Outline Lecture Nine—Decolonization or Neo-colonialism

Key Questions: 1) How can a Third world nation best achieve self-empowerment? 2) What are the similarities and differences between imperialism and neo-colonialism

I) The Decolonization Process a) Decolonizing Trends in Asia and Africa after 1945 i) Inspired by nationalism and self-determination (1) Belated realization of Wilson’s hopes? (2) Maturation of an indigenous elite class exposed to Western education? ii) Experience fighting against the fascist powers in Europe and Japan during W.W.II b) Violent decolonizing struggles i) French Indochine (1) Ho Chi Minh’s call for national independence of Vietnam in 1945 (a) Role of French Vichy government during W.W. II (b) Dismal legacy of French colonial rule (c) Complete betrayal of France’s own revolutionary ideals (2) Final French defeat at Dien Bien Phu in 1954 ii) Algeria 1955-62 (1) Role of war-time hero, de Gaulle (2) Racial legacy of the “Pied-noir” or “Black foots” c) New Path to Self-empowerment i) Frantz Fanon (1925-1961) (1) Experience as director of psychiatric services in 1953 (a) Colonialism systemically “dehumanizes and decerebralizes” its victims (2) The Wretched of the Earth 1961 (a) Only cathartic violence can produce a meaningful new beginning ii) Hypocrisy of European ideals (1) Europe talks of the ideal “man” but murders “men everywhere” (2) Self-empowerment on a nation’s own terms

II) The New Mask of Imperialism—Neo-colonialism a) Meaning of Neo-colonialism i) More insidious form of imperialism b) The Agenda behind “Aid” i) Exercise control through monetary loans (1) International Monetary Fund and World Bank ii) Mono-cropping iii) Little towards education and social services iv) Only safe aid is “military aid” c) The Socialist Alternative? i) Why attractive alternative to the persistent inequalities of neo-colonialism