Decolonisation

8 What was decolonisation?

Decolonisation was a process in which colonised territories were freed from colonial power and became independent states.

The Second World War weakened the colonial system...

At the start of the Second World War, most colonial empires remained intact.
Causes:
The war directly affected the colonies, since the forced mobilisation of men and resources for the Allies increased the unrest.
In addition, many colonies in Africa and Asia were occupied by Germany and Japan, which highlighted the weakness of the metropoles (Britain, France, the Netherlands, etc.).

By 1945:
The old colonial powers had lost international influence to the United States and the USSR.
They also faced serious economic and political difficulties in rebuilding their colonial domination, especially in Asia, where there were strong independence movements. The resources needed to maintain very expensive empires (army, administration, etc.) were too high.

Multiple Choice

Decolonisation was:

• A process in which independent states were freed from colonial power and became colonised territories.

• A stages in which colonised territories were freed from colonial power and became independent states.

• A process in which colonised territories were freed from colonial power and became states.

• All answers are incorrect

Multiple Choice

The two great superpowers not supported decolonisation.

• True

• False

... and contributed to decolonisation

In the colonised countries, people's desire for independence was growing as they became aware of the political and economic exploitation involved in colonialism and the poverty stemming from this.

Multiple Choice

In the colonised countries, were conscious of the political and economic exploitation.

• True

• False

... and contributed to decolonisation

At the end of the war, independence movements based on different ideologies (communism, religion, nationalism, etc.) increased (Algeria, India, Vietnam, etc.).
These movements gained momentum due to charismatic leaders, such as Gandhi, Ho Chi Min, Sukarno, Nkrumah and Lumumba, who had the skills and support to lead them.

1^ST STAGE (1945-1954)

•In the Middle East, Lebanon, Syria and Jordan gained independence.
The British mandate in Palestine ended and much of its territory became the new state of Israel.

•In Asia, Britain agreed to Indian independence in 1947, Indonesia became an independent state in 1949, and France left Indochina in 1954.

HOW DID THE DECOLONISATION PROCESS UNFOLD?

2^ND STAGE (1951-1962)

• In North Africa, the Italian colony of Libya was granted sovereignty in 1951.

• In 1956, France recognised Moroccan and Tunisian independence, but tried to stay in Algeria.
This led to a long war that ended with Algerian independence in 1962.

3^RD STAGE (1955-1965)

•This stage affected mainly Sub-Saharan Africa, where most British (Kenya, Nigeria), French (Guinea, Mauritania, Madagascar) and Belgian (Congo) colonies declared independence.

4^TH STAGE (1975-1993)

• In Southern Africa, the Portuguese colonies (Angola and Mozambique) declared independence in 1975, followed by Namibia in 1990.

• In South Africa, white settlers declared independence in 1961 and established a system of racial segregation against most of the black population (apartheid).

This situation continued until the 1990s, when the discriminatory laws against black people were abolished.

Multiple Choice

In 1956, France recognised Moroccan, Algeria and Tunisian independence.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

During the 1^ST STAGE the state of Israel was proclaimed:

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Apartheid is:

• A system of tribes segregation against most of the black population.

• A system of racial segregation against most of the black population.

• A system of racial segregation against most of the white population.

• All answers are incorrect

9 Israel and Palestine: a permanent conflict?

From the creation of the state of Israel...

The most complex decolonisation process took place in Palestine, a territory under British rule. Inhabited by Arabs and Muslims, it began to receive Jewish immigrants after the First World War as a result of the Balfour Declaration ( 917).
This immigration intensified in 1945, against the backdrop of the Holocaust. The Jewish people expressed the need to regroup in a land they claimed as their own.

In 1947, the UN proposed the partition of Palestine into two states under British rule: a Jewish state (with 55% of the territory and 30% of the population) and a Palestinian state.

The British mandate ended in 1948. The proposed partition did not go ahead and the Zionist leader Ben-Gurion proclaimed the state of Israel. About 300000 Palestinians were expelled and forced to live in refugee camps in neighbouring countries. A million remained under Israeli authority.

