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November 10, 2007

Freedom Now
Gandhi?s long struggle to liberate India from colonial rule reached fruition in the aftermath of World War II. Nonviolent civil disobedience appeared successful but within a year of India?s independence, Gandhi was assassinated. Today, celebrating fifty years of independence, India is a rising economic force, a nuclear power, and the world?s largest democracy.

In Africa, colonial rule was challenged more forcefully?notably the Mau Mau uprising in Kenya and the Algerian war against France. Although Britain (and especially the United States) believed that the Soviet Union was supplying the rebels, there is little evidence to support these Cold War fears.

In Egypt, however, Gamal Abdel Nasser exploited Cold War tensions to seize the Suez Canal from British and French control. Britain and France intervened militarily to recapture the canal but the U.S. forced a cessation of hostilities as the Soviets grew increasingly belligerent in their support of Nasser. To what extend did the Cold War affect the struggles for independence by colonials around the world? What other factors shaped the era of decolonization?
Posted by      William M. at 6:35 AM CST

Comments:

  Brooke W.  says:
The Cold War incited great fear amongst all industrialized nations. While they were busy squabbling with each other and trying to build the best nuclear weapons, the areas of former colonization was able to see this as a huge advantage. Without someone constantly watching over their shoulders, they could really grow as a nation by using what resources the colonizers had left behind. Decolonization was also shaped by internal politics of the nations involved because some of the boundaries that were drawn by European imperialists took no mind as to which people got along with whom (this is largely seen in Africa where tribes that were mortal enemies were lumped together in one nation then left to continue to work with each other that way, causing civil wars). Financial factors also affected the decolonized areas because of how they had grown to depend on the monetary support of their rulers, resulting in economic depression as they quickly packed up and left.
Posted on Sat, 10 Nov 2007 12:01 PM CST by Brooke W.
  Adam N.  says:
The Cold War era was a time in which colonials around the world began to take action in gaining freedom for their country. In India, Ghandi staged boycotts and marches. In Africa, people demanded self-government. People in Kenya and the Gold Coast, for example, longed to have their own General Assembly. The Cold War caused vulnerabilities within industrialized nations, and colonials sought to take advantage of that time period. A major factor that shaped decolonization is religious fervor. In India and Pakistan, Hindus and Muslims attacked one another's communities, which resulted in millions being slaughtered and about 30 million refugees.
Posted on Mon, 12 Nov 2007 12:08 AM CST by Adam N.
  Melanie L.  says:
The Cold War affected struggles for independence by colonials around the world by making if difficult for the poeple to establish self-rule. Most had been dependant upon Britain for so long it was difficult to pull away. But by the same token Britain was dependant upon some of the colonials for some their cash crops such as coffee. Decolonization created civil unrest. People that had at one point been neighborly were now on opposing forces because of religious belief, boudary lines, and governmental differences.
Posted on Mon, 12 Nov 2007 1:34 PM CST by Melanie L.
  Lisette W.  says:
The Cold War made it very difficult for the countries around the world to pursue the things they wanted to pursue, such as freedom and democracy, nuclear weapons, etc. The Cold War limited trade among these nations, and made it difficult to get the necessary resources so that each country to try to continue to build their country. With the two major superpowers not "talking to each other", this literally affected everyone, and that made it difficult for the other countries, especially those countries such as India, Pakistan, and Kenya to try to achieve independence. It was also dring this time that religious differences began to play a big part in the struggle for independence. These different religious views casued tensions that at one time had never existed. This, however, resulted in violence that caused many innocent bystanders to be killed.
Posted on Mon, 12 Nov 2007 4:58 PM CST by Lisette W.
  Bessie J.  says:
The independent colonials hoped for peace and prosperity like never before. The economy was disproportional. Adjusting to decolonization was a very difficult process--economically and psychologically. The United States and the Soviet Union competed for influence in former colonies by giving out large grants of financial and military support.
Agrarian change and disaster, changes in religion and the impact of the depression were some of the other factors that shaped the era of decolonization. Every one came back from the war with industrial ideas.
Posted on Tue, 13 Nov 2007 11:40 AM CST by Bessie J.
  Lindsey C.  says:
The Cold War made other smaller colonies try to build themselves up and create their own country. During this time there were religous wars btw the Muslims and Hindus in India that began to disrute the peace that Ghandi was trying to obtain. Everyone was wanting to be their own country. However during this time the war made it very difficult to get the resources and finacial support they needed. Colonies realized that they needed the support and protection from larger countries in order to survive.
Posted on Thu, 15 Nov 2007 5:06 PM CST by Lindsey C.
  Amy C.  says:
The Cold War affected independence in many colonies since the U.S. and Russia would back certain countries with aide in hopes of gaining support and allies in the future. In other parts of the world, the U.S. and Russia had no concern either way if the countries won independence or not. In British-ruled African nations, the U.S. was not wiling to go against their best ally. It seems that some of the nations were not quite ready to have complete control of the government since many still have unrest and dictators ruling.
Posted on Sat, 17 Nov 2007 8:10 PM CST by Amy C.
  demia f.  says:
The Cold WAr put a stop to universal progress. Industrialized nattions wer so busy trying to rebuild at a rapid pace and higher standards than each other that they practically forgot about external factors and also political and social issues withing their nation. This made it easier for colonials to discretely rise to power.
Decolonization resulted in chaos. People began breaking away from each other trying to re-establish their own government without the help of those they once depended on. As a result, boundary confrontations, power dominance became an issue. Anytime there is an issue of money and power, something bad is sure to follow.
Posted on Mon, 19 Nov 2007 12:59 AM CST by demia f.
  Cordelia G.  says:
During the Cold War, other smaller colonies pursued to create their own countries. Due to a lack in the financial area, this made it very difficult for them. There became a pursuit of power among these smaller colonies, which caused many problems. They pushed to establish freedom and democracies, but they did not have the financial resources to do so. Not having the support from larger nations affected them greatly.
Posted on Sun, 25 Nov 2007 10:28 PM CST by Cordelia G.
  Allison S.  says:
The Cold War certainly had some effects on the decolonization process that took place in Africa. Many of the nations adopted a socialist form of government after gaining independence from western European nations such as Britain and France. With these two nations being embroiled in a Cold War with the U.S.S.R., the very representation of the socialist government, it does raise some questions that many of the new nations adopted this form of government. Whether uprisings were caused by Soviet-supplied rebels, I don't know, but the conflict had to have affected the African nations as it did countries all over the world at that time.
I do think that the main thing driving the call for independence was the mere fact that Africans desired freedom. The soldiers who went to fight for the European nations were exposed to other things, and were able to see the manner in which India was fighting for its independence from Britain. This inspired many people, and they finally decided to do something about it.
Posted on Mon, 3 Dec 2007 1:55 PM CST by Allison S.
  lerico m.  says:
The Cold War had effects on the the decolonization process that took place in Africa.In British-ruled African nations, the U.S. was not wiling to go against their best ally. It seems that some of the nations were not quite ready to have complete control of the government since many still have unrest and dictators ruling.
Posted on Wed, 5 Dec 2007 7:35 PM CST by lerico m.

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