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

1. the action of changing from colonial to independent status