What are the types of Decolonization and its forms ?

DECOLONIZATION


Decolonization is the process of Africans struggles to uproot colonialist and foreign rule. This process started immediately after the imposition of colonial rule. Decolonization also denotes the different form of acquiring independence determined by the nature of colonization in the colony.


Forms of decolonization


In Africa there were various forms which employed in decolonization process. These forms were constitutional (peaceful means), armed struggle, combination of peaceful means and armed struggle and Revolutionary means.

A. Constitutional method/peaceful means

This method entails the colonial government in collaboration with the Nationalist Leader preparing programme towards political independence. The method did not involve bloodshed it was employed in many African countries such as;

· Tanganyika

· Ghana

· Nigeria

· Zambia

· Zaire etc.

B. Armed Struggle


This method involved bloodshed and it was mostly adopted when peacefully means show sign of failure. This includes countries whose political parties could not successfully struggle for attainment of independence. Therefore the use of force of arms became necessary. It includes colonies like Mozambique, Angola, Algeria etc.


C. The combination of Peaceful means and Armed struggle


The colonies which adopted this method started with constitutional methods but when the method found to fail they come with armed struggle (took up arms) to force the colonialists surrender their power. Some colonies started with armed struggle but ended with constitutional method. The method was applied/employed in South Rhodesia, Namibia, South Africa and Kenya.

D. Revolution

Revolution refers to the complete overthrown of the existing government or system in a country or state by those who were previous subjected to it. It was a last resort or as means of getting disagreement over fundamental questions. This method was commonly employed in monarchy system rule of countries like Zanzibar, Burundi, Egypt, Libya etc.


The factors which determined the form or methods of decolonization


1. The nature of colonial economic structure

The type of colonial system established in the colony was the major reasons for difference in the struggle for independence e.g. peasant colonies like Ghana, Tanganyika and Nigeria, independence came through constitutional means. This is partly because the colonialist received little to exploit in these colonies.


In settler colonies such as Algeria, Zimbabwe, Namibia and Kenya, independence was achieved through armed struggle. These are because the settlers were not ready to leave the land or colony and grant independence.

2. Economic and political position of the colonizing power


Some of the colonial powers like the Portuguese were poor and their colonies were remedy for their poverty. Therefore granting independence to such colonies meant committing economic suicide. Therefore independence in the Portuguese colonies was to be achieved through the barrel of gun/armed struggle

3. Attitude of the colonial masters.

Example, Kenya was regarded as a crown colony or crown land (land of the Queen of England) hence not easy for the colonial powers to grant independence. This necessitated armed struggle.


Angola and Mozambique were regarded as extension of Portuguese abroad (Portuguese provinces abroad). Therefore the long drawn on guerilla war in these colonies were invisible.


4. The nature or structure of the African societies.


This depended on the level of development reached by societies like whether they were collaborative, weak, strong etc. therefore the only solution was to attain independence through armed struggle.


5. Relationship between different ethnic groups and racial community within the colony.


The form of struggle was also influenced by the relation between ethnic group or racial segregation. Discrimination revealed bitterness and hatred among the colonial subject this complicated the struggle for independence. Example. Members of different ethnic groups failed to unite and form mass political parties.


In some cases the colonialists tended to favour minority against the majority to form the government of independent African states. This led to the revolution for the majority felt that they are not independent/free example in Zanzibar.