The Role of Independence Movements and Colonialism in Societal Development

Abstract

The development of a country in the modern world is strongly influenced by its colonial past, whether it got its independence through violent or so-called more 'peaceful' movements. This article reviews the way that colonialism set the stage for a country's difficulties in the establishment of stable governance, such as the Apartheid in South Africa, in which a group was put into power by fully ignoring the demands for democracy and the social issues of the country. It examines factors that could differentiate colonies in this rush for development and self-determination, such as former British colonies appearing to be more successful in regards to levels of democracy, despite countries like Canada and Australia developing very differently from India or South Africa. The way in which populations rose to independence could also have an impact in the way that they further developed. Frantz Fanon argues that true independence could only be achieved through violent manifestations. Those led to a more unified population, and as nationalism is shown to be positively correlated with economic development, to greater economic growth of a former colony.