It occured,most appropriately, as a european political rule in africa was quikly terminating betts,1998,pp. In extreme circumstances, there is a war of independence. Nationalism and decolonization in africa during the cold war. Reasons for the end of imperialism, decolonization and. After world war two and the defeat of the axis powers, france and britain controlled most of africa. Several factors combined to reopen the independence debate.
The challenge of decolonization in africa benjamin talton temple university. This led to the establishment of settlercolonies in algeria, tunisia, south africa, namibia, angola, mozambique, and central african areas like zimbabwe and zambia. The three main factors that lead to europeans imperializing africa in the 19th century were economic, military technology, and politics. What are the types of decolonization and its forms. Internal factors and external factors for the rise of african mass nationalism.
Many factors wwii was a major factor in the decolonisation of africa. The end of the colonial period and the establishment during 195776 of all the former colonies as independent states was attributable both to a change in european attitudes toward africa and the possession of colonies and to an african reaction to colonial rule born of the economic and. More often, there is a dynamic cycle where negotiations fail, minor disturbances ensue resulting in suppression by the police and military forces, escalating into more violent revolts that lead to further negotiations until independence is granted. The colonising countries couldnt afford to maintain presences in the colonised countries. The factors that led to the colonization of africa by the. Before we narrate the story of colonization of asia and africa by the various european powers, it shall be desirable to have an idea about the factors which facilitated this process. The influence of decolonization in asia also played a big role in the growth of african nationalism. She supported decolonization in africa so that at the end she could spread capitalism ideology so as to reduce the spread of. Elizabeth schmidt, professor of history at loyola college in maryland and dr. After the war the imperial powers were under strong international pressure to decolonize. Eventually the overriding economic factors led to the colonization of other parts of africa. War ii led to decolonization of africa by affecting both europe and africa militarily, psychologically.
There was widespread unrest and there were organized revolts in both northern and subsaharan. Southern africa independence and decolonization in. Britain, france and the decolonization of africa ucl discovery. The coming of 1939 war did not hit the africans with the same forces as 1914 which brought about a deep and fundamental change in the relation of the african people with great unknown world. Decolonization and economic growth 91 not only might such policies be less conducive to growth but a rapid and substantial change in government policy might have increased the costs of these political transformations. In southern africa, however, the transfer of power to an african majority was greatly complicated by the presence of entrenched white settlers. The war led to the intensification of exploitation due to the colonial economic policies introduced in the colonies. What were the main reasons for decolonizing africa. The decolonisation of africa took place in the midtolate 1950s to 1975, with sudden and. In the world context, colonialism had very heterogeneous effects, operating through many. Thus it was the interplay of these economic, political, and social factors and forces that led to.
It means that to some extent, a movement began following wwi and gained momentum after wwii, where people around the world said that people have the right to govern themselves. The decolonization of africa took place in the midtolate 1950s to 1975, with sudden and radical regime changes on the continent as colonial governments made the transition to independent states. Nationalism literally refers to the desire,love, or sprite for ones nation. Decolonization has become one of the major themes in twentiethcentury historiography. In 1939, nazi germany initiated the second world war by attacking and invading poland. Between 1945 and 1960, three dozen new states in asia and africa achieved autonomy or outright independence from their european colonial rulers. The two wars were the factors of enormous significance for decolonization of west africa. In the main the following factors contributed to the growth of colonies. Within the span of three decades, most of the countries that had been colonized by european powers became independent. The impact of the second world war on the decolonization. Factors which led the scrambled and partition of africa. Decolonisation of africa country independence date prior ruling country liberia, republic of 26 july 1847 south africa, republic of 31 may 1910 britain egypt, arab republic of 28 february 1922 britain ethiopia, peoples democratic republic of 5 may 1941 italy libya socialist peoples libyan arab jamahiriya 24 december 1951 britain sudan, democratic.
Nationalism and decolonization in africa during the cold war on april 8, 2008 dr. Western africa western africa decolonization and the regaining of independence. Internal factors and external factors for the rise of. The factors which determined the form or methods of decolonization 1. Decolonization is the process by which colonies become independent of the colonizing country. Decolonization is when a colony of any country becomes independent. In the speech, macmillan clearly indicates the british realization that decolonization was inevitable, calling it a political fact. Learn about decolonization and independence, 20th century. Through the process of decolonization that began, in most african territories, at the close. Etemad 2000 states that decolonization led to emigration of. Discussions tend to concentrate on the causes of decolonization, particularly on the motives and policies of the european powers. The liberation of africa from european rule followed on.
