DECOLONIZATION OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE

Was The Decolonization Of The British Empire Inevitable?

Was The Decolonization Of The British Empire Inevitable?

Introduction

The aim of this paper is to test the hypothesis that after the end of the Second World War, the decolonization of the British Empire was inevitable. There is much debate amongst historians on the impact of the Second World War on the British Empire. For example, Hobsbawm (1994:216) claims that prior to WWII, the fall of British Empire was unexpected. At odds, Cain and Hopkins (2001:639) maintain that far from being in decline, British Empire was revitalized during the war and in the post-war reconstruction. According to Mommsen, without the effects of the Second World War, decolonization would have taken much longer. Historians also disagree on the emphasis that should be placed on the different agencies. The Marxist historian, C.L. R. James (in: Hogsbjerg, 2006 ISJ), argued that Britain left the colonies only after being defeated by anti- imperialist and anti-colonialist national movements whereas Flint (1983:407) claims that the anti imperialist resistance played no role. Similarly, Hyam (1992:79) claims that decolonization was a product of imperial policy in order to avoid confrontation with the “genuine national desire”.

Discussion

In this essay it will be argued that decolonization was not a mechanical and inevitable result of the Second World War. The conflict, by limiting material capabilities and jeopardising the prestige of Britain, had a negative impact on the empire. Nevertheless, the successful orchestration of colonial war efforts indicated that Britain still had a global role to play.. All the same, the 1939-45 activated other mechanisms that transformed the context of the British Empire and undermined its long-term survival. The emergence of US and Soviet Union as super powers and their pressures on the British Empire; the rise of revolutionary anti-imperialism nationalism in the 1940s and 1950s and the declining economic importance of the so called “ third world should be considered to explain the phenomenon of decolonization.

In order to pursue the aims of the essay firstly the decline of the British economy will be discussed, secondly the upsurge of anti imperialist movements will be examined, thirdly the emergence of Soviet Union and USA as superpowers will be analyzed.

Whilst there are various versions of the dynamics of the Second World War there is consensus over the logic of imperialism. After the 1929 crisis, the most profound the capitalist system has yet experienced, Germany, Japan, Italy and to a lesser extent Britain and USA looked towards dismissing laissez faire principles and creating their own protected trade areas (Polanyi, 2001:252). Holland argues that following the 1930s slump, agricultural prices in the international market fell more sharply than industrial ones. Consequently initiated the There are various versions of the cause of the war but consensus among some historians is over the logic of imperialism. The conflict was fuelled by the 1929-32 economic crisis, the gravest world capitalism has yet experienced. In order to escape from this crisis Germany, the US, Japan and Britain, together with lesser powers, France and ...