The Crumbling of Empires: Dynamics of Immediate Post-WWII French and Belgian Colonialism in Africa and Asia
Abstract
Because it introduced the idea of underdevelopment, President Trumans inauguration address in January 1949 is generally a key moment in the history of world politics. In his criticism of the wrongdoings of the European empires, Truman has called for new world relations based on commerce, shared values and mutual help rather than on force, exploitation and slavery. The effects of WWII on European empires and the Cold war on the decolonization processes are well documented. But there is little evidence-based discussion about the period preceding the Cold War. Our paper will present results of the study of the cases of the development of African and Asian colonies during that period. We will outline how by economic, political and military means the administrations of the colonies have reacted to the coming of the said new world order while at the same time benefitting from the Marshall plan for the reconstruction and the economic development of Europe. Our study of historical archives and contemporary accounts will reveal how experts have documented this apparently paradoxical period. More largely our paper is interested in the study of the influence of geopolitical shifts on the governing of foreign people and territories.
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