Module 10 Chapter 22

International circumstances and social changes which contributed to the end of colonial empires included a new found belief that independence was the key to self identity and prosperity. Dictatorship based on colonial rule did not work anymore because it was opposite to what Europeans practiced and operated under at home. American colonialism ending, helped around the world but also, more recently, Mexico’s independence and divestiture of  United States and British controlled oil in their own country played a big role.  One country at a time began to cease colonial rule. Self-national determinations were more favorable. 

 

Second and Third generation highly educated, mostly men, knew Colonization was not the only way to progress. These young educated people had witnessed European and democratic ways, and knew national independence was the key to economic and social progress. They insisted on immediate independence. As the book describes on page 979, independence promised national freedom but also personal dignity, abundance, and opportunity. 

                     

 

The Colonial experience and the struggle for independence shaped the agenda of developing countries in the second half of the twentieth century in different forms. It was not always done seamlessly nor was it streamlined. It took many months and years of intense negotiations.  One of the struggles was in identifying what group should remain in charge once decolonization took place. We’ve seen this in recent times during the Arab Spring of 2011. People wanting independence but once they achieved the independence they fought internally for power primarily between the Sunni and Shiite people. Nevertheless, decolonization required gradual political reforms and investments. Many small countries who sought independence found it difficult to be self sustaining so they joined established larger established countries. One example was the Polynesian islands joining the United States.   

                         

References: 

Robert W. Strayer, Eric W. Nelson - Ways of the World_ A Brief Global History with Sources, Combined Volume (2015, Bedford_St. Martin’s) - libgen.lc.pdf

 

https://oilprice.com/Energy/Crude-Oil/Can-Mexico-Reverse-Its-Steep-Output-Decline.html

 

https://wayback.archive-it.org/11788/20200107171921/http://exhibitions.nypl.org/africanaage/

 

https://www.cnn.com/2016/11/21/africa/chinese-funded-railways-in-africa/index.html