Nationalism and Decoloization A Case Study in Kenya

Introduction

The mid-twentieth century saw the formal end of a millennia-long phenomenon -colonial empires, and the end of over four hundred years of British colonialism. While Commonwealths ofNationsI, protectorates, areas of occupation and a few pseudo-colonies (e.g. Soviet Union and China) remained; many historians agree that the colonial system dissolved during this time. C.E. Corrington postulates that Britain's empire lasted 468 years, beginning with the discovery of America and ending with the European withdrawal from Africa in 1960. Brian Lapping states that it did not end until 1980 when the newly independent Southern Rhodesia became Zimbabwe.

Nationalism and Decoloization: A Case Study in Kenya

The beginning of the end was the fall of Singapore in 19424 followed by the granting of independence to India in 1947. A better understanding of how this decolonization effort took place may provide strategists and leaders lessons on how forces should or should not be withdrawn from post-conflict or post-support areas. This study explores three British colonial withdrawals to provide lessons from successes and failures.

During this century Great Britain, one of the last remaining great colonial powers, had military and trade colonies around the world. She undertook a major change of policy and withdrew forces from many of these colonies. But how did Britain go about decolonizing, forming and empowering new nation-states and physically withdrawing military forces and colonial settlers? A study of how Britain conducted these withdrawals can guide nations and militaries which today, and in the future, maintain a protectorate status or a post-conflict occupational status within other nation-states. This paper studies three decolonization efforts, attempts to understand each of them individually, and then compares them to determine how and why some withdrawal operations are more successful than others are.

To maintain some factors constant, the study analyses Britain's withdrawals from three now autonomous self-governing nations located in the same general region (northeast Africa and the Middle East) during the same period in history. The withdrawals should be understood in the context of the reasons the administering power (Britain) entered into and maintained a colonial status in each territory, regional conditions surrounding the colony, political and military/stability status of the territory at the time of decolonization and the specific reasons for withdrawing. Prior to decolonizing, the administering power (Great Britain in these cases) should be able to answer the questions: Is the territory capable of self-government? Is the territory internally and regionally stable? What role will the administering power or international community play in establishing or rebuilding a viable government in the territory? How will a withdrawal affect the economies and politics of the administering power, territory and international community?

The answer to these questions may determine the timeline and method of withdrawal of forces. If the territory is prepared for self-governance, is secure and stable, has regional support and a stable, viable economy, it is likely to survive and thrive as a sovereign nation and global partner. If any of the answers is otherwise, it is ethically and legally ...