Why did European Colonialism Fall?

Discussion in 'History & Past Politicians' started by Jolly Penguin, Mar 26, 2021.

  1. Jolly Penguin

    Jolly Penguin Well-Known Member

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    Seems pretty obvious why European nations invaded and colonized the rest of the world, given the technology gap at the time, but why did this fall apart?

    Is it just because of WW2 and Europe didn't have the money or power any longer to maintain their world spanning empires? Or was it because of growing democracy over dictatorships/kingdoms, and the people having concern for the welfare of the people in the invaded countries? Or was it that the colonies ran out of resources that the European power was interested in?
     
  2. VotreAltesse

    VotreAltesse Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    There is a long, long list of reasons :

    1) The two biggest colonizers France and UK paid very heavy price in WW2 and had to recover from that.

    2) The west use democracy and human right as morale justifications of themselves, morale justification that can't coexist with colonialism. And that was especially true after the war against nazism.

    3) On a more cynical level, colonialism or not didn't changed anything to the ability of corporations to exploit african ressources. They absolutly didn't ran of ressources however.

    4) The population of the colonizing powers were as far as I know less and less willing to engage in occupation wars, and to fight against long guerilla warfare.
     
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  3. CKW

    CKW Well-Known Member

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    Well I think "invaded" is a strong word. At least in the case of US colonies, the more accurate term is they settled and established the settlement as English.

    I'm glad they "invaded" North America frankly. Glad I'm here in the US with a strong foundation laid by the mother country.

    I think both wars took heavy toll on England. Through time the peoples of many of their colonies were educated enough and involved enough in the government established by UK to have enough confidence to fight and work for independence. The colonies that established independence were wealthy at the time and could self sustain.

    Perhaps the UK thought strong ties with independent nations would be a benefit. Of course many of the African colonies fell apart after independence. But India has done well.

    To have colonies means you have satellites of your country, your citizens, that depend on you for resources and protection
    Ultimately having colonies across the world isn't a responsibility that can be sustained by a nation constantly worried their own homeland is under invasion. .
    .
     
  4. Derideo_Te

    Derideo_Te Well-Known Member

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    Colonialism was NATIONS exploiting the less fortunate.

    It was REPLACED with MULTINATIONAL corporations exploiting the less fortunate.

    The EXPLOITATION continues as a LEGACY of the original colonialism.
     
  5. The Rhetoric of Life

    The Rhetoric of Life Banned

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    Because of Brexit.
    Or maybe it was Covid?
    Wait, that's European Empire.
     
    Last edited: Mar 27, 2021
  6. Dayton3

    Dayton3 Well-Known Member

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    What makes you think it failed?
     
  7. Anonymous.Professor

    Anonymous.Professor Newly Registered

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    They were not successful enough, specially on the long run. Colonies did not make their owners rich, they are also very expensive. USA had much bigger rate of economic growth during the nineteenth century than realy huge empires like British or French empire. Yet it is also true that in the case of the British empire its colonies in the nineteenth century were never obliged to export solely to Britain. So one of the most important legacies of British colonisation on its former colonies has been a long exposure to world competition through trade openness, which explains why former British colonies are usually doing better in comparison with their French counterparts.
     
    Last edited: Apr 19, 2021

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