British Empire
Essays

European Imperialism and Decolonization: Spectacular in Some Respects, Not Spectacular in Other Respects The term "spectacular" is, in some respects, subjective. The collapse of European empires after 1945 was spectacular in some respects but not in others. The British Empire's decolonization after World War II can be logically called "spectacular" in its scope; however, it was not "spectacularly" surprising or shocking, for the Empire began decolonization decades before World War II. In contrast to the Empire's decolonization, France's decolonization can be logically called "spectacular" in both its scope and turmoil. According to research, these differing experiences of decolonization can be traced to several national and accidental factors. While post-WWII decolonization was breathtaking in its scope, painting all European Empire decolonization with a single "spectacular collapse" brushstroke would be inaccurate. Great Britain's decolonization began decades prior to 1945 and was rapidly accelerated by Great Britain's realistic approach to post-1945 economic and political realities. In addition, Great Britain's national psychology, solid government, friendly relations with the United States and relative luck in dealing with its subjects resulted in a rapid but relatively peaceful decolonization. France's post 1945 decolonization, in sharp contrast to that of Great Britain, more closely resembles a "spectacular collapse" for several reasons. Having made no attempts at decolonization prior to WWII due to its rigid intent on maintaining French rule over all its colonies, post-WWII France faced the economic and political necessity of decolonization at a distinct disadvantage. Saddled with its still-unbending intent to control its colonies, France was also overburdened by a national psychology that took the loss of a colony personally, a fractious and volatile government, an unfriendly relationship with the United States, and relatively terrible luck in dealing with colonists who were determined to be free and uncompromising in their approach to France's imperialism. In sum, Great Britain and France show markedly different approaches and effects of post-WWII decolonization, which can be fairly described as spectacular in some respects but no spectacular in other respects.

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¶ … Wheat Staple in Upper and Lower Canada

Constitutional Structures of U.S. And Canada

In evaluating China's prospects for achieving superpower status, especially during this economic crisis, the first research question would take into consideration whether and to what degree the United States is in decline as a superpower, and if it is, then whether China is simply going to achieve superpower status by default. This is what happened to the British Empire after decades of economic decline and then bankruptcy as a result of the Second World War: the U.S. took its place as the leading world power. Certainly the U.S. position seems far shakier today than it did in the 1950s and 1960s or in the 1990s after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Even the predominant economic model that it has been propounding worldwide since the 1980s, that of free trade and free markets is no longer sweeping all before it as it did after the Cold War.