Decolonization Overview

1. Decolonization/
Independence
movements in
Africa, Asia, and
the Middle East
1920s – 1980s

3. Overview
By the mid-20th
century,
many REGIONS in Africa,
Asia & the Middle East had
“freed” themselves from
European Imperial
dominance.
Decolonization = this
process

6. What happened?
 European
withdrawal
 Revolutions
overthrew
Europeans
 Non-violent
Independence
Movements

7. Causes of
Decolonization
 Education & information
acquired by Asians &
Africans.
 World Wars
 Asians & Africans
questioned European
superiority
 War in the colonies
 Nationalism!

8. Decolonization
Many different African and Asian
groups used a variety of ways to
gain independence.

11. RESULTS of
Decolonization Regions of the world became
“independent”; new nation-states
were born

12. Problems remained (or were they caused by
European imperialism?)
 Economic dependency
on the West and other regions of the
world.

13.  the indigenous elite often replaced the
colonial elite maintaining a large gap
between rich and poor.

14.  Tribal, racial, religious differences
led to conflicts & wars
INDIAN PARTITION

15. Civil War in
Nigeria Tribal-based
genocide in
Rwanda
Civil War in Vietnam