Decolonization / Cold War
• Learning objectives:
– Understand the importance of these farreaching events
– Put tools to use to raise questions & explain
why events happened the way they did
Empires & Decolonization
• Ancient Empires: Egypt, Phoenicians,
Rome, Chinese, etc.
• Colonization of Latin / North America, 15thcentury on
– Domination of indigenous peoples
Spanish empire
Empires & Decolonization
• Ancient Empires: Egypt, Phoenicians,
Rome, Chinese, etc.
• Colonization of Latin / North America, 15thcentury on
– Domination of indigenous peoples
• European colonization of Africa, Asia &
MEast, 19th-20th centuries
Imperialism in Asia:
Japan’s Colonies
The colonial world, 1914
Decolonization and the end of
Empire
• In 1955, only 3 independent states in subSaharan Africa
• By 1965, 31
• By 1980, whole continent independent
except Namibia (1990)
Colonial Rule and Independence
in Africa
The End of Empire & Decolonization:
Explanations
• How do we explain this epochal change in
the international system?
• Why did it turn out the way it did?
• Why have some peoples gained
independence (statehood) while others
(e.g., indigenous peoples in North/Latin
America) have not?
• What are the responsibilities of
colonizers?
The End of Empire & Decolonization:
Explanations
• How do we explain this epochal change in
world politics?
• Where would IR theories tell us to look?
• Critical (Marxist): Economics of empire
– Changing Modes of Production made
colonies less profitable
The End of Empire & Decolonization:
Explanations
• Critical (Marxist): Economics of empire
– Changing Modes of Production made colonies less
profitable
– Neo-colonialism
• Realist: Military power
– Over-Extension: Colonizers could not maintain
colonies
– Power and Disinterest: Weak are “states by
courtesy” / Powerful did not want to maintain
colonies (could if desired).
The End of Empire & Decolonization:
Explanations
• Marxist & Realist explanations: Problems
– Could powers like the US today not still attempt
to impose colonies if they wanted?
– So then why fight colonial wars?
– Why did the (militarily) ‘weak’ defeat the
‘strong’ (Vietnam, Algeria)?
– What changed that made states want to divest
themselves of colonies that earlier were keys to
great power status? Why grant independence in
that period when didn’t before?
– Why did some transitions to independence occur
with wars, others less violently?
The End of Empire & Decolonization:
Explanations
• I) Liberalism/constructivism:
– Role of individuals (“moral entrepreneurs”) & “people
power”
– Gandhi & Non-Violence
The End of Empire & Decolonization:
Explanations
• Liberalism/constructivism – I) Role of individuals & people power: Gandhi &
Non-violence
– II) Power of Ideas
• Nationalism
Decolonization & Nationalism
Vietnam: Ho Chi Minh
The End of Empire & Decolonization:
Explanations
• Liberalism/Constructivism
– I) Role of individuals & people power
– II) Power of Ideas
• Nationalism
• Resistance & “Weapons of the weak”: Turn
colonizers’ own ideas against them
The End of Empire & Decolonization:
Explanations
• Liberalism/Constructivism
– I) Role of individuals & people power
– II) Power of Ideas
• Nationalism
• Resistance & “Weapons of the weak
• De-legitimization of colonialism within colonial
powers
– III) International Organizations:
• UN de-legitimization of colonialization / legitimization of
‘self-determination’
The End of Empire & Decolonization:
Explanations
III) International Organizations
UN de-legitimization of colonialization / legitimization of
‘self-determination’
• UN 1960 GA Resolution on Granting of Independence
– Colonization condemned as “subjugation, domination
and exploitation” and “denial of fundamental human
rights”
• Revolution from de facto sovereignty (realism) to de jure
sovereignty (liberal constructivism): “failed” states
– Weak states which exist more due to international
recognition of their sovereign legal right to exist than
ability to defend it & govern with stability
• Robert Jackson (UBC)
The Politics of Recognition and
Self-determination
• Whose claims for independence and selfdetermination ought to be recognized, and
on what basis?
– Kurds?
– Indigenous peoples?
– Kosovo?
States recognizing Kosovo’s claims to
independence