Synopses & Reviews
The book is relevant, timely and innovative. It addresses an important historic topic and synthesises the existing literature. The authors give empirical body to some of the questions that have been raised in recent years by the theorists of post colonial history and of global history while at the same time staying on firm ground by not neglecting the 'old fashioned' fields of diplomatic and economic history. Crises of Empire is essential reading for students of imperialism and comparative decolonization. It also offers new perspectives for those interested in contemporary European history, international politics, and the legacies of colonialism across the developing world. Written by subject specialists, it analyses the forces that precipitated the twentieth century collapse of all Europes late colonial empires. The fate of the British, French, and Dutch colonial empires is investigated individually and comparatively. So, too, is the bloody end to Belgian and Portuguese colonialism in black Africa. Ranging from the wave of European imperial expansion in the aftermath of World War I to the collapse of the last settler colonies in Africa during the 1960s and 1970s, the authors assess decolonization as a long-term process whose roots and outcomes transcended the Cold War. They draw attention to significant changes to the international system during the twentieth century as well as to shifting popular attitudes towards colonialism both within Europes imperial nation states and within individual colonies. They also discuss the economics of empire, focusing on such factors as changing global markets, colonial urbanization, and the growth of colonial organized labour. Above all, they consider the role of Africans and Asians as agents of colonial change, highlighting the parts played by anti-colonial movements, popular protest, and armed insurgency as catalysts of Europes imperial collapse.
Synopsis
This examination of the forces that precipitated the twentieth century collapse of all Europe's late colonial empires includes the fate of the British, French, Dutch, Belgian and Portuguese colonial empires. Investigated individually and comparatively, it addresses an important historic topic and synthesizes conventional thought on imperialism and comparative decolonization. It also offers new perspectives in contemporary European history, international politics and the legacies of colonialism across the developing world.
Ranging from the wave of European imperial expansion in the aftermath of World War I to the collapse of the last settler colonies in Africa during the 1960s and 1970s, the authors assess decolonization as a long-term process. They examine the impact of significant changes in the world in the twentieth century and shifting popular attitudes towards colonialism both within European imperial nation states and within the colonies. As the economics of empire shifted with a change in global markets, colonial urbanization and the growth of colonial organized labor, so to did the politics of empire.
Also explored is the significant role of Africans and Asians as agents of colonial change, highlighting the parts played by anti-colonial movements, popular protest, and armed insurgency as catalysts of Europe's imperial collapse.
The authors balance recent theories of post-colonial history and global history with traditional fields of diplomatic and economic history for a wide-ranging, comprehensive view of a complex area of study.
Synopsis
This examination of the forces that precipitated the twentieth century collapse of all Europe's late colonial empires includes the fate of the British, French, Dutch, Belgian and Portuguese colonial empires. Investigated individually and comparatively, it addresses an important historic topic and synthesizes conventional thought on imperialism and comparative decolonization. It also offers new perspectives in contemporary European history, international politics and the legacies of colonialism across the developing world.
Synopsis
This examination of the forces that precipitated the twentieth century collapse of all Europe's late colonial empires includes the fate of the British, French, Dutch, Belgian and Portuguese colonial empires. Investigated individually and comparatively, it addresses an important historic topic and synthesizes conventional thought on imperialism and comparative decolonization. It also offers new perspectives in contemporary European history, international politics and the legacies of colonialism across the developing world.
Ranging from the wave of European imperial expansion in the aftermath of World War I to the collapse of the last settler colonies in Africa during the 1960s and 1970s, the authors assess decolonization as a long-term process. They examine the impact of significant changes in the world in the twentieth century and shifting popular attitudes towards colonialism both within European imperial nation states and within the colonies. As the economics of empire shifted with a change in global markets, colonial urbanization and the growth of colonial organized labor, so to did the politics of empire.
Also explored is the significant role of Africans and Asians as agents of colonial change, highlighting the parts played by anti-colonial movements, popular protest, and armed insurgency as catalysts of Europe's imperial collapse.
The authors balance recent theories of post-colonial history and global history with traditional fields of diplomatic and economic history for a wide-ranging, comprehensive view of a complex area of study.
About the Author
Martin Thomas is Professor in Colonial History, University of Exeter.
Bob Moore is Professor of Twentieth-Century European History at the University of Sheffield. He recently held a fellowship in the Department of War Studies at King's College, London.
L.J. Butler is Senior Lecturer in Contemporary British History, University of East Anglia.
Table of Contents
List of Maps
List of Abbreviations
Preface
Introduction: Constructions of Decolonization
Part I: British Decolonization L.J. Butler
1. The British Empire, 1918-45: Interwar Change and Wartime Pressures
2. The First Wave of British Decolonization: Commonwealth Territories, South Asia and the Gold Coast, 1945-51
3. British Decolonization, Insurgency, and Strategic Reverse: The Middle East, Africa, and Malaya, 1951-1957
4. Winds of Change: The Final Waves of British Decolonization in Africa and Asia after 1957
Part II: French Decolonization Martin Thomas
5. The Roots of French Decolonization: Ideas, Economics and Reform 1900-1946
6. Decolonizing the French African Federations after 1945
7. People's War and the Collapse of French Indochina, 1945-54
8. From French North Africa to Maghreb Independence: Decolonization in Morocco, Tunsia and Algeria, 1945-56
9. Algeria's Violent Struggle for Independence
10. Territories Apart: Madagascar, the Togo Trusteeship and French Island Territories
Part III: Dutch Decolonization Bob Moore
11. An 'Ethical Imperialism'? The Dutch Colonial Empire before 1945
12. Indonesia: The Politics of Delusion, 1940-47
13. Indonesia: The Realities of Diplomacy
14. Unfinished Business: New Guinea as a Last Outpost of Empire
15. Decolonizatoin by Default: Dutch Disengagement in Suriname
Part IV: Contrasting Patterns of Decolonization Martin Thomas
16. Patterns of Decolonization in Belgian and Portuguese Africa
Conclusion: Changing Attitudes to the End of Empire
Select Bibliography