POL208Y1 Lecture : 9 Critical Historical Periods I.docx
Document Summary
Since 1900, there have been 3 major transitions in world politics: 1) transition from european crises to modern, industrialized total war; 2) end of empire and withdrawal of european countries from their imperial acquisitions, 3) cold war. Factors influencing decolonization: attitudes of colonial power; ideology and strategy of anti- imperialist forces; role of external powers: end of british empire: majority was peaceful; 1945- the sun never sets on the british empire , Between 1947 and 1980 49 territories were granted independence; 1947-independence of india. Jewel in the crown of the empire led to creation of world"s largest democracy: british withdrawal from africa was relatively peaceful, except for indigenous revolutionaries in. 1954-1962 leading to hundreds of thousands of deaths. In asia the relationship between violent marxism and nationalism was a potent force, seen through vietnam: rise of the usa as a world power after 1945 affected directly or indirectly- every part of the globe.
