International Relations

Decolonization and Neocolonialism

DECOLONIZATION
● Earliest beginnings of nationalist movements in the 18th century
● Rebellion in Bolivia, North America, Peru, Vietnam, China even India
● Matured movements between 1914-1945
● Change in leadership of movements from traditional rulers to nationalist
leaders, equipped with western education and ideology
● US and Soviet Support
● Soviet - struggle for national independence as progressive and constricted the
field of operation of imperialism and monopoly capitalism
● US - opposition to colonialism in the name of democracy but the real intention
was market driven
Post War
● LAte 40s - number of countries emerged
● Philippines, India, Pakistan, North and South Korea, Myanmar, Indonesia etc.
● End of French colonialism in Indo-China in 1950s
● North Africa (1950s) - Libya, Sudan, Morocco and Tunisia
● Egypt (1953)
● Iraq (1958)
● Sub-Saharan Africa - Ghana (1957), Guinea (1958)
● By late 1960s, almost all the colonies of Africa were successful in establishing
their political independence
Cause for Decolonization
● Bankruptcy of Imperial Powers
● United States and Decolonization
● Rise of Communism
● Rise of Nationalism and self-determination movements
● Role of UN - emphasizing the importance of upholding the interests of the
people of dependent territories; promoting international peace and security;
aiding in the achievement of self-government
● Role of Third World Countries - The NAM; Numerical superiority of
decolonized countries in UN by 1960s; The Declaration on Granting of
Independence to Colonial Countries and People
Colonialism
● When rule over foreign territories is sought primarily for the economic, political
or military benefits of the central homeland, the action assumes the
characteristics of imperialism
● Where rule is undertaken within a colonial area, primarily for retaining the
control over the territory is said to be identified with colonialism
● Both pertain to relation of subjugation and domination
● Modern colonialism was basically a European Phenomenon
● The Colonies have all been far from homeland
● The colonies were inhabited by populations different from their conquerors in
both culture and race
● Spurt of life in 19th Century due to industrial revolution in Europe that
prompted them to look for newer markets elsewhere
Neocolonialism
● Popularized in the wake of decolonization
● Formation of the NAM
● The All-African Peoples’ Conference in the late 1950s and early 1960s,
spread the critique of neo-colonialism
● Described as “The survival of the colonial system in spite of formal recognition
of political independence in the emerging countries which became the victims
of indirect and subtle form of domination of political, economic, social, military
and technical forces
Difference between Colonialism and Neo-Colonialism
● Theoretical presence of sovereignty in case of neo-colonialism
● But in reality external direction to economic and political system
● Worst from of imperialism
● Those who practice have power without responsibility
● Those who suffer do so without redress
● Kwame Nkrumah suggests neo-colonialism represents imperialism in its final
stages
● Denunciation of neo-colonialism - NAM countries pioneer in their struggle
against colonialism and neo-colonialism
● NIEO
Mechanism of Neo-Colonialism
● Political Devices
● Foreign Aid
● MNCs
● Treaties and Agreements
● Arms Trade
● Transfer of Technology
● Cultural Device