Global Independence Movements: Post-WWII Decolonization Era

Decolonization After World War II: Causes and Context

• The process of independence was accelerated by the weakness of European metropolises following World War II.
• Rise of nationalism in the colonies.
• Decolonial influence exerted by the U.S. and USSR.
• Asia presented diverse geographical and political interests.

Decolonization in Asia

The Rise of Communist China

• End of the imperial era and subsequent Civil War between Nationalist and Communist forces.
• Communist victory led by Mao Zedong.
• Establishment of Mao's government as a socialist dictatorship.

Independence and Partition of India

• The British Indian Colony achieved progressive independence, strongly influenced by Mahatma Gandhi.
• Partition occurred in 1947, resulting in:
  • India (secular state, focused on industry).
  • Pakistan (Muslim state).
• Southeast Asian colonies (French and British) also gained independence, leading to the Indonesian Independence and the Vietnam War.

Decolonization in Sub-Saharan Africa

Sub-Saharan Africa, often referred to historically as Black Africa, was home to approximately 500 million inhabitants across 46 states. The region was dominated by major European empires from the nineteenth century.

Key characteristics included:

• Colonial exploitation of resources and the creation of a distinct colonial society.
• Processes of independence and indigenous nationalism: These movements often did not respect the artificial boundaries drawn between ethnic groups or tribes.
• Rise of Pan-African nationalist movements, leading to the creation of the OAU (Organization of African Unity).
• Grave social and economic problems persisted post-independence.
• The colonial situation in South Africa persisted until 1994.

The Islamic World and Middle East Decolonization

The Islamic world comprises a variety of countries sharing a common cultural tradition.

Most British and French colonies experienced a progressive struggle for independence:

Key Decolonization Processes

1. British Decolonization: Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Transjordan.
2. French Decolonization (Maghreb): Morocco.

Specific Regional Conflicts

• Morocco: A Berber kingdom dominated by France and Spain. Gained independence in 1956 amid great social tensions. The Western Sahara Conflict began in 1975.
• Iran: A nation with an ancient cultural tradition. Experienced modernization and Western influence under the Pahlavi dynasty, culminating in the Islamic Revolution of 1979.
• Palestinian Issues: Marked by the creation of the new state of Israel and continued fighting. Note: Palestinian autonomy was referenced in 1945.