DECOLONIZATION NOTES

1. DECOLONIZATION NOTES

2. Decolonization • Independence and nationalist movements began in the late 19th and early 20th centuries • After WWII, Europe was not strong enough to maintain empires • Most nationalist movements achieved independence peacefully • Exceptions in white settler colonies (Algeria, South Africa, Kenya)

3. Decolonization • Common goals: modernization, stable governments, economic development • Political issues: most attempted democracy, but revolutions & civil wars led to authoritarian rulers in many former colonies • Social issues: Western-educated elites dominated govt & economy; • majority remained poor, rural, and uneducated • Rapid population growth offset econ. growth • Economic issues: economically dependent on former colonial powers & still rely on cash-crops • Difficult to raise $$ for building infrastructure & industry • Many resources still controlled by Western businesses • Many nations borrowed $$ & amassed large debts

4. Independence & Partition in India • In 1947, the British freed India. • Muslims demanded a separate state—Pakistan • Partition occurred in 1947 • led to mass migration & violence. • Mohandas Gandhi, who had always advocated nonviolent resistance, was killed by Hindu extremists-- this discredited them, putting an end to the worst violence. disputed area (Kashmir) Hindus & Sikhs west Pakistan Bengali Muslims east Pakistan Punjabi Muslims

5. Notable Indians • Mohandas Gandhi —called for nonviolent resistance against the British • Muhammad Ali Jinnah– Indian Muslim leader who strongly advocated for a separate Pakistan • Indira Gandhi —India’s first woman prime minister; known for accelerating India’s nuclear program & the Green Revolution, which ended India’s food shortages. • Mother Teresa –organized order of Calcutta known as Missionaries of Charity, which provides medical care and supplies for thousands across the world

6. Changes in the Middle East • Between WWI & WWII, much of the Middle East was under the “Mandate System” (Brit. & Fr. control) • Nationalist leaders led brief struggles for independence in Egypt, Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, & Jordan to end mandates • Some interference from Cold War superpowers (demand for oil!) • However, biggest concerns post-WWII surround the creation of Israel (in Palestine)

7. The Creation of Israel • Arabs & Jews had competing claims over Palestine • 1947—the British w/drew from Palestine & turned the region over to the United Nations • Nov. 29, 1947—UN proposes division of Palestine into 2 states (Palestine for Arabs & Israel for Jews) • Nov., 1947-May, 1948—Civil war! (w/ surrounding Arab states joining to support Palestinians) • May 1948—Jews proclaim victory over a larger Israeli territory • 100,000+ Palestinian refugees fled Israel for Palestinian-held territories & neighboring Arab states • Many Arab leaders have vowed to rid region of Israel’s presence ever since

8. Egypt & “Pan-Arab” Nationalism • 1952—Gamal Abdel Nasser led a bloodless coup to overthrow monarchy & est. a military government in Egypt • Sparked a “Pan-Arab” nationalist mvmt. • Nasser kept Egypt non-aligned in Cold War, exploiting aid from US & USSR • Vowed to rid Mid. East & N. Africa of imperialism (incl. eradication of Israel) • Suez Crisis (1956)—Nasser nationalized the Suez Canal (to redirect profits toward building Aswan Dam on the Nile) • Led to military conflict w/ Israel, Britain, & France—which Egypt triumphed in

9. Islamism in Iran (& Beyond) • Nationalism in the Mid. East led to corresponding rise in “Islamism” (to combat new secular govt. policies) • Fueled by idea of “jihad” (struggle to defend Islam & Muslims) • 1979—Revolution in Iran btwn. the govt. of the Shah (backed by US) & Islamists, led by the Ayatollah Khomeini • The Shah fled Iran, & a new Shi’ite govt. was est. under the Ayatollah • US support of the Shah led to strong anti-US feelings in Iran’s new regime • Nov. 1979—hostage crisis! (69 US hostages captured from US embassy in Tehran) • Changes in Iran also led to Iran-Iraq War (1980-88), due to Sunni-Shi’ite tension in the region

10. the Colonial Legacy in Africa • Economic • Europeans introduced new crops, technology, & new forms of transportation, but not industry • Most of these improvements were designed to profit European businesses • Even after decolonization, $$ tended to flow out of Africa due to the costs of modernization

11. the Colonial Legacy in Africa • Political • Europeans had drawn colonial borders to suit their own interests • Many nations had hostile groups within them • Other times, national groups would be split between two or three colonies • Many nations underwent civil wars after independence (ex: Angola, Rwanda, Sudan, Chad, Ethiopia-Eritrea, etc.)

12. Post-WWII Political Climate • Colonial powers were tired of fighting after WWII, & agreed to grant reforms. • India’s independence, gained in 1947, made some African leaders impatient for independence. • Most African independence leaders were well-educated & were inspired by Gandhi & the Civil Rights Movement in the US to use passive resistance (though not all colonies gained their independence bloodlessly).

13. South Africa • former British colony • also inhabited by Boers (white settlers of Dutch descent) (sometimes called Afrikaaners) • won self-rule in 1910, but only whites had freedom • Boers won a majority in whites-only Parliament & created apartheid—the separation of the races

14. Protests • African National Congress—called for peaceful resistance • ANC protestors were gunned down in 1960 at Sharpsville • Nelson Mandela, a leader of the ANC, was imprisoned for conspiracy for 27 years

15. Independence Gained • 1980s—intense pressure from outside world to end apartheid • Bishop Desmond Tutu also encouraged the use of passive resistance (boycotts, peaceful protest) to end apartheid • In 1989, South African president FW de Klerk repealed apartheid. • Nelson Mandela was elected president in 1994 in the first multiracial election in South Africa.

16. Other African Independence Leaders • Kwame Nkrumah—Ghana • Jomo Kenyatta—Kenya • Habib Bourguiba—Tunisia