About Lesson
E.1. Introduction
- Decolonisation refers to the reversal of colonial rule, a system through which a powerful nation exerts control over foreign lands, often across oceans.Â
- It involves the transition of colonies into independent nations, free from the domination of colonial powers.
- At the time of the United Nations’ establishment in 1945, approximately 750 million people—about one-third of the global population—were living under colonial rule. Since then, immense progress has been made.Â
- Today, only 17 Non-Self-Governing Territories remain, with a combined population of under 2 million people.
- The right to self-determination is recognized by the United Nations as a fundamental principle guiding the decolonisation process, empowering people across the globe to choose their own political paths and shape their futures independently.
- Decolonisation involves either nonviolent revolution or national liberation wars by pro-independence groups
[Image: Causes of Decolonisation]