IAFS 1000 Algeria: Comparing British and French Decolonization
British Decolonization: Egypt 1952 military uprising 1956 Suez Crisis Nasser
British Decolonization: Africa (outside Egypt) Pan-Africanism Macmillan: ‘wind of change’ (1960) Rhodesia —1965 “indep” —1980: Zimbabwe
French Decolonization DeGaulle: “I will not have to change the foreign policy of France since at present France has no foreign policy.... Thus I will not change this policy which does not exist, but I will make the policy of France.” French resistance to decolonization: —Assimilation —“Civilizing mission” —Distrust of US
French Decolonization: Algeria 1954: First resistance from National Liberation Front (FLN) 1957: Battle of Algiers —backlash in France —international support 3 July 1962: Independence
Overall Themes Different patterns of decolonization in different empires —British concessions —French attempts to retain power Different circumstances: —nationalist movements —elites Lasting troubles in many former colonies
“Battle of Algiers” (1966) Ali La Pointe (FLN leader) Col. Mathieu (~ Gen. Jacques Massu) Jaffar (played by FLN leader Yacef Saadi) Larbi Ben M'Hidi (FLN leader) Little Omar (fictional)