Question

How were the decolonization struggles in China, Middle East, Algeria, Congo, South Africa and India similar and different?

Answer 1

Decolonization is defined as the undoing of colonialism, where a nation establishes and maintains dependent territory. Territories including Middle East, Asia And African countries began to decolonized by European powers after World War ll . Decolonization was peaceful and gradual for some countries but violent for others, where nations energized by nationalism.

Colonialism in China which initially started in only few treaty port areas during the 1840s gradually expanded over time and continued for more than a century and finally end after World war II when Japan was defeated.

Similarly In Middle East the European powers began to grant independence to many colonies in the Middle East.

In Algeria, the war for independence was long, bloddy and dirty with systematic torture and numerous atrocities. General ade Gaulle (France) accepted the principal of Algerian Self Determination and in 1962 Algeria became independent.

Cuba gained formal independence from US on 20 May 1902 as Republic of Cuba. But Cuba constitution become victims of neo colonism under USA rule.

1957 onwards British colonies achieved independence with little or no bloodshed. After the war the impreial powers were undee international pressure to decolonize. Radical political Movements in South Africa led by Nelson Mandela lead to independence of South Africa and establishments of Republican South Africa.

Britain grant interdependence to India as precautionary measure due to violent upsrings in pre Gandhian era. Gandhi, a non violent and peaceful protestor successful in decolonization.

Nelson Mandela ( South Africa ) and Gandhi ( India ) led non violence compaign to freedom and independence of their own respective countries.

Theorefore, Decolonization process was peaceful for some colonised countries whereas violents for others.