Decolonization: Causes and Impact in Asia
The Causes of Decolonization
Decolonization was a phenomenon that encompassed a large number of countries and people. The causes of this phenomenon that conditioned decolonization were varied.
Internal Factors
Internally, countries experienced significant population growth caused by high birth rates and declining mortality. Economic and social changes had destroyed the traditional patterns of subsistence, and the introduction of unequal exchanges, not forgetting cultural and ideological changes in the traditions of colonized peoples, led to the development of nationalist movements led by economic elites and intellectuals from the colonies. Educated minorities, encouraged by the support of the population, organized independence movements.
External Factors
From an external perspective, the loss of European hegemony, caused by the First World War, was a major factor. European weakness accelerated independence. A critical anti-colonial and pro-decolonization mentality developed in the international arena. Western society, including socialist intellectuals and the church through missionary action, deemed colonialism incompatible with their ideologies.
International organizations like the League of Nations and the UN advocated for the freedom of peoples and rejected colonial practices. The Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples of 1960 declared colonialism “absolute evil.” Finally, solidarity and support were provided by countries that had already gained independence.
The Bandung Conference
The Bandung Conference (1955), under the patronage of Indonesian President Sukarno and Indian Prime Minister Nehru, was particularly important. Its goal was to give a voice to newly independent nations on the international stage, exposing the common interests of these countries and establishing basic principles for the coexistence of peoples. While Bandung did not establish a permanent body, it became a symbolic reference point. It marked the first step in history where leaders of these nations could meet to discuss and deliberate on matters of common interest.
Asia
Asia witnessed a rapid development of the decolonization process after the Soviet Union achieved self-determination. The conditions of the continent were very relevant:
- A strong European presence
- A strong influence of conservative parties
- Continuous action by a nationalist movement that demanded states with distinct historical, cultural, social, economic, and political characteristics
India
The country that began the process was India, where the British had their largest colony. From the late 19th century, the Congress Party, led by figures like Gandhi during the First World War, played a crucial role. Alongside the Congress Party, the Muslim League was created. These two groups were divided by irreconcilable religious hatreds.
Independence came after the Second World War. Britain began negotiations but soon clashed with the conflicting interests of Hindus and Muslims. The solution was the creation of two states: India and Pakistan, recognized by Britain after violent internal strife, including the assassination of Gandhi himself, a victim of religious fanaticism. The process of decolonization continued in territories belonging to France and Holland.