Multiple Choice

The most complex decolonisation process took place in:

• Australia
• Palestine

• Israel

• China

Multiple Choice

The Balfour Declaration was a:

• Public statement issued by the British Government in 1917 during the First World War

• Private statement issued by the British Government in 1917 during the First World War

• Public statement issued by the British Government in 1917 during the Second World War

• Public statement issued by the French Government in 1917 during the First World War

Multiple Choice

In 1947, the UN proposed the partition of Isarel into two states under British rule.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Choose the correct answer:

• Ben-Gurion proclaimed the state of Palestine.

• Yasir Arafat proclaimed the state of Israel.

• Ben-Gurion proclaimed the state of Israel.

• Benjamín Netanyahu proclaimed the state of Israel.

9 Israel and Palestine: a permanent conflict?

... to the Arab-Israeli wars...

Palestine's Arab neighbours (Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Lebanon and Yemen) did not recognise the new Israeli state and declared war on Israel in 1948. Three more wars took place, all of which ended in victory for Israel.

With each conflict, Israel expanded its territory and strengthened itself as a state. Its political, economic and social structure differed from that of the Arabs.
It was a parliamentary democracy with close links to its supporter, the United States, and it became a major military power in the region.

In the Arab countries, the defeats highlighted the divisions between them and revealed conflicting interests in politics (countries with almost feudal monarchies versus left-wing or Islamic republics), economic aspects (control of oil) and international positioning.

Multiple Choice

In the Arab countries, the defeats highlighted the divisions between them and revealed:

• Conflicting disinterest in politics, economic aspects and international positioning.

• Conflicting interests in politics, economic aspects and national positioning.

• Conflicting interests in politics, social aspects and international positioning.

• All answers are incorrect

Multiple Choice

The Palestine's Arab neighbours that did not recognise the new Israeli were:

• Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Lebanon and Yemen.

• Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Lebanon and Morocco.

• Egypt, Syria, Tunisia Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Lebanon and Yemen.

• Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Lebanon and Yemen.

Multiple Choice

It was a parliamentary democracy with close links to its supporter, the United States.

• Israel

• Palestine

9 Israel and Palestine: a permanent conflict?

... and the Palestinian problem

The Palestinians became a central issue during this confrontation. Some remained in the state of Israel, while others were expelled or occupied a shrinking territory in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

Support for Palestinians in Arab countries has shifted over time, from full support in 1948 to more nuanced positions. The interests of the Arab countries ended up internationalising the conflict, while sidelining the Palestinian cause.

In this context, the Palestinians created the PLO (Palestine Liberation Organisation) to fight for their own state and destroy the state of Israel. The organisation radicalised and carried out terrorist attacks against the state of Israel and its interests and allies.

9 Israel and Palestine: a permanent conflict?

... and the Palestinian problem

When the PLO gave up terrorism, it was recognised by the UN (1974) as a representative of the Palestinian people. Since then, it has engaged in political and diplomatic action, which has not excluded insurrectionary movements such as the intifada in 1987.

In 1988, the PLO made an important change: it recognised the state of Israel and unilaterally declared Palestinian independence.

In 1993, the Oslo Accords established the creation of the Palestinian National Authority (1994) as the government of the autonomous territories of Gaza and the West Bank. Despite this, tensions and instability have continued in the absence of a definitive solution to satisfy both parties.

9 Israel and Palestine: a permanent conflict?

... and the Palestinian problem

When the PLO gave up terrorism, it was recognised by the UN (1974) as a representative of the Palestinian people. Since then, it has engaged in political and diplomatic action, which has not excluded insurrectionary movements such as the intifada in 1987.

In 1988, the PLO made an important change: it recognised the state of Israel and unilaterally declared Palestinian independence.

In 1993, the Oslo Accords established the creation of the Palestinian National Authority (1994) as the government of the autonomous territories of Gaza and the West Bank. Despite this, tensions and instability have continued in the absence of a definitive solution to satisfy both parties.

... and contributed to decolonisation

At international level, an attitude in favour of decolonisation and freedom of peoples, as reflected in the Charter of the United Nations (1945), had spread. Meanwhile, the two great superpowers supported decolonisation and interfered in the emancipation process in an attempt to bring the new states into their sphere of influence.