Factors of decolonisation the same broadening of the nationalist movement, also limited in the first place to the middleclass intelligentsia, was to take place in north africa between the wars. The decolonization of africa was one of the turning points in the history of the postwar world. The decolonisation of africa was one of the historic moment in the history of the postwar world. Sometimes, a colony may not get full freedom, but may become part of other country or even the part of the country which colonized it. The following section focuses on national movement activism across colonial africa, and their role in. Influence of the political factor beyond 2015 mdgs caleb mackatiani 1 mercy imbovah 2 navin imbova 3 d.
Economic was one of the important factor for imperialism in africa. Of particular importance was mahatma gandhis strategy of nonviolence. Saharan africa to gain independence from european colonial rule. The decolonisation of africa in 1945, when the second world war ended, africa had only four independent states. What were the factors that led to decolonization following.
The former contributed to nkrumahs fall from power in 1966, and the latter to civil war. Hitlers attempted implementation of his version of a master race led to one. These old colonial empires knew that decolonization was a possibility, but did not think much of. Issues of interest the 15th century marked a significant moment in the history of the world with the birth of renaissance.
In a sense, it was at this time that the sun finally did set on the british empire. World war ii led to decolonization of africa by affecting both europe and africa militarily, psychologically, politically, and economically. The following are all the main reasons of why decolonization occurred. Through the process of decolonization that began, in most african territories, at the close of world war ii, african leaders gained greater political power under european rule. The first world war strengthened the native african resistance movements. When decolonization began, there were reasons for optimism. European powers divided the dark continent like a home made peach pie. The nature of colonial economic structure the type of colonial system established in the colony was the major reasons for difference in the struggle for independence e. Southern africa southern africa independence and decolonization in southern africa. The independence of india and pakistan in 1947 encouraged africans also to struggle for political independence. Politics of decolonization in french and british west.
International factors changes in the intl distribution of power, military and economic effects of world war ii domestic factors former colonies and most other developing nations choose economic nationalism. What are the factors which facilitated the rise of. The atlantic charter the atlantic charter was a document produced in 1941 that entailed the goals of the allied powers if they should win world war two one of the previsions of that charter was that all people had the right to self determination. Colonial economic exploitation led to european extraction of ghanas mining profits to. The americans had in office during wwii a decidedly anticolonialist president in fdr, and his widow was among the leading voices calling for freedom and self. Before exploring more fully the factors that determined the timing and character. Macmillan also gives reference to the significance of the prior movement in asia, which was of course led by india. In some, decolonization may result after nonviolent discussion. The decolonisation of africa university of south africa. Algeria was considered by france to be an extension of its national territory and only obtained its independence after a long, drawnout conflict which lasted 8 years. Decolonization of africa 1 decolonization of africa the decolonization of africa followed world war ii as colonized peoples agitated for independence and colonial powers withdrew their administrators from africa. Running a colony was very expensive, and the government didnt always see a strong return on their investment.
There were many factors in africa that led to conquest by european countries. It captured the imagination of a new generation of idealists who enthusiastically proclaimed their belief in racial equality and individual liberty. The london activists were better able to sew connections across the oceans than with people in the interior of africa, although the movement led by marcus garvey had some success in port cites. Discuss the factors that contributed to decolonization in. School of education, university of nairobi, po box 30197, nairobi, kenya 2.
Decolonization and the collapse of the british empire. Britain and france, the main colonial powers in africa, were broke after wwii and simply could not afford to keep their colonies. The effects of decolonization in africa world scientific news. Get an answer for discuss the factors that contributed to decolonization in the 20th century.
Factors for the growth of african nationalism wattpad. Decolonization of north africa by france french north africa covered three territories. Decolonization, independence, and the failure of politics. Brief notes on colonialism and imperialism in asia and. N37,n47,o55 abstract in this paper we evaluate the impact of colonialism on development in subsaharan africa. It captured the imagination of a new generation of idealists who declared ther belief in racial equality and individual liberty. In africa the term nationalism has been used to signify the struggle of independence or self determination against foreign domination in case of europe the term nationalism has been used to signify for national unification in germany and italy and to acquire oversea colonies. Gregory mann, professor of history at columbia university, presented summaries of their most recent books cold war and decolonization of guinea, 19461958 2007 and native sons.
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