert control they are met with new resistance/ nationalism e.g Vietnam.
Rise in anti-imperialism.
What happened in Vietnam 1953?
Ho chi minh – declared independence from Vietnam and found new communist states.
France and the US hated this.
How did decolonisation occur?
Through direct and indirect rule: these were different ways of decolonisation.
Empires still reluctant to let go and thought they were in control of process. Empires recognised they couldn’t afford to maintain colonial rule but still didn’t want to let go.
Britain faced intense violence, colonial rule crumbled quicker than expected, unforeseen, not a gradual pass down of power.
The colonisers maintained that it was there idea but it was clearly the idea of the colonies.
What did Frantz fanon say?
First theorist of anti-colonial struggle.
Suggested violence is vital, a ‘cleansing force’, it frees a man of his inferiority complex and restores his self-respect.
When was the Frances Algerian war?
1954-62
What happened in the Frances Algerian war?
Lots of different EU inhabitants were offered French citizenship yet did no offer this to Algerian Muslims.
Without citizenship they could not have the best area for able land, vote, less military service for higher pay.
WW2 became the launch pad for attacking France by Germans – growing importance of Algeria as France focused on Germany.
Post war – France attempts to reassert control and kills thousands of Algerians until the months after end of the war.
Nationalists are forced underground and became radicalised.
Bloody all saints day 1954 – wave attacks across Algeria.
What happened in France 1956?
New socialist prime minister, Mollet, who wished to deliver peace in Algeria.
EU settlers understand his offer of peace as weakness to Algerian Muslims, and is not accepted.
What happened in 1957?
FLN bombs clubs etc, turns Muslim area around town into a prison.
Use torture.
By the end FLN becomes very week but EU become increasingly unruly causing government in quick recession.
Did the settlers like de gaulle who visited Algeria in 1958?
Settlers think he is great but they are unaware he will eventually offer complete independence through a reformation.
What were difficulties faced by postcolonial states?
Arbitrary borders inherited from colonial administration that aren’t necessary concerned where settlements place different populations.
They need national cohesion, overcome issues like Elites versus peasants, internal minorities, debt dependency etc.
What are the characteristics decolonisation take?
Almost no voluntary departure of imperial powers, sometimes lead to violent conflict, have impacts on former empires and colonies alike.
