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Comparative Essay

How did the causes and effects of decolonization in Latin America and Africa differ or resemble
each other?

Over the course of several hundred years, these regions had been colonized by various European
powers, mainly Spain in Latin America and Britain and France in Africa. However, three basic
issues instigated decolonization in Africa and Latin America-the indigenous peoples' desire for
independence, European distraction with global affairs, and popular resentment against racism
and inequality. According to dictionary.com, decolonization is "the action of changing from
colonial to independent status." In addition to the causes which led to Latin American
decolonization were Allied promises after World War II, limited higher education for a few
individuals, and the unstoppable forces of nationalism. In strikingly similar long term effects,
Africa and Latin America lost their indigenous heritages, natural resources, economic stability
and political autonomy. Plunged into debt and torn by civil war, both faced similar consequences
in the aftermath of decolonization. Although differing in unique application of process, Latin
America and Africa were mostly similar in overall comparison of decolonization.
Of course, the colonizations of Africa and Latin America preceded and led to their
separate decolonizations. After Columbus discovered San Salvador in 1492, European
colonialism led to the subjugation of Latin America during the sixteenth century. Using
religious conversion as an excuse, Catholic expansionism engulfed the land and
consumed the resources of the native population. Draining indigenous assets for
European benefit, colonization in Latin America eventually led to civil unrest and a push
for independence after the American and French revolutions. A later facet of the same
colonialism, called imperialism, occurred in Africa during the late nineteenth century.
Earlier, European greed had ruined Africa by a filthy exploitation of African people as a
cheap means of slave labor. During the Scramble for Africa, European imperialistic
powers carved up Africa and its resources into political partitions at the Berlin
Conference of 1884-85. By 1905, African soil was completely controlled by European
might, mainly Britain, France, Portugal, Germany, and Italy. As a result of colonialism
and imperialism, Latin America and Africa suffered long term effects, such as the loss of
important natural resources like gold and rubber, economic devastation, cultural
confusion, geopolitical division, and political subjugation. However, European
domination also brought better roads, railways, harbors, hospitals, education, and
modern agricultural methods."1
What caused decolonization efforts in Latin America? Revolutionary thought originated
as Latin America watched the successful revolutions of the United States and France. If
the United States, its geographical and colonial cousin could be free, why not Latin
America? Secondly, international powers forgot colonial conquests as the limelight
centered on Napoleon Bonaparte, whose empire was creeping onto their very doorstep.
Profiting from their opportunity, Latin Americans renounced Spanish allegiance when
Napoleon placed his brother, Joseph Bonaparte, on the Spanish throne in 1808. Even
when the Bourbon dynasty was restored, Spain would not be able to reacquire its Latin
American colonies.2 Thirdly, interracial relationships of Europeans with natives led to
social divisions in Latin America. Peninsulares, pure bred Spaniards born in Europe,
enjoyed high status as landowners, while creoles, full blooded Spaniards born in the
colonies, had fewer privileges and lower social standing. At the social median were the
mestizoes, a mixture of European and Native American blood, and mulattoes, of
European and African descent. Demoted to the bottom of the social ladder were the pure
blooded native tribes and Africans, stuck with the lowest jobs and fewest opportunities.
As racially based discriminations grew, pent up tension simmered and nationalistic
hatred bubbled in this colonial mélange. In the end, colonial racism coupled with
revolutionary ideas and international disregard helped ignite the Latin American wars
for independence. Thus Greater Columbia gained its independence in 1819, Mexico in
1821, Peru in 1824, Argentina in 1825 and Cuba in 1898. Once the unstoppable impetus
of independence was underway, other Latin American colonies threw off European
control throughout the 1800's.2
In comparison to the decolonization of Latin America, a combination of three similar
circumstances and three different trends of Allied promises, better education, and the
forces of nationalism led to African emancipation. Comparative to Latin American
decolonization, African desire for independence was based on witnessing the successful
revolution and subsequent self rule of its neighbor nation, India, led by the exemplary
pacifist Mahatma Gandhi.3 Secondly, African decolonization occurred with the
international confrontation of the Cold War. Because the Soviet Union was attempting
to promulgate its Communist ideology, major European powers feared that their
desperate colonies would turn to Communism as a radical means of obtaining
independence. Although in a different form from Latin America, racism was the third
circumstance which affected the decolonization of Africa. Unlike Latin America, Africa
did not have the racial mixture in the colonies, since Europeans had not settled and
intermixed with the natives. Instead, the racial prejudice was rooted in European belief
of the inferiority of Africans based on cultural differences, lack of political involvement
and lower education.3
Differentiating from aspects of Latin American freedom, African decolonization was
merely a fulfilling of promises. Desirous of discarding the economic burden of
maintaining huge empires, Allied powers promised independence to Africa after World
War II. In a second differing aspect, the better education of a few people played a huge
part in informing and activating the multitudes. Lending a voice to the people of Africa,
the support of intellectuals and well educated individuals united the masses by a surge
of nationalism. This desire for change, for national awakening, for throwing off the
colonial rule, became the final element which enabled Africans to push for
independence through intellectual appeal, political campaign and bloody uprisings. In
1957, Ghana became the first African nation to become independent. Further African
decolonization occurred with the independence of Guinea, Nigeria, Sierra Leone,
Tanzania, Congo, Uganda, Kenya, Zambia, Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Malawi, Gambia,
Botswana, Swaziland, Cameroon, Chad, the Central African Republic, Côte d'Ivoire,
Gabon, Madagascar, Mali, Senegal, and Niger.4By the end of the 1970s, almost no
African soil remained constricted by colonial rule.5
The results of decolonization continued to affect Latin America long after colonialism
was gone. Because the mother countries had exercised full political control during
colonization, political instability ensued after the colonial governing influence was gone.
Although democracy in government was attempted, racial inequality in Latin America
was too deep seated to permit egalitarianism. Secondly, the partitions established
during colonization led to border disputes in the newly decolonized states. During the
violence, aggression, and civil war which further split the new states, Greater Columbia
divided into the separate countries of Columbia, Panama, and Venezuela. Of course, the
border wars coupled with colonial exploitation of natural resources led to the third
result of decolonization-economic disaster. Under colonialism, the colonies had been
totally dependent on the mother countries to buy their raw materials such as cash crops
or minerals. When the mother country's support for the narrow cash crop based
economy was gone, the entire economy threatened to crash. Stripped of its natural
resources and without a stable government, Latin America needed to diversify and
industrialize its economy, but lacked the means. Only by borrowing huge amounts of
money were the new countries able to stay afloat. In this fourth result of decolonization,
debt led to Latin American susceptibility and dependence on its lenders. In a condition
known as neocolonialism, the countries or bankers which loaned money to Latin
America used those loans as a means of exerting economic or political control over Latin
America.2
In the aftermath of decolonization, Africa displayed the same four results found in Latin
America. Political instability occurred with the introductions of Marxist and capitalist
influence, along with continuing friction from racial inequalities. Inciting civil war, black
nationalist groups participated in violent attacks against white settlers, trying to end
"white minority rule" in the government.5 Further violence occurred with disagreements
over the partitions made during the colonization. Despite widespread acceptance of
these partitions, border disputes such as those between Chad and Libya, Ethiopia and
Somalia, and Nigeria and Cameroon are nursed even today.6 In another result of
colonialism followed by decolonization, the African economy was drained of natural
resources with no opportunity to diversify from its colonial export of cash crops.
Suffering through famine and drought, Africa struggled to industrialize its poverty
stricken work force without sufficient funds. In an attempt to influence the Third World
to adopt the ideology of either capitalism or Communism, the United States and the
Soviet Union loaned food and money to Africa. In this fourth circumstance of post
decolonization, debt was a result of the poor economic set up of colonialism. To feed,
educate, and modernize its masses, Africa borrowed huge sums of money from various
nations, bankers and companies. In return, the lenders tried to exert political power
over Africa, even though technically not in charge. Sadly, the borrowed money did not
fix the devastated economy. Since the massive loans in both Africa and Latin America
have been squandered by mismanagement and corruption of dictators, social issues
such as education, healthcare, and political stability have been ignored.7
In conclusion, three main phenomena led to decolonization-- colonial desire for
independence based on the successful emancipation of other nations, European
distraction with international affairs, and native resentment against racial
discrimination. Three additional aspects, including the Allied promises of independence
after World War II, better educational opportunities, and a wave of nationalism,
separated African decolonization from that of Latin America. In a direct comparison, the
four main results of decolonization proved similar in generality, but unique in
application. Finally, the results of decolonization including political instability, border
disputes, economic ruin, and massive debt continue to plague both Africa and Latin
America to this present day.
Quick Quiz:
Top of Form
1. Which of the following caused decolonization in Latin America?

