DECOLONIZATION

Decolonization refers to the process by which the colonies of Asia and Africa attained their independence thereby ending centuries of domination under imperial powers. The process of decolonization began in the early part of the twentieth century as the concept of Nationalism took root in Asia and Africa and accelerated after the Second World War.

Decolonization was a direct effect of Nationalism, a philosophy that shaped European History from the eighteenth century onward. It refers to a state of mind in which the supreme loyalty of the individual is due to the nation-state. Though territories and empires have existed throughout history, it was only in the eighteenth century that ‘nationalism’ began to be expressed as a sentiment that molded the actions of people and countries. Nationalism implies the identification of the state or nation with the people. In fact the extent of the state is determined according to ethnographic principles. Hence each group of peoples or each nationality is distinct and thus is entitled to form its own nation-state. Nationalism also implied that one’s own state was greater than all others and thus the feeling of ‘my country, wrong or right’. Hence, this feeling of nationalism provided the impetus for a vast array of events from the American War of Independence to imperialist rivalries between the European Nations and eventually to the two World Wars. In Asia and Africa nationalism led to an awakening of self confidence and pride in one’s nationality which questioned the right of the colonial powers to control the destiny of other nations. Thus, the Nationalism that once encouraged the ambition of imperialists also nurtured the movements that would defeat it.

Factors that contributed to the grown of Asian and African nationalism and decolonization:

Political, economic, social, legal, etc., repression that was an integral part of the colonial structure. The inability to have responsible government, widespread and systematic economic exploitation, racism and repressive measures all contributed to the growing anger of the colonies and eventually to the realization that only Independence would provide relief from this exploitation.

Western education which was originally intended to create ‘natives who were English in their attitudes and speech’ (Lord Macaulay), instead introduced concepts of freedom, liberty, nationalism, etc. It armed the earliest nationalists with eth knowledge to challenge the colonial system. Hence, it is no coincidence that het early nationalists were all ‘western educated’.

Western education however did not lead to a rejection of one’s own native culture. In fact it only strengthened the idea that each one’s culture was unique and important. It enabled Asians and Africans to adopt what was positive from the West while retaining what was integral to them. Thus, almost every national movement was accompanied by a socio-cultural renaissance which sought to do away with social evils and superstition, uplift women and marginalized sections of society.

Modern historical developments in Asia and Africa, most notably the victory of Japan over Russia in the Russo-Japanese War (1906), also boosted the pride of Afro-Asian nations.

Along with education, the media spearheaded the spread of ideas such as nationalism and popularized coriticsm against the colonial governments. The vernacular press, often more bold than the English, radio, drama, etc., were all tools to spread nationalism.

Education, nationalism, and anti-imperialism inspired a new breed of Afro-Asian leaders who were instrumental in guiding their nations toward independence. M. K. Gandhi, J. Nehru and Dr. Ambedkar (India), Dr. Sukarno (Indonesia), Dr. Sun Yat Sen, and Mao Tse Tung (China), General Aung Sang (Burma), Ho Chih Minh (Vietnam), Kemal Pasha (Turkey), Abdul Nasser (Egypt), etc., were some of the most prominent nationalists of the twentieth century.

Features of Afro-Asian Nationalism

It was a very complex phenomenon because it drew ideas from multiple sources. It retained many aspects of Western Philosophy i.e., freedom, judicial systems, parliaments, technology, industrialization, etc. It included ideologies as different as democracy and communism and yet each country maintained its core identity as it sought to be independent.

Asian countries developed a sense of ‘Asianess’ which characterized the forming of ASEAN, the Arab countries formed the Arab League, and the African nations established the Organization of African States. A certain sense of empathy developed between these so-called Developing Nations.

Asians and Africans in other continents were included and contributed to this sense of nationalism.

Afro-Asian nationalism was a definite and determined revolt against political domination of Imperialist forces. Hence, many of these countries became members of the Non-Aligned Movement to avoid being influenced by the two power blocs that developed after the Second World War.

These Nations follow a foreign policy guided by anti-colonialism, anti-racism and anti-apartheid principles.

Though Afro-Asian nationalism began to take shape toward the end of the nineteenth century, it reached its peak after the Second World War when it became clear that the imperial powers were no longer in a practical nor ideological position to hold on to their colonies. Thus, the decades after World War II saw most of these Afro-Asian countries gaining independence.

However, just as Nationalism outlived the age of Imperialism, nationalism did not end with decolonization. Today, Nationalism manifests itself in a number of localized conflicts in which various ethnic minorities are also asserting their right to independent nation-states. Thus, the Bosnian War, the Chechen conflict, the Kashmir Issue, the East-Timor Movement, the Irish question and the Basque Separatist Movement are all examples of modern-day nationalism.