Chapter 23 Independence and Development in the Global South (pg. 691-720)

I find it interesting that Nelson Mandela spent 27 years in prison for treason, sabotage, and conspiracy. It's even more interesting that in 1994 he became South Africa's first black president. In the 20th century Decolonization was very important. The newly independent states experimented politically, economically, and culturally. These states were labeled as third world countries during the cold war. Today they are now more often called developing countries or the Global South. They include a large majority of the world’s population and suffer from enormous challenges. I think it is wrong that there was a destructive impact of colonial rule in the 1st and 2nd waves. Not only were people suffering from racism, but their borders were re drawn based on how the British thought it should be. Their culture, religion, and economy were taken over and over powered by the British. Gandhi became a very significant leader in India because he joined a movement to fight for racial segregation there. He also developed a notion of India that included both Hindus and Muslims. This notion was an active but nonviolent movement. The British were not happy with this so they responded with repression and concessions. Not everyone agreed with Gandhi so there was conflicts there as well. Arguments arose but eventually South Africa won freedom from Great Britain in 1910. But its government is controlled by a white settler minority.