11.3.3

Nationalism

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Nationalism - 19th Century

Nationalism has played a role in the development of the modern world. Nationalism is the belief held by people belonging to a particular nation that their own interests are much more important than those of people belonging to other nations. In the 19th Century:

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Colonial empires

  • In the 19th century, European states (UK, France, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy and Germany) all established colonies overseas to create empires.
  • Spain and Portugal dominated Latin America, with a lot of the rest of the world divided up among other colonial powers.
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France, Spain & Portugal

  • France acquired huge areas across north Africa. Cameroon, Mali and Senegal all speak the French language today.
  • Spain and Portugal acquired huge areas of territory in South America.
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Britain

  • Britain’s empire included southern Africa and the Indian subcontinent (the British Raj describes the rule of India by the British crown).
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Conflict between colonial powers

  • Nationalism was a contributory factor in the conflict between the European powers.
  • World War One was partly caused by the conflict between these colonial powers. Germany and Britain were engaged in a naval arms race and economic gain increased the tension between the nations.

Nationalism - Post WW2

Nationalism is the belief held by people belonging to a particular nation that their own interests are much more important than those of people belonging to other nations. After World War 2:

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Independence movement

  • After 1945 most former colonies gained their freedom and became independent and empires gradually disintegrated.
  • India gained independence from Britain in 1947 and Kenya became independent in 1963.
  • Habib Bourguiba led a Tunisian independence movement against France from 1952 to 1956.
  • Latin American nations generally gained independence in the 1800s.
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'Wind of change'

  • There was a ‘wind of change’ across Africa. This was a period of rapid independence for many African nations.
  • The high cost of the two world wars, resistance to foreign rule and concern about the injustice of colonial rule among young European people helped the independence movements.
  • Rapid population growth and improved education systems in colonised nations helped to accelerate the movement.
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Raw materials

  • It could be argued that the European countries (the colonialists) became less dependent on the raw materials from their colonies, making them less attached.

The Post-Colonial Era - Outcomes

In many cases, the rapid de-colonisation led to a 'power vacuum' and a lack of economic stability.

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Army control

  • In many countries, the army seized power after independence.
  • This happened in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria and Indonesia.
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Ethnic groups

  • In other nations, ethnic groups seized control.
  • The Tutsi people in Rwanda seized control after independence. They had worked alongside the Belgian colonialists.
  • When Kenyatta came to power in Kenya in the 1960s, he expelled many Kenyans of Asian origin.
  • Resentment among persecuted or non-represented minority social groups sowed the seeds for future conflict.
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Western interference

  • During the Cold War, the USA, Russia (USSR) and other nations sometimes exacerbated post-colonial instability.
  • They participated in proxy wars in Korea, Vietnam, Sudan and Yemen.
  • These conflicts were often costly economically, environmentally and in human terms.
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Migration to imperial countries

  • Patterns of migration between former colonies and the imperial country have been strong e.g. from Jamaica, India and Uganda to the UK, Maghreb countries to France.
  • These migration patterns have changed the ethnic composition and cultural diversity of the host/imperial country.
    • Often these migrants may share a language/culture.
    • Often, migrants were encouraged to fill jobs in textiles, transport and healthcare.

Jump to other topics

1Tectonic Processes & Hazards

2Option 2A: Glaciated Landscapes & Change

3Option 2B: Coastal Landscapes & Change

4Globalisation

5Option 4A: Regenerating Places

6Option 4B: Diverse Places

7The Water Cycle & Water Insecurity (A2 only)

8The Carbon Cycle & Energy Security (A2 only)

9Superpowers (A2 only)

10Option 8A: Health & Human Rights (A2 only)

11Option 8B: Migration & Identity (A2 only)

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