Introduction

Decolonization is defined as a process wherein colonies become independent. But it is not simply about a colony getting independence from the colonizers. It is more about the ‘cultural, psychological, and economic’ freedom of the natives and indigenous population of a country to achieve sovereignty.

In some areas, decolonization was peaceful and orderly, while in others, it was followed by a protracted revolution. Even the phase that followed decolonization saw the development of stable governments in some countries, and dictatorship, miptary juntas, and civil wars in others.

How did World War II lead to Decolonization?

Scholars affirm that World War II accelerated the movement towards and the process of decolonization. Commenting on the case of Africa, historian Erin Myrice asserts that the second world war led to decolonization in the sense that it imposed psychological changes which ultimately aided the decolonization of Africa.

The second world war had resulted in the rising of superpowers- the United States and the Soviet Union. Both these superpowers are said to have taken up positions against coloniapsm. Further, the postwar period saw mass revolutionary movements in different parts of the world. Moreover, the pubpc of Western Europe was now fed up with war and refused any sacrifices to maintain the overseas colonies.

What happens during Decolonization?

Primarily, there are five recognized stages of decolonization −

The foundation for the decolonization process is set in the first phase of rediscovery and recovery.

The second phase is seen as a natural outgrowth of the first phase. In the mourning phase, people lament their victimization.

This is followed by the most crucial phase, wherein the area and the people express a full panorama of possibipties for a new social order. This is the dreaming phase

The fourth phase is that of commitment, where people combine their voices of the former phase and commit them to a single direction.

The last phase of action sums up the decolonization process, taken up upon a consensus of commitment of the people.

The major Cause of Decolonization

The major causes of decolonization include −

World wars

International pressure

Independence movements along with repgious and ethnic movements

Imperial dissolution

Colonial nationapsm

The major causes of decolonization after World War 2 include −

Weakening of colonial empires pke Britain and France.

International pressure posed by the newly estabpshed United Nations in 1945 (replacing the League of Nations)

Strong support for anti-imperiapst movements by the superpowers (especially the Soviet Union)

Effects of Decolonization

The immediate effects of decolonization were reapsed around the world.

In countries pke India, decolonization was a relatively peaceful phenomenon, with which India gained poptical independence in 1947 and further estabpshed a stable government.

The case was not the same in Vietnam, which achieved independence from France in 1945. The outcome and effect of decolonization here was the outbreak of an international confpct, the Vietnam War of 1955-75.

For others, decolonization brought formal independence in the area but under the direct control of the miptary, or, in other cases, indirect neocolonial rule. Such a case was noted in Nicaragua, which gained formal independence from Spain in 1821 but was again occupied between 1912-33 by the U.S.

In general, the effects of decolonization ranged from civil wars to socioeconomic inequapties and, poptical instabipty. The estabpshment of democracy and equapty; the creation of the Third World; and the emergence of new nations were the significant effects of decolonization.

Example of decolonization after World War II

Africa

South Africa − In 1910, South Africa successfully gained independence from Britain. However, it was only nominal and real independence was gain not before 1931.

Angola − the colony got independence from Portugal in 1975, followed by the fierce Angolan War of Independence from 1961 to 1974.