India vs. Kenya

Decolonization:

Index

● Context

● Countries Before Decolonization

● Path to Decolonization

● Synthesis of Movements

o Theories and Theorists

● Countries After Decolonization

Context: India

● Colonized by British Raj in

1858 o British interference began as

early as 1612

● India was considered a

non-settler colonyo Dependency → Direct British

rule with some degree of

autonomy

● Independence gained in in

1947, followed by partition

Context: Kenya

● British colony from

1920-1963o However, controlled

for 60 years

● Kenya was

considered a settler

colony

Similarities vs. Differences

● Overarching

Parallel →

Same colonizer

● India was a non-settler

colony, dependency colony;

while Kenya was a settler-

colony

● The big difference

o India’s independence

achieved through

negotiation

● To what extent?

o Kenya’s independence

achieved violently

Countries Before Colonization

● Indiao Population lived in villages and maintained an

agricultural economy

o Hindi is official language, however 18 different

languages are recognized in constitution

o European influence was present before colonization

Traded with Rome as early as 1st Century CE

Countries Before Colonization

● Kenyao 1st century AD

Coast frequented by Arab traders who

established Arab and Persian colonies

Nilotic and Bantu people moved there as well● Swahili language developed as lingua franca for trade

Path to Decolonization

● India

o Influential leaders:

Mohandas K. Gandhi

Jawaharlal Nehru (Hindu)

Muhammad Ali Jinnah

(Muslim)

Maulana Azad (Muslim

Sardar Patel (Hindu)

o Fight for more autonomy within

the nation began with the creation

of the Indian National Congress→

demanded a modern Indian

nation

Path to Decolonization

● India

o Key events

1885 → Indian National Congress founded

1920→ Launch on Non-Cooperation Movement

1930 → Salt March and Civil Disobedience● 1930 → First Round Table Conference

● 1931 → Second Round Table Conference

● 1932 → Third Round Table Conference

1935 → Government of India Act

1942 → Quit India Movement

http://www.timetoast.com/timelines/849628

http://www.bl.uk/reshelp/findhelpregion/asia/india/indianindepend

ence/chronology/

Negotiated

Independence

Path to Decolonization

● India

o Mass killing in the border of India

and Pakistan followed

Independence

Make us question whether

Indian independence can be

truly considered non-violent

● 1 million killed

● 12 million migrated

o Mahatma Gandhi was murdered

by Hindu extremist who felt he

was too sympathetic towards

Muslims

Path to Decolonization

● Kenya

o Influential Leaders

Jomo Kenyatta

o Groups fought against British efforts to levy taxes,

conscript African men to be porters for the

military, and force African communities off their

lands

British led military campaigns to crush

African resistance

● part of the colony were under military

control until the 1920s.

o The British governed by indirect rule

Local African leaders enforced colonial

authority.

Path to Decolonization● Kenya

o Political groups were organized along ethnic lines

Most Africans did not see themselves as

"Kenyan"

● Benedict Anderson’s “imagined

communities” were not at play here

o After WWII

African discontent began to boil

Kikuyu people (largest ethnic group in Kenya)

began a revolt

● Aimed at colonial system and africans who

were colonial supporters

o Initial feelings of national → rise of

the imagined community

This becomes known as the Mau Mau Revolt

● 1952-1960 Kikuyu woman in traditional

dress

Path to Decolonization

● Kenya

o European settlers prevented the

smooth transition of power Opposed independence even after

the revolt

o After Mau Mau revolt,

independence became clear

o 11,000 Africans were killed

o Negotiations lasted for the next

three years

o Fanon would argue that the new

found feelings of nationalism would

be opposed to the ideas of

liberation that the Kikuyu people

sought

Can the Subaltern Speak?

● Spivak argues that the

subaltern cannot speak

● India and Kenya → show

another side to the story

● The ability of both countries to

rise above British colonizer’s

repression showed that the

subaltern had a voice

o Nationalist mindframe

Nationalist, Internationalist and

Metropolitan Explanations

India Kenya

Nationalist Decolonization in India was result of efforts made within

the nation to free themselves from British rule. Efforts by

influential leader, such as Gandhi, were the reason why

the country achieved independence.

Decolonization in Kenya was result of efforts made within

the nation to free themselves from the colonizer.

Primarily, by the Kikuyu people, who were the Kenyans

who initiated the Mau Mau Revolt.

Metropolitan Despite national efforts, the reason why independence

was achieved was because the colonies were costing too

much money for Britain and it would be more valuable,

for economic reason, to allow independence and remain

allied to the nation

Since the British were capable of ending the Mau Mau

revolt, it is clear that they could still control the country if it

was in their interest. They arranged to maintain support

of moderate Africans to ensure a close relationship

between Kenya and Britain after independence.

Internationalist After WWII, Britain had fought Nazi Germany and Fascist

Italy who sought to have an empire, therefore it made no

sense for them to hold their own colonies. The context of

the Cold War also made it hard for Britain to maintain its

colonies since the main goal was to defeat communism

and not maintain an empire.

After WWII, Britain had fought Nazi Germany and Fascist

Italy who sought to have an empire, therefore it made no

sense for them to hold their own colonies.The context of

the Cold War also made it hard for Britain to maintain its

colonies since the main goal was to defeat communism

and not maintain an empire.

Periphery:

Kenya and

India

Semi

Periphery:

Spain and

Portugal

World-System Theory

Core:

Britain

High Profit Consumption Goods

Cheap Labor and Raw Materials

A.G. Hopkins

● Argues that decolonization must be

understood broadly as a process of

globalization → in concordance with the

internationalist explanation

A.G. Hopkins

● The United Nations

→ weapon that is a

consequence of

globalization, only

become more

powerful with the

growth of

decolonization

Countries After Decolonization

● India

o Border and migration struggle between 1947 and 1948 as Muslims and Hindus try to

move to their respective nations

o Population has tripled since independence

o Nehru (Prime Minister) believed India should westernize, so he built factories,

highways and railroads

o India is still considered underdeveloped (or an emerging) country

This is one of the biggest consequences of colonization

● BRICS → all emerging countries

Countries After Decolonization

● Kenyao Jomo Kenyatta → Prime Minister

o Kenya was admitted into UN under his rule

o Opened trade with Uganda and Tanzania

o HOWEVER

Considered a totalitarian leader● He killed opposition and had only his name on several

election ballots.

● Gave land to friend and family, who in turn controlled most of

the economy

● Cult of personality → Was considered the Father of Kenya

o Based on Friedrich and Brzezinski → Totalitarian