Link to the lesson

The Decolonization, i.e., liquidation of the colonial system, gained momentum after the end of World War II. Conducive to this process were the international situation and the post‑war weakening of the mother countries, as well as the activities of the UN which supported the nations’ ideas of self‑determination and striving for independence. Decolonization may also be said to have resulted from the post‑war transformations: economic development of the colonies, independence movements, and the colonial societies becoming self‑reliant. The process happened in various ways, and the colonial states would either be given their independence or have to fight for it in armed conflicts. The process of liberation of the colonies in Asia began in 1945 (Taiwan). Its culminating point was the gaining of independence by the ‘jewel in the British crown’ – India (1947). Mahatma Gandhi – the symbol of the passive resistance policy – played an important role in this. Subsequently, independence was gained by other British (Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, Malaya), French (Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam), Dutch (Indonesia), and American territories (Philippines). A few years later, a similar path was followed by African countries which, due to the natural resources located in their territories, had remained dependent on the European mother countries for a longer period of time. However, there too, the growing national identity led to the colonial system’s collapse, whose decisive moment came with the announcement in 1960 (the ‘Year of Africa’ in which 17 countries became independent), by the UN, of the declaration of giving independence to the colonial states and peoples. The births of new countries often led to conflicts some of which lasted many years. These arose both between the former colonies and mother countries (e.g. the Indochina Wars), and between the young countries (e.g. the Indo‑Pakistani wars). In addition, the expansion of communism and attempts to introduce it often ended in conflicts. One of the most famous is the Vietnam War (1964–1975) in which, after years of fighting, the US army had to end its intervention and withdraw its forces, incurring huge losses. In other places too, it very quickly turned out that the gaining of independence was the beginning of problems for the newly formed countries. The lack of political elites, the spreading corruption, and the economic difficulties caused many of the ‘young democracies’ to quickly turn into bloody dictatorships engulfed in civil wars. This was particularly evident in Africa (Uganda, Angola, and Congo). Failure of the former colonies to cope with the new reality resulted in neocolonialism, i.e., dependence and external management of a state which, in theory, is independent and has all the attributes of sovereignty.

Task 1

Wysłuchaj nagrania abstraktu, wyodrębnij jego części i nadaj im tytuły.

Wysłuchaj nagrania abstraktu, wyodrębnij jego części i nadaj im tytuły.

Using the map, list the other Asian countries that have regained their independence. Recall under whose authority they previously functioned.

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Grafika przedstawiająca mapę dekolonizacji Azji.

Task 3

Why is Geneva associated with the peace process? What organization was created in the interwar period and had its headquarters there?

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Fotografia czarno-biała przedstawiająca konferencję w Genewie w 1954 r. Grupa dygnitarzy dyskutuje przy trzech stołach ustawionych w kształt litery U. Za stołem środkowym siedzi widownia - kilkadziesiąt osób, głównie mężczyzn. W głębi widać wysokie drzwi wejściowe, nad którymi znajduje się malowidło przedstawiające flagę oraz grupę ludzi ciągnących linę.

Keywords

Colonialism, apartheid, neocolonialism

Glossary