Notes on the Independence of Colonies and the Emergence of the Third World

Economic Crisis: The economic structures of the colonies deteriorated, leading to worsening living conditions.
Increased Unemployment: Unemployment became widespread.
Intensified Exploitation: Colonial populations faced increased exploitation.
Expectation of Independence: Colonized people expected to gain freedom and independence in return for their support of the Allied war effort during World War II.
Nationalist Movements: The strengthening and organization of national forces within the colonies with increasingly diverse demands and forms of struggle.

Weakening of Colonial Powers: The colonial powers lost much of their strength, global standing, and authority in the aftermath of World War II.
Superpower Rivalry: Competition between the Soviet Union and the United States in opposing colonialism to gain allies during the Cold War.
International Support: Support from the United Nations, the Arab League, and the Bandung Conference for Afro-Asian Solidarity for national liberation movements based on the principle of the right of peoples to self-determination.

Wave of Independence: A surge in the independence of colonies in Asia and Africa.
Diverse Ideologies: The intellectual and political orientations of national liberation movements varied between liberalism and socialism.
Varied Forms of Struggle: These movements adopted diverse forms of struggle to achieve independence.
- Some movements engaged in armed struggle, as seen in Vietnam and Algeria.
- Other movements leaned towards political struggle, as in India and Tunisia.
Emergence of a New Bloc: The independence wave in Asia and Africa led to the emergence of a new bloc, first manifested at the Bandung Conference in Indonesia in April 1955.
- Expressed opposition to colonialism.
- Expressed support for the right of peoples to self-determination.
Establishment of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM): Founded through the initiative of leaders like Tito of Yugoslavia, Gamal Abdel Nasser of Egypt, and Nehru of India, in Belgrade in 1961.
- Adopted a policy of positive neutrality.
- Distanced itself from alliances in a bipolar world.

UNCTAD: These nations sought to address the economic underdevelopment of their countries through the establishment of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development.
North-South Dialogue: Proposed discussions between developed (North) and developing (South) nations.
OPEC: Establishment of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries to defend the interests of developing countries that produce and export oil.
NAM Summit Demands: The summit of Non-Aligned Movement countries in Algeria called for the establishment of a new, more just global economic order.

African Independence: Most African colonies gained independence during the 1950s and 1960s, with some gaining independence as late as the 1990s.
- Methods of achieving independence varied.
  - Britain agreed to the independence of its colonies after ensuring their membership in the Commonwealth.
  - France attempted to maintain control over its colonies through the "French Union," leading to armed resistance in many cases.
Asian Independence: Asian colonies gained independence between 1945 and 1958 under varying circumstances.
- Vietnam fought a bloody war of independence against French colonialism.
- India achieved independence through negotiation with Britain.

Ongoing Colonial Issues: Despite the wave of independence after World War II, some countries still face colonial issues, such as Palestine.
Re-emergence of Colonialism: Some countries have experienced a return to colonial-like situations, such as Iraq and Afghanistan.
Continued Struggles: While national struggles for independence continue in these parts of the world, many countries that gained independence earlier are still struggling with problems of underdevelopment and difficulties in development.