Week 5: Decolonization, Third World, International Economy

Decolonization

  • Definition: Decolonization refers to the process whereby an imperial power relinquishes authority over its colonies (Antony Best).

Causes of Decolonization

  • Self-Government: Desire for democracy and self-determination influenced the push for decolonization.

    • Key Influences: "Eastern Question," "14 points" of Woodrow Wilson, the Atlantic Charter, the UN Charter.

Role of the United States

  • Key Events:

    • 1776: Declaration of independence by the United States from British colonial rule.

    • 1822: Latin American countries assert independence under the Monroe Doctrine.

    • 1867: Canada becomes Dominion; fully independent in 1931.

    • 1902: Cuba gains independence post Spanish-American War.

Decolonization in the Middle East

  • Timeline:

    • 1920: Mandates of the League of Nations established.

    • 1922: Egypt gains partial autonomy from the UK.

    • 1930: Iraq attains independence from the UK.

    • 1946: Lebanon and Syria gain independence from France.

    • 1948: Tensions around Palestine/Israel; end of the British Mandate.

    • 1951: Libya achieves independence from Italy.

    • 1956: Morocco and Tunisia gain independence from France.

    • 1954-1962: Algeria fights for independence from France.

Decolonization in Asia

  • Key Events:

    • 1945: Korea gains independence from Japan.

    • 1946: Philippines gains independence from the US.

    • 1946-1954: Indochina War against France.

    • 1947: India and Pakistan partition and gain independence from the UK.

    • 1948: Burma (Myanmar) gains independence from the UK.

    • 1949: Indonesia gains independence from the Netherlands.

    • 1963: Singapore gains independence from the UK.

Decolonization in Africa

  • Key Events:

    • 1910: South Africa becomes a Dominion of the UK.

    • 1957: Gold Coast becomes Ghana, the first African nation to gain independence from UK.

    • 1958: Guinea declares independence from France.

    • 1960: Major independence wave in French Africa and Congo from Belgium.

    • 1975: Independence for Spanish and Portuguese African colonies.

    • 1990: Namibia gains independence from South Africa.

Third World / Non-aligned Movement

Definition of the Third World

  • Coined by Alfred Sauvy in 1952, equating it to the "Third Estate."

    • Represents the South (developing world) as opposed to the North (East/West).

Principles of the Non-aligned Movement

  • Key Agreements:

    • Sino-India Border Treaty (1954): Promises peaceful coexistence beneath principles such as sovereignty, non-aggression, and equal mutual benefits.

    • Bandung Conference (1955): 29 states advocating for decolonization and developmental focus.

Non-aligned Movement Events

  • Key Meetings:

    • Brioni Meeting (1956)

    • Belgrade Summit (1961): 25 states involved; currently, 120 states.

    • Majority represented in the UN General Assembly.

Economic Empowerment Initiatives

  • Key dates in economic cooperation:

    • 1960: Foundation of OPEC (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries).

    • 1964: Establishment of UNCTAD (United Nations Conference on Trade and Development) and G77 for developmental aid.

    • 1973: First oil shock impacts global economy.

    • 1974: Push for a New International Economic Order.

    • 1976: Initiation of North-South dialogue in Paris.

    • 1979: Second oil shock raises further economic concerns.

    • 1981: North-South Summit held in Cancun.

Economic Globalization

Western Economic Integration

  • Liberal Values: Promote free trade and open economies.

  • Bretton Woods Institutions (1944): Establishment of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank.

    • Emphasized a return to gold standard and maintaining price stability.

  • GATT (1947): General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade facilitation.

  • Marshall Plan (1947): Aimed at European integration and economic recovery.

  • Keynesian Consensus: Focus on public investment and the development of a welfare state.

Crisis of the West

  • Challenges:

    • Decline in US economy; rise in trade deficit and USD devaluation (1971).

    • End of the Bretton Woods system (1976).

    • Economic shocks from oil crises (1973, 1979).

    • Resulting stagflation: high inflation and unemployment leading to debt crises.

  • G7 Formation: Economic cooperation among western nations.

  • Neoliberal Solutions: Policies introduced by leaders like Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan.

Crisis of the Communist Model in the East

  • Failures:

    • China's Great Leap Forward (1958) and Cultural Revolution (1966) lead to economic setbacks.

    • Planned economy in Soviet bloc proved to be ineffective, leading to the collapse of communist regimes in Eastern Europe and the USSR (1989-1991).

Crisis of the South

  • Economic Success Stories: Eastern Asia, particularly Japan, and emerging economies like the "Four Dragons" and "Tigers" showcase liberalization successes.

  • Oil Shocks and Debt Crisis: Countries like Mexico in 1982 face severe debt and economic crises.

  • Washington Consensus: 1990 framework promoting liberal economic principles.

  • Fragmentation of the Third World: Emerging economies vs. least developed countries, with initiatives like the Monterrey Consensus (2002) to combat poverty.

Globalization Trends

  • Hegemonic Stability: The United States represents over 20% of World GDP.

  • Liberal Principles: Emphasis on free trade and global interdependence.

    • Diverse aspects of globalization: finance, markets, culture, and education impacted by advancements in technology and migration.

  • WTO Formation (1995) with China joining in 2001 and Russia in 2012, showcasing increasing trade liberalization.

  • Financial Crises: Formation of the G20 in response to the 1997 Asian financial crisis, with a noteworthy summit post-2008 financial crisis.

Environmental Considerations

  • Key Developments:

    • 1972: Club of Rome publishes Limits of Growth.

    • 1987: Brundtland Report introduces the concept of sustainable development.

    • 1992: Goals set forth at the Rio Summit regarding climate change.

    • 2000: Establishment of UN Millennium Goals aimed at sustainable development.

    • 2015: Paris Agreement on climate change sets global objectives.

Threats of Globalization

  • Concerns:

    • Regulatory failures leading to financial crises (2008).

    • Increasing social inequalities leading to protests.

    • Rise of protectionism and nationalism seen in actions like trade wars initiated under President Trump.

    • Environmental challenges heightening due to climate change.

    • Health crises highlighted during events like the coronavirus pandemic.

    • Shifts in international relations marked by tensions between southern nations and strategic competition between US and China/Russia.

Key Takeaways

  • The process of self-determination and the weakening of European colonial powers spurred global decolonization.

  • Important conflicts such as the Indochina War and Algerian War were pivotal in shaping modern history.

  • The concept of the Third World articulated by Alfred Sauvy emphasizes issues of development and decolonization.

  • Economic Globalization has evolved through various systems from Bretton Woods to current international organizations, highlighting the divide between North and South on key economic issues.