Chapter 34: The Era of Independence

Pages: 834-854

The Colonial Divisions of Africa and the Emergence of New Nations

The Partition of South Asia: The Formation of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka

The Challenges of Independence Nationalist movements in Africa, Middle East,

and Asia involved mass mobilization› Nationalist leaders had to promise jobs, civil rights,

equality to gain their support (visions of utopia)› Once Europeans driven away, there would be

enough resources for everyone› Post Europeans: Not enough resources to go around› Long standing tensions between groups resurface

Boundaries (Pakistan and Bangladesh) Human conflicts in Africa cause famine and starvation Civil wars consume resources that could bolster

economy Politicians ignore problems

The Population Bomb “New World “ foods (Pop. Growth in China, India, Java, Niger

delta) War and famine reduced Death rates fall, births increase, improved hygiene and medical

treatment, improved sewage systems, purified water› South Asia: moderate growth rates have led to huge populations› Africa: Fast growing population, but AIDS and economy may slow or

reduce growth Hurt by lack of industry, can’t provide for own populations Population control difficult

› cultural factors Resistance to birth control, procreation seen as sign of male virility Some African and Asian leader oppose state attempts at birth control Importance of lineage in Africa Sons important for continuing family line Women important in Africa, but not Asia

› Prior to 20th century high mortality rates mean losing 10-12 of 15-16 children Necessary to have many children to take care of parents

Parasitic Cities and Endangered Ecosystems

Mass migrations to urban areas› Search for jobs, “good life”

Towns don’t have industrial sectors› Few jobs, competition for those that existed, ensures low wages› Unemployed turn to street vending, scavenging, begging, petty crime

Urban Poor= volatile factor in politics› Cheer on one or jeer the other, riot and loot in times of crisis, shock troops, urban mobs

Towns › Slums with makeshift shelters

Originally no electricity, running water, sewage become permanent

› towns parasitic: heavily dependant for survival on food and resources drawn from their own country side or from abroad Take from countryside, give little in return

Problems caused by rural overpopulation:› Soil depletion› Deforestation› Overgrazing› Desertification› Industrial pollution (even though industry is small, pollution is greater because they cant afford

antipollution technology)

The Subordination of Women and the Nature of Feminist Struggles in the Postcolonial Era

› Many emerging nations write female suffrage into their constitutions› Some women’s rule can be deceptive

Indira Gandhi: India’s prime minister, one of the most resolute and powerful of all third world leaders Daughter of Jawaharlal Nehru (India’s first prime minister)

Corazon Aquino: President of Philippines Wife of martyred leader of Filipino opposition to Ferdinand Marcos

Benazir Bhutto: Prime minister of Pakistan Daughter of Pakistani prime minister toppled by military coup and

executed› Most women in Africa, Middle East, Asia have been relegated to peripheral

political positions or have no participation in political process› Second class position in most societies

Early marriage ages, large family norms prevent higher education or career Male-centric customs (India serve husbands and son first, eat what is left)

1970’s: 20% of female population is malnourished, 30% have diet below acceptable UN standards

› Low sanitation and scarcity of food causes anxiety for women about nutrition for children and disease

› Religious Revivalism: Veiling, stoning those caught in adultery Dominated by male family members

Neocolonialism, Cold War Rivalries, and Stunted Development

Industrial development

› little success, need capital to develop, little left once other state expenses are paid

Cash crops, minerals› dependent on prices, causes problems with future

spending plans Other Problems:

› Neocolonialism: global economy dominated by industrial nations

› Corruption› High concessions for international assistance

Post-Colonial Options for Achieving Economic Growth and Social Justice

Charismatic Populists and One-Party Rule› Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana

Soviet support cocoa, cash crop deposed, 1966

The New West African Nations

Military Responses: Dictatorships and Revolutions

Muslim Brotherhood› Hasan al-Banna

Free Officers, 1930s› nationalistic› Gamal Abdul Nasser› allied with Muslim Brotherhood

Military Responses: Dictatorships and Revolutions

Nasser› land redistribution› free education› food staples regulated› forced British from Canal zone› Israel

Six-Day War, 1967

Military Responses: Dictatorships and Revolutions

Anwar Sadat› negotiations with Israel

Hosni Mubarak

The Middle East in theCold War Era