Routes to Independence: Francophone colonies

Transcription

1 Routes to Independence: Francophone colonies he suffered from suicidal obsessions. The critical date was that when on instructions from his organization he had placed a bomb somewhere. This militant, who never for a single moment thought of repudiating his past action, realized very clearly the manner in which he himself had to pay the price of national independence [Franz Fanon,The Wretched of the Earth, p.206]

2 WWII: Europe, Africa & the World - post-war world saw creation of United Nations (to replace League of Nations) - Increase in anti-colonial rhetoric (including Pan-Africanists) - independence in various Asian regions, especially India, had major impact on colonizers and colonized alike

3 WWII: Europe, Africa & the World -Britain and France began speaking of changes to colonialism (will look at Britain next week) - allowed formation of Workers Unions where previously illegal -United States and Soviet Union emerged strong from the war: - demanded access to colonial world - supported anti-colonialist movements

4 The French Experience Post-war change came first in France: - left-leaning coalition (including Communist Party) immediately moved for change in colonial world : Union Francaise created commonwealth of French Colonies - 20 Africans to be elected representatives to French Assembly - others to serve in new Assembly for the Union

5 Francophone Colonies: the 1950s To protect future influence established Communaute Francaise: - France continued to control finance (common currency), foreign policy, military affairs - local parliamentary government, flag, anthem devolved to states

6 Francohpone 1950s (cont.) Reactions varied: - some not happy but felt Communaute gave time for weaker, poorer colonies to gain strength, therefore supported - others pleased to see small elite kept in positions of power - cultural reactions expressed in part by Leopold Senghor s concept of negritude, modern-conservatism -- return to Mother Africa within larger French community

7 Francophone : : the Referendum 1958: referendum on question of belonging to the Communaute: - de Gaulle made special tour of each colony preparing voters - maintained control over voting apparatus - YES vote meant continuing patronage of France aid, military support, currency stability (the FWA, FEA franc tied to French franc) - NO meant withdrawal of all support

8 Francophone : : Referendum (cont.) Every colony voted yes EXCEPT Guinea: - leader, Seku Toure strongly based in workers unions - Partie Democratique de Guinee won popular support - undermined authority traditional chiefs - 95% voters rejected the Communaute, opted for real independence

9 Francophone : : Referendum (cont.) - all aid immediately cut off - all French infrastructure that could be removed was even telephones ripped off walls! Guinea reflected potential danger: if one colony could make it alone, how long before the others did the same?

10 Algeria - other exception : settler colony of Algeria - already province of France - decolonizing process not applicable (from perspective of France) - anachronism in decolonizing world (from perspective of Arab Algerians

11 Algeria Algeria representative of most settler colonies: - resistance to continuing colonial rule led to full scale wars, often civil wars - ideology played key roles and therefore - had direct implications for international interests (Cold War) - had significant impact on home colonial society as well as colony

12 Algeria Algeria part of France: - Algerie Francaise since French settlers: pieds noirs or colons s Algerians struggling against two layers colonizers who would not negotiate - war for independence lasted Algeria s battle critical to struggle of West African French colonies

13 Algeria Algeria: -oldest colony; climate, land attracted 1 million, settlers (among 7 million Algerians) held 23% best land -colons saw Algeria as part of France -part of French metropolis except better policed, more military presence -Algerian workers moved in, out of France - fewer racial tensions than other settler regimes (eg Kenya)

14 Algeria c.1950 (cont.) Unlike West, East Africa, Algeria not part of post-war discussions of decolonization: - but had educated elite, nationalists, representing same range of positions -differed by being part of larger Arab, Muslim nationalist movement - strong across North Africa, rooted in Egypt - drew on ideology not contained or defined by colony or regional ethnicity: Islam

15 Algeria c.1950 (cont.) France: - Gaullist party became powerful after 1951 elections -aligned with colons interests - openly repressed local inhabitants Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia - Last two colonies turned to United Nations to censure French policies: failed - French position hardened in face of external interference

16 Algeria c (cont.) Resistance in Algeria led by Front de Liberation National(FLN) - guerilla warfare and terrorism in both countryside and cities - key battles in capital of Algiers

17 War in Countryside Peasants fleeing War (left) Prisoner of War, farmer s pig shed (right)

18 War in Algiers City Street Barricade. Vive Massu (reference to General Massu who led Parachute Troops and brought about end to battle of Algiers through terrorism and torture)

19 Video The Battle of Algiers (made in France, 1967 reissued 2003) [excerpt]

20 F.L.N. and its Ideology Role of Islam as ideology : - Islam played large role in defining who was with who was not with movement -seen by French as synonymous with: resistance being Arab terrorism - bred terrorism among French in return

21 Impact on Combatants the Arab, permanently an alien in his own country, lives in a state of absolute depersonalization.... The events in Algeria are the logical consequence of an abortive attempt to decerebralize a people" (Fanon, Toward the African Revolution 53).

22 Impact on Combatants -The French and those who fought as French troops also scarred by war [see Senegalese Soldier in Algeria in Additional readings] - total war in Algeria: everyone played a role [reference Battle of Algiers video excerpt showed in class Mar 3]

23 Struggle not confined to Algiers Struggle neither began nor ended in Algiers: - Battle of Algiers lasted three years (1954-7) - Battle of Algeria lasted seven

24 F.L.N. and the Wider World North Africa support strong, especially Egypt ( Radio Caire ): - angered French and British - Nasser (power 1954) initially seen as positive in terms of controlling pan- Islamicism : nationalized Suez Canal, provoked major debacle for western powers

25 F.L.N and the Wider World Marked turning point for France: -parachute troops to Algiers - leader (Massu) brought experience of Indo- Chine (Vietnam) - urban guerilla war met new terrorism, torture

26 F.L.N. (cont) impact of the war in France: - left, liberