India vs. Kenya

Decolonization:

Index

● Context

● Countries Before Decolonization

● Path to Decolonization

● Synthesis of Movements o Theories and Theorists

● Countries After Decolonization

Context: India● Colonized by British Raj in

1858 o British interference began as

early as 1612

● India was considered a non-settler colonyo Dependency → Direct British

rule with some degree of autonomy

● Independence gained in in 1947, followed by partition

Context: Kenya

● British colony from 1920-1963o However, controlled

for 60 years● Kenya was

considered a settler colony

Similarities vs. Differences

● Overarching Parallel → Same colonizer

● India was a non-settler colony, dependency colony; while Kenya was a settler-colony

● The big differenceo India’s independence

achieved through negotiation

● To what extent?o Kenya’s independence

achieved violently

Countries Before Colonization

● Indiao Population lived in villages and maintained an

agricultural economyo Hindi is official language, however 18 different

languages are recognized in constitutiono European influence was present before colonization

Traded with Rome as early as 1st Century CE

Countries Before Colonization

● Kenyao 1st century AD

Coast frequented by Arab traders who established Arab and Persian colonies

Nilotic and Bantu people moved there as well● Swahili language developed as lingua franca for trade

Path to Decolonization● India

o Influential leaders: Mohandas K. Gandhi Jawaharlal Nehru (Hindu) Muhammad Ali Jinnah

(Muslim) Maulana Azad (Muslim Sardar Patel (Hindu)

o Fight for more autonomy within the nation began with the creation of the Indian National Congress→ demanded a modern Indian nation

Path to Decolonization● India

o Key events 1885 → Indian National Congress founded 1920→ Launch on Non-Cooperation Movement 1930 → Salt March and Civil Disobedience

● 1930 → First Round Table Conference● 1931 → Second Round Table Conference● 1932 → Third Round Table Conference

1935 → Government of India Act 1942 → Quit India Movement http://www.timetoast.com/timelines/849628 http://www.bl.uk/reshelp/findhelpregion/asia/india/indianindepende

nce/chronology/

Negotiated Independence

Path to Decolonization● India

o Mass killing in the border of India and Pakistan followed Independence Make us question whether

Indian independence can be truly considered non-violent

● 1 million killed● 12 million migrated

o Mahatma Gandhi was murdered by Hindu extremist who felt he was too sympathetic towards Muslims

Path to Decolonization● Kenya

o Influential Leaders Jomo Kenyatta

o Groups fought against British efforts to levy taxes, conscript African men to be porters for the military, and force African communities off their lands British led military campaigns to crush

African resistance ● part of the colony were under military

control until the 1920s.o The British governed by indirect rule

Local African leaders enforced colonial authority.

Path to Decolonization● Kenya

o Political groups were organized along ethnic lines Most Africans did not see themselves as

"Kenyan"● Benedict Anderson’s “imagined

communities” were not at play hereo After WWII

African discontent began to boil Kikuyu people (largest ethnic group in Kenya)

began a revolt● Aimed at colonial system and africans who

were colonial supporterso Initial feelings of national → rise of

the imagined community This becomes known as the Mau Mau Revolt

● 1952-1960 Kikuyu woman in traditional dress

Path to Decolonization● Kenya

o European settlers prevented the smooth transition of power Opposed independence

even after the revolto After Mau Mau revolt,

independence became clearo 11,000 Africans were killedo Negotiations lasted for the

next three years

● Kenyao Fanon would argue that the new found feelings of nationalism would

be opposed to the ideas of liberation that the Kikuyu people soughto Elie Kedourie would argue that the adoption of nationalism was a

consequence of western influences within the region

Path to Decolonization

Can the Subaltern Speak?

● Spivak argues that the subaltern cannot speak

● India and Kenya → show another side to the story

● The ability of both countries to rise above British colonizer’s repression showed that the subaltern had a voiceo Nationalist mindframe

Nationalist, Internationalist and Metropolitan Explanations

India Kenya

Nationalist Decolonization in India was result of efforts made within the nation to free themselves from British rule. Efforts by influential leader, such as Gandhi, were the reason why the country achieved independence.

Decolonization in Kenya was result of efforts made within the nation to free themselves from the colonizer. Primarily, by the Kikuyu people, who were the Kenyans who initiated the Mau Mau Revolt.

Metropolitan Despite national efforts, the reason why independence was achieved was because the colonies were costing too much money for Britain and it would be more valuable, for economic reason, to allow independence and remain allied to the nation

Since the British were capable of ending the Mau Mau revolt, it is clear that they could still control the country if it was in their interest. They arranged to maintain support of moderate Africans to ensure a close relationship between Kenya and Britain after independence.

Internationalist After WWII, Britain had fought Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy who sought to have an empire, therefore it made no sense for them to hold their own colonies. The context of the Cold War also made it hard for Britain to maintain its colonies since the main goal was to defeat communism and not maintain an empire.

After WWII, Britain had fought Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy who sought to have an empire, therefore it made no sense for them to hold their own colonies.The context of the Cold War also made it hard for Britain to maintain its colonies since the main goal was to defeat communism and not maintain an empire.

Periphery: Kenya and

India

Semi Periphery:Spain and Portugal

World-System Theory

Core: Britain

High Profit Consumption Goods

Cheap Labor and Raw Materials

A.G. Hopkins

● Argues that decolonization must be understood broadly as a process of globalization → in concordance with the internationalist explanation

A.G. Hopkins

● The United Nations → weapon that is a consequence of globalization, only become more powerful with the growth of decolonization

Countries After Decolonization● India

o Border and migration struggle between 1947 and 1948 as Muslims and Hindus try to move to their respective nations

o Population has tripled since independenceo Nehru (Prime Minister) believed India should westernize, so he built factories,

highways and railroadso India is still considered underdeveloped (or an emerging) country

This is one of the biggest consequences of colonization● BRICS → all emerging countries

Countries After Decolonization● Kenya

o Jomo Kenyatta → Prime Ministero Kenya was admitted into UN under his ruleo Opened trade with Uganda and Tanzaniao HOWEVER

Considered a totalitarian leader● He killed opposition and had only his name on several

election ballots. ● Gave land to friend and family, who in turn controlled most of

the economy● Cult of personality → Was considered the Father of Kenya

o Based on Friedrich and Brzezinski → Totalitarian