TOPIC: DECOLONIZATION IN AFRICA

Decolonization in Africa

British colonization

At the beginning of the end of World War II, Britain was the largest empire that spans the whole world. But in the next thirty years this has been dramatically reduced in size. The first country to seek independence from Britain in the late Second World War and India (Wesseling 2004). India is seen as the "jewel in the crown" of the British Empire and was crucial to the UK. India's desire to desaturate it to gain momentum at the end of World War I and the beginning of World War II, Britain was forced to recognize the independence of India in exchange for her support during World War II.

At the end of World War II Labor government came to power in Britain. They had a different view on the issue of decolonization (Vansina1 1990). While the conservative government before them did not want to desaturate the Labor Government of India supported decolonization in the right circumstances. The reasons for these policies were their disapproval of the exploitation of the Indians, and the fact that Britain cannot afford to keep India.

With the declaration of Indian independence, it became clear that it was only a matter of time before other British colonies demanded their independence. By 1957, only two of the British colonies in Africa gained their independence they were the Gold Coast and Sudan. Others were quick to get their independence between 1957 and 1964.

British Prime Minister captured the mood of the age with his performance while on a visit to South Africa in 1960, in which he stated: "The wind of change blowing through Africa and we want it or not, this growth of political consciousness of the fact."

French colonization

France was another great imperial power, which discolors after World War II, although its causes and methods differ from the British. Unlike Britain, France was occupied during the Second World War and some of its colonies, as they meant that they had a different view on the colonies(Uzoigwe 2004). Whereas the British realized the colonies started to become a burden they are French believed that they were re-assert their national prestige, while maintaining control over its colonies.

This may explain why the French experience of decolonization was so different from Britain. French decolonization was bloody and bitter whereas the UK has been completely peaceful and painless. France fought two costly and bloody wars ...