Essay: Why was the phase of decolonialization so rapid after the Second World War?
Discuss this with reference to former non-British colonies.
During the period before the Second World War most of the European powers were focused outside Europe, on their colonies, spending much of their capital and arms to keep a strong hold over their influence regions. Gradually, as the education and wealth in the colonies improved, people developed a sense of idea that the imperialists exploited them for their own profit as result a strong nationalist resistance movement emerged. The impacts of the Second World War made a turning point for the European imperial states as the result of European policies and colonial involvement in the war. The Japanese success fighting British, French and Dutch imperial forces sent a message to colonial word that it possible to beat the otherwise invincible European powers. After the Second World War much of Europe, a continent that had dominated the world for many centuries, was now in ruins lacking the capital and strength to hold its colonies, and the balance of global power had now shifted in favor for the USSR and USA.
Ever since the rise of imperialism the indigenous people of colonial territories had a strong convincement that the white man has suppressed their culture by enforcing foreign religions and changing their lifestyle. …
