Decolonization
Cold war from US/Soviet view, but Asia and Africa focused on colonial struggle Independence or decolonization, nation-states replace empires 1940s: India, Pakistan, Philippines, Indonesia, Syria, Iraq 1950s to 1970s: 50+ African colonies free 1970s: Pacific islands peacefully, Caribbean states too Cuba rejects US control 1959
Empires collapsed before (Rome, Mongols), but this time tied to mass nationalism Unlike Americas 1700s, 20th century movements affirmed native cultures not just political independence WWI kills Austrian and Ottoman empires, WWII kills German and Japanese National self-determination idea makes empire illegitimate globally Soviet Union dissolves 1991, 15 new states
Nationalist Movements
Leaders: Gandhi, Nehru, Sukarno, Ho Chi Minh, Nkrumah, Mandela Organized parties, built ideology, recruited mass followings Fragile alliances across class, ethnicity, religion, region Not restoring the past, building modern nation-states
New states face population explosion, high expectations, limited resources, ethnic diversity Political systems: communist, multiparty, one-party, military, personal dictatorship Many cycle through multiple systems India sustains democracy, most African states lose it within a decade Military coups common, Africa 30 of 46 states by 1980s Latin America also under military rule 1960s to 1970s
Globalization
Late 1900s reversal, popular movements and elections end autocratic rule Soviet collapse, Spain, Portugal, Greece democratize By 2000 most Latin American and African states return to democracy Asia: South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia shift 2011 Arab Spring challenges autocrats across Arab world Democracy untethered from Western origins, seen as universal But consolidation uncertain, Chavez, Putin, Erdogan turn authoritarian China crushes 1989 movement, Arab Spring outcomes mixed