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Decolonization broadly defines the process of ending the colonization and returning these countries to the local leaders and power by which they became sovereign. 

It is a global phenomenon that was happening in Asia and Africa as well as in the Middle East during the 1950s and 1960s. It was a process by which many nationalist groups, local leaders, ordinary men and women tried to overthrow the colonial regimes.

Decolonization is a way to break and cut the extension of the formal and informal control over the dominated Polities and societies. It is nothing but the opposite of colonization. 

Decolonization is a state when the international community recognizes the breaking of the relationship of colonization as legitimate the formulae subject polity becomes an independent to sovereign nation.

Start of Decolonization:

Subjugation of one entity by another has been a feature of every Empire which is known as colonization. Colonization was a period of expansion of European Maritime power. 

Colonization started first from Spain and Portugal's tried to expand their influence all over the globe which was followed by the British, Dutch and other European powers.

These colonial powers covered all over the America's and much of the Asian and African countries. But the local people lack the technological development and military power as well as other means to resist the colonial power. As the resistance of European domination was everywhere.

The year of 1776 was the landmark year when the North America colonies got its independence against the British rule. It was also known as American Revolution or American War of Independence. Haiti got its independence in the year of 1791 by the great slave revolt in the French colony of Saint Dominguez.

This was the period when decolonization-I was restricted to America and not to the whole world. After the end of World War-II decolonization process actually took place.

Factors Responsible for Decolonization:

A variety of factors were responsible against the imperial power. Several reasons were responsible for the increased in the speed of decolonization after the World War-II. The growth in US started which resulted in making them superpower in the world.

There was a fall in the power of Britain and France colonial saw a massive decline. As super power US did not wanted that day to continue their colonial imperial rule. USA colonies wanted to be free from this but slowly.

One of the major factors for decolonization to start after World War-II as the European nations lacked the political as well as wealth support to maintain and run the countries under them. 

On the other hand the European Nations cannot oppose the emerging superpower. US and Soviet nation stands against the colonialism. As strong Independence movement started in the colonies for freedom.

Even the most popular European state no longer was able to bear the economic and military burden for maintaining the Empire. Other fact was that Nationalist movement had also grown in their strength. 

Especially considering India and after World War-II the nationalist movement went stronger. United Nations provided an International Forum as a platform to give voice to Independence movement to these countries.

Effects of Decolonization:

Major changes happened in the 20th century due to the decolonization such as the economical power ,changes in the political map of the globe etc. This process change the political map of the world with many new countries emerging on the world's map significantly after they got independence.

The economic power of various countries after decolonization emerged as economic giants. Many independent countries borrowed money for the economic development from the western countries, which introduced the independency principle in the world.

After the decolonization some countries adopted socialism India Egypt, etc while some adopted capitalism like Malaysia. On the other hand some countries started to declare themselves democratic Nations after the decolonization.

Decolonization affected the world in many ways the most important was the instability among the political system, rise in the economical problems, slow growth, standard of living when down. Decolonization give solution to many problems such as color discrimination, dependency etc.

International trusteeship system was introduced by the UN charter. In 1960 after the decolonization adopted its landmark Declaration on Granting of Independence to colonial countries and people.

In the year 1945 Korea was defended by Japan in the war on the other hand India got its independence after the British left in 1947. Egypt in 1956 decolonized where as Palestine in 1948 was decolonized. 

The French left the North African colonies by 1962 as well as in the year 1970 Portugal gave up their colonial power from the African colonies.

Decolonization was a process where several changes took place in the world. It was a way where the people of the country asked for freedom from the colonial powers with their self determination. 

It introduced a new world with many new countries emerging not only economically but also politically.

Written by: Rakhi Sharma

Edited By: Gourav Chowdhury