Decolonization and the UN Special Committee on Decolonization

Introduction

Nick Fearns, a lecturer in the History Department, discusses decolonization, focusing on the UN Special Committee on Decolonization.
Contact details are provided.

The UN General Assembly, September 23, 1960

The 15th session of the UN General Assembly convened to address various global issues.
Topics included apartheid in South Africa and the crisis in the Belgian Congo.
World leaders like Australian Prime Minister Robert Menzies and Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev were present.
Khrushchev famously banged his shoe on the lectern, protesting against perceived American dominance in the UN.
Ghanaian President Kwame Nkrumah addressed the assembly, emphasizing the UN's role in ensuring global peace and advocating for the end of colonial rule.
Nkrumah called for the complete independence of African territories still under foreign domination.
Nkrumah: "As long as a single foot of African soil remains under foreign domination, the world will know no peace…"

The Year of Africa and Resolution 1514

1960 is known as the Year of Africa due to the numerous African countries that gained independence.
General Assembly Resolution 1514, "Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples," was passed.
This resolution led to the creation of the Special Committee on Decolonization, the focus of this lecture.

Definition of Decolonization

Decolonization is broadly defined as the process of becoming free from colonial rule, control, or subjugation.
This often refers to external control, as seen in European countries' former colonies in Africa and Asia.
It can also apply to settler colonial contexts involving indigenous populations in countries like Australia, the United States, New Zealand, and Canada.
Decolonization is a process, not a one-time event that occurs upon gaining independence.

The Process of Decolonization

Gaining political independence from foreign control is a primary aspect.
Other aspects include struggles for cultural, racial, and political equality.
Economic equality is also crucial; newly independent countries should have the same opportunities as former colonial powers.
Decolonization can be achieved through various means, both violent and nonviolent.
Algeria gained independence in 1962 after a violent war against French colonizers (1953-1962).
Mahatma Gandhi in India advocated for nonviolent means to achieve independence.
Decolonization requires active effort and is not inevitable.

Context: World War II

The Second World War is a key historical moment in the story of decolonization.
Like World War I, it can be seen as a war between empires.
The Allied powers (including the British, French, and Dutch Empires) fought against the Axis powers (including empires in Japan, Italy, and Germany).
British India and the Dutch East Indies were significant sites of fighting.

The Atlantic Charter (1941)

The Atlantic Charter was an agreement between the US and Great Britain, outlining their war aims.
It stated that the US and the UK sought no territorial gains from the war.
It advocated for adjustments of territory to be in accordance with the wishes of the people concerned.
The charter affirmed the right to self-determination for all people.
This extended the principle of national self-determination advocated by Woodrow Wilson after World War I.
The Atlantic Charter was signed by Winston Churchill and Franklin Delano Roosevelt before the US entered the war.

The Formation of the United Nations

The UN was created after World War II by the major Allied leaders (Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin).
The UN aimed to put the principles of the Atlantic Charter into action.
It was a more powerful organization than the League of Nations.

The Rise of the US and the Soviet Union

The US and the Soviet Union emerged as superpowers after World War II.
Both countries were broadly anticolonial, viewing the end of European empires favorably.
However, they were not necessarily anti-imperial; the Cold War was a clash of different kinds of empires, focusing on ideology, economic, and cultural power.

Independence Movements in Asia and Africa

The first wave of post-World War II independence movements occurred in Asia.
India and Pakistan gained independence in 1947, followed by Indonesia in 1949.
The Philippines gained independence in 1946, and Malaysia in the late 1950s.
Ghana gained independence in 1957, marking a significant moment in African decolonization.

Nationalist Leaders and the Cold War

Strong nationalist leaders drove independence movements: Nehru in India, Sukharno in Indonesia, Nkrumah in Ghana, and Ho Chi Minh in Vietnam.
Newly independent countries became known as the Third World in the context of the Cold War.
The Third World developed a policy of nonalignment, rejecting incorporation into either the Western capitalist or the communist bloc.
The Bandung Conference in Indonesia exemplified this nonalignment policy.

The United Nations and Decolonization

The UN was formed in 1945 with 51 original members, primarily from Europe and the Americas.
Initially, the UN was dominated by colonial powers.
As more countries gained independence, the UN General Assembly became a forum for anticolonial pressure.
Speeches like Nkrumah's became common in the late 1950s and early 1960s.
The US, allied with colonial powers like Britain and France, was often seen as a supporter of colonial rule.
The Fourth Committee of the General Assembly dealt specifically with questions of colonialism and decolonization.

UN Resolution 1514

UN Resolution 1514, the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, was a product of years of anticolonial pressure.
The declaration stated that the subjection of peoples to alien subjugation constitutes a denial of fundamental human rights and is an impediment to world peace.
It called for immediate steps to transfer all powers to the peoples of those territories without conditions or reservations.
The resolution was passed overwhelmingly, with some countries abstaining from voting, including Great Britain, France, and Australia.
The resolution did not immediately grant countries their independence but provided a legal document to support the process of decolonization.

The UN Special Committee on Decolonization

The UN Special Committee on Decolonization was established to oversee the implementation of Resolution 1514.
The committee, also known as the Committee of 24, comprised representatives from countries opposed to colonial rule.
The committee brought in representatives from colonial powers to explain their progress in granting independence.
The committee became a forum for intense debate and demonstrated a shift in international politics against colonialism.
Adom Getachew noted that anticolonial nationalists successfully captured the UN and transformed the General Assembly into a platform for decolonization.
The committee still exists today, addressing issues of non-self-governing territories.

Limitations of the UN's Role

Resolution 1514 emphasized alien rule and did not effectively address settler colonial contexts.
The UN's founding principles limited its ability to interfere in the domestic affairs of member states.
The focus on flag independence (gaining political independence) did not always lead to full independence, as countries still faced economic, cultural, and political interference.
The UN became increasingly marginalized in global politics in the 1970s and 1980s.

Concluding Points

Decolonization did not end with formal independence.
The process involved overcoming political, economic, and cultural dominance.
The UN became a site for addressing neocolonialism and calls for a new international economic order.
Former colonies continue to be the least politically powerful and are often dominated culturally.
Additional challenges exist for indigenous peoples in settler colonies.
Decolonization requires the work of anticolonial leaders and often involves both violent and nonviolent resistance.
The UN initially maintained a colonial status quo but became a site of colonial resistance in the 1950s and 1960s.
Decolonization is an ongoing process to undo the impacts of centuries of colonialism.

Further Study

ATS 2556, "Power Struggles, Anticolonialism, and Anti-racism in History," explores these topics in greater depth.
The unit examines early examples of colonialism and anticolonial movements, case studies in Asia and Africa, and the struggles of indigenous peoples.
It also addresses legacies of colonialism, neocolonialism, and the impacts of colonialism in the metropolitan center.