Imperialism & Decolonization GOAL: How did imperialism and alter decolonization contribute to the inequalities between Western countries (U.S., Europe) and countries in South America, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia? What is Imperialism? Imperialism = the policy of expanding social, economic, or political control to other nations Imperialism = the policy of expanding social, economic, or political control to other nations -Furthered the practice of colonialism -Creation of empires Why Imperialism? Need for natural resources & raw materials (for industrialization) Need for natural resources & raw materials (for industrialization) Need for new markets to sell goods Need for new markets to sell goods Competition with other countries for wealth & trade, power & dominance Competition with other countries for wealth & trade, power & dominance Social Darwinism belief that Europeans were fittest for survival and justified in colonizing others Social Darwinism belief that Europeans were fittest for survival and justified in colonizing others Where did Imperialism Occur? Scramble for Africa Scramble for Africa Europeans nations began quickly scooping up territory in Africa Berlin Conference of 1885 Berlin Conference of 1885 European countries met to divide up the African continent Did not take into account African ethnic or tribal regions Led to conflict once Europeans withdrew Where did Imperialism Occur? Negative Effects of Imperialism for Colonized People Destruction of traditional life Destruction of traditional life Loss of self-rule Loss of self-rule Excluded natives from govt Social exclusion Social exclusion Low status for colonized people Low status for colonized people Prevented development of colonies economies or industries Prevented development of colonies economies or industries = Dependency Negative Effects of Imperialism for Colonized People Racism Racism Apartheid in S. Africa Ethnic conflict Ethnic conflict Deaths from war, genocide Armenian genocide Armenian genocide Rwanda, Nigeria, Somalia, Uganda, Burundi, etc. Rwanda, Nigeria, Somalia, Uganda, Burundi, etc. India & Pakistan over Kashmir India & Pakistan over Kashmir Poverty, famine Poverty, famine Political instability Political instability Were there any positive effects? Provided education and literacy Provided education and literacy Introduced improved medicine and health care Introduced improved medicine and health care Improved sanitation Brought new technologies & forms of transportation (i.e. railroads) Brought new technologies & forms of transportation (i.e. railroads) Improved technologies, infrastructure, & sanitation may have been to benefit European settlers in the colony, not necessarily the colonized people There are 231 ethnic groups with at least 10% of their historical homeland falling into more than one country. When we use a more restrictive threshold of 20% there are 164 ethnicities partitioned across the national border. There are 231 ethnic groups with at least 10% of their historical homeland falling into more than one country. When we use a more restrictive threshold of 20% there are 164 ethnicities partitioned across the national border. (Michalopoulos and Papaioannou, 2010) (Michalopoulos and Papaioannou, 2010) Conflict between ethnic groups Conflict between ethnic groups Conflict between religious groups (Muslim, Christian, traditional, etc. Conflict between religious groups (Muslim, Christian, traditional, etc. Conflict over resources, claims to territory Conflict over resources, claims to territory Richard H. Robbins, Global Problems and the Culture of Capitalism, (Allyn and Bacon, 2002), p. 302) We must remember that the European agreements that had carved up Africa into states paid little attention to cultural and ethnic boundaries and ethnic groups had little opportunity or need to form political alliances or accommodations under repressive colonial rule. Think of countries such as Canada, which has been trying for hundreds of years with mixed success to accommodate only two linguistic groups English and French and you get an idea of the problems of African states with far greater cultural and linguistic divisions. What is Decolonization? Decolonization = the process of becoming free from colonial status and achieving statehood Decolonization = the process of becoming free from colonial status and achieving statehood Initiated by India National self-determination = ability to create and implement ones own national govt and make own political decisions National self-determination = ability to create and implement ones own national govt and make own political decisions A rally in Cape Verde with portraits of Amilcar Cabral and Aristides Pereira, leaders of the liberation struggle in Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde against Portuguese colonial rule. Photograph: UN Photo / Yutaka Nagata Where did decolonization happen? The experience of decolonization and independence differed by country The experience of decolonization and independence differed by country Some colonizers were reluctant to give up control = conflict Some colonizers were reluctant to give up control = conflict Some colonies independence more peacefully Some colonies independence more peacefully Where did decolonization happen? The experience of decolonization and independence differed by country The experience of decolonization and independence differed by country Some colonizers were reluctant to give up control = conflict Some colonizers were reluctant to give up control = conflict Some colonies independence more peacefully Some colonies independence more peacefully Why Decolonize? Post-WWII mentality Post-WWII mentality Colonies had fought alongside big powers in WWII Nationalist movements turned to independence movements Nationalist movements turned to independence movements Europeans questioned morality of colonization Some European countries could not afford to keep colonies (economically & politically) Some countries were forced to give up colonies due to loss in WWII Why decolonization? Atlantic Charter Atlantic Charter Roosevelt & Churchill met in 1941 to discuss postwar world (although far off) A provision of the A.C. was to grant autonomy to colonies United Nations formed after WWII United Nations formed after WWII UN Declaration on the Granting of Independence, 1960 Set up Special Committee on Decolonization Patterns of Decolonization 1) Peaceful negotiation 1) Peaceful negotiation India 2) Civil war 2) Civil war China, Korea 3) Incomplete decolonization 3) Incomplete decolonization Palestine Decolonization in India Britain assisted India in achieving autonomy Britain assisted India in achieving autonomy Partition between India and Pakistan created conflict (tensions remain) Partition between India and Pakistan created conflict (tensions remain) Jumma & Kashmir Decolonization and the Cold War Emergence of independent nations co-occurred with conflict between Western, democratic U.S. and communist U.S.S.R. Emergence of independent nations co-occurred with conflict between Western, democratic U.S. and communist U.S.S.R. Will new nations fall to communism? Will new nations fall to communism? Decolonization in Asia CHINA Europe & Japan withdrew spheres of influence Nationalists v. Communists led by Mao Zedong Communist Party won control of China in 1949 Conflict between Communist N. Korea & anti- Communist South Korea Korean War Continued division at 38 th parallel KOREAVIETNAM Torn between Communist North and non- Communist South Vietnam War Decolonization in the Middle East Issues with their decolonization: Issues with their decolonization: Strategic and economic importance of petroleum found in Middle East Urge to modernize v. preserve Islamic tradition Competition between U.S. & U.S.S.R. for influence in the region during Cold War Authoritarianism dictatorship & human rights abuses Arab-Israeli conflict since 1948 leads to instability Decolonization in Middle East Iraq & Jordan independent from GB (1932, 1946) Iraq & Jordan independent from GB (1932, 1946) Lebanon & Syria independent from France (1943, 1946) Lebanon & Syria independent from France (1943, 1946) Partition plan for Israel & Palestine Partition plan for Israel & Palestine Israel declared a state in 1948 Palestine still seeking statehood Arab-Israeli Wars Decolonization in Africa Nationalist movements and independence differed throughout Africa Nationalist movements and independence differed throughout Africa Pan-Africanism Some were peaceful, orderly transitions, others were violent and unstable Some were peaceful, orderly transitions, others were violent and unstable Challenges to Decolonization Ethnic disputes Ethnic disputes Dependent economies Dependent economies Growing debt Growing debt Cultural dependence on west-> religious revivalism as backlash Cultural dependence on west-> religious revivalism as backlash Widespread social unrest Widespread social unrest Military responses to restore order Military responses to restore order Population growth Resource depletion Lack of middle class in some locales Education deficit and later, brain drain. Neo-colonialism through economic debt Emergence of Third World Client states = still economically & politically dependent on colonizer Client states = still economically & politically dependent on colonizer Proxy war = war waged between dependent client states of larger, more powerful states that do not become directly involved in fighting Proxy war = war waged between dependent client states of larger, more powerful states that do not become directly involved in fighting Guatemala, Nicaragua, Chile Neo-Colonialism? Neo-colonialism = continued pressure to control or influence former colonies politically, economically, or culturally Neo-colonialism = continued pressure to control or influence former colonies politically, economically, or culturally Banana republic (country dependent on single cash crop & politically obligated to the countries which buy it) i.e. Guatemala & U.S./United Fruit Co. Non-Alignment Movement International conference of leaders of new nations to discuss post-colonial agenda International conference of leaders of new nations to discuss post-colonial agenda Determined to remain non- aligned with major powers Determined to remain non- aligned with major powers Emphasized internal dev. Emphasized internal dev. Called for Called for Global reduced military spending Increase in spending on economic dev., health, education, welfare, housing, etc. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru with Zhou Enlai (left), of China, at the Bandung conference, (Photograph by Getty Images, From Outlook 22 October 2012) Non-Alignment Movement The preservation of peace forms the central aim of Indias policy. It is in the pursuit of this policy that we have chosen the path of nonalignment in any military or like pact of alliance. Nonalignment does not mean passivity of mind or action, lack of faith or conviction. It does not mean submission to what we consider evil. We believe that each country has not only the right to freedom but also to decide its own policy and way of life. Only thus can true freedom flourish and a people grow according to their own genius. Nehrus Speech at Bandung Conference