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Was anti-imperial sentiment a reason for decolonisation in the post war period?
as proof of British world power. However, Britain was under economic strain in keeping India. The threat of a Hindu-Muslim war was also growing greater and it was suggested that an immediate partition of India should take place, which came about in March 1947, and was speedily approved in Parliament by July.
The idea that the colonisation of India occurred mostly on economic grounds is pivotal to understanding its decolonisation, as whilst the domestic economy of India was to weak to afford it a strong independent trade position, and whilst Britain could exploit the raw materials it desired in India, colonial rule remained strong. However, as domestic demand in Britain for spices fell, and as the economy of India developed it became more viable for India to operate as an independent nation. The war had strained Britain's capacity to direct a global empire and this helps explain Britain's agreement to Indian self-government after the war.
France was another great imperial power which decolonised after the Second World War although France’s reasons and methods were quite different from Britain’s. Whereas the British realised the colonies were beginning to become a burden they French believed they had to re-assert their national prestige by keeping control of their colonies.
This may explain why the French experience of decolonisation was so different to Britain’s. France fought two costly wars over her colonies, which caused a major strain on the economy, whereas Britain’s experience had been relatively painless.
The French had hoped for a unified and integrated colonial community, while the British moved more toward autonomy and self-government. But both nations recognized that political change was necessary.
Anti-imperialism
Decolonisation was also a result of the demand for reform, the protest against colonial rule and the struggle for independence – reaching its extreme in ‘national liberation movements’, seeking freedom from the Europeans. The perceived weakness of the imperial powers strengthened the arguments and intensified the protests of colonial opposition. It led to a series of international conferences, which may not have been instrumental to change, but provided a forum where countries under colonial rule could express their grievances and it identified that imperialism was their common problem. These protests were strong, widespread and had considerable impact, which did contribute to bringing about change.
In conclusion it can be said that decolonisation occurred for a number of different reasons. These reasons included the economic burden of maintaining colonial ties, found to be much more difficult after war. The war itself also brought about considerable change, contributing to the rise of the USA and USSR as ‘super-powers’, and the USA having much influence over Europe. Anti-imperial sentiment was also significant reason for decolonisation, as the people from the colonies were demanding their own independence, and protesting against colonial rule. Along with these other factors, and the international climate, much pressure was put on the countries ruling the colonies to give them up.