HINT:

Racism and indigenous dissatisfaction with chocolate imports

Joseph Bonaparte ruling Spain and nationalistic love for Africa

Overwhelming colonial debt

European distraction with a short guy from Corsica

Successful freedom of other nations preceded by introduction of Communism


2. All of the following caused decolonization in Africa EXCEPT

HINT:

Revolt against racial prejudice

Desire to imitate Gandhi's hairstyle

Mother country desire to defeat Communism spreading

Economic promises made before World Wars I and II

Better education coupled with nationalism


3. Colonialism followed by decolonization left Latin America stripped of its natural
resources, politically ignorant, economically devastated, and divided by racial
inequality.

HINT:

False

True
4. ______________ was not one of the main results of decolonization in Africa.

HINT:

Political instability

Debilitating debt
Economic problems

Massive sugar cane strikes

Border conflicts
CLEAR ANSWERS

Bottom of Form

Endnotes:
up1Pink Monkey.com. "Decolonization." World History. 28 May. 2004
<http://www.pinkmonkey.com/studyguides/subjects/euro_his/chap6/e0606301.htm>
up2NA. "Latin America in the 19th Century." World History. 28 May. 2004. <
http://www.hcc.hawaii.edu/distance/hist/latinam.htm>
up3NA. "French and British Colonial Styles." World History. 28 May. 2004. <
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/africa/features/storyofafrica/14chapter2.shtml>
up4Ostara Publications. "The Collapse of Colonialism." World History. 28 May. 2004. <
http://www.white-history.com/hwr65.htm>
up5Encyclopedia.com. "Africa." World History. 28 May. 2004.
<http://www.encyclopedia.com/html/section/Africa_OutlineofHistory.asp>
up6Encyclopedia.com. "Post Independence." World History. 28 May. 2004.
<http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/africa/features/storyofafrica/14chapter10.shtml>
up7NA. " Economic Challenges." World History. 28 May. 2004. <
http://www.hcc.hawaii.edu/distance/hist/neocol.htm>
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