R1720thand21st

Because question seventeen centers on relationships between domestic and foreign policies, decolonization fits perfectly as it shows how the evolving of domestic policy in post-war Europe leads to many former Imperial empires to leave their colonies. After the 2nd World War, Western Europe as a whole was in tatters, its economy faltering and once ideological views being turned down for new, radical ones. Decolonization was one of those new ideals as it granted self-determination to former African and Asian colonies as imperial empires were on the verge of collapse even after 1939. Empires left their colonies as people regarded their countries much more differently those days, applying spiritual and moral integrity to their list of superiority along with their technological and social advancements. An example of this would be Great Britain’s Labor Party opposition to Imperialism lead for their departure from India in 1947, as keeping an empire of colonies was just too burdensome for their weak post-war economy. Many other countries take Britain’s act of decolonization as a heads up, as they began to leave their colonies shortly after; all with the exception of France, as they violently attempt to keep control over their colonies. But after failure to do so, in 1958 France’s De Gaulle keeps a steady relationship with France’s former colonies by suggesting either a total break with France or an independence with French association. This came to be known as neocolonialism, a new system of colonialism as countries were allowed to govern freely within their governments, but would contain western influence as their markets would be monopolized by their former controllers. (999)

McKay, John P. __A History of Western Society__. 7th ed. New York City: Houghton Mifflin, 2003.