decolonization
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: 1. The action or process of a state withdrawing from a former colony, leaving it independent: This refers to the political process by which a colonial power grants sovereignty and self-governance to a territory it previously controlled. 2. The historical period or movement of achieving political independence from colonial rule: This broader meaning encompasses the collective efforts, events, and ideologies that lead to the end of colonial empires.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- The decolonization of Africa accelerated rapidly in the mid-20th century.
- The process of decolonization often involved complex negotiations and, at times, armed struggle.
- Scholars study the economic impacts of decolonization on newly independent nations.
Advanced Usage
- "Waves of decolonization": Refers to distinct historical periods when many colonies achieved independence in a relatively short time.
- The first major wave of decolonization in the Americas occurred in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.
- "Internal decolonization": A metaphorical or psychological concept referring to the process of freeing one's mind from the cultural, linguistic, or ideological legacies of colonialism.
- The author's work focuses on the need for internal decolonization of education systems.
Variants and Related Words
- Decolonize (verb): To withdraw from a colony, leaving it independent; to free from colonial status or influence.
- The nation sought to decolonize its institutions and legal frameworks.
- Decolonial (adjective): Relating to or advocating for decolonization.
- They adopted a decolonial approach to their research.
- Neocolonialism (noun): The use of economic, political, or cultural pressure to control or influence other countries, especially former dependencies. This is often discussed as a challenge following political decolonization.
Synonyms
- Independence (specifically the achievement of it from a colonial power)
- Self-determination (the principle that a people should be free to choose their own political status)
- Liberation (especially when achieved through struggle)
Related Phrases
- "Post-colonial": Referring to the period or conditions existing after decolonization.
- The post-colonial era presented new challenges for governance.
- "Granting of independence": A phrase often used synonymously with the act of decolonization by the colonial power.
Noun
- the action of changing from colonial to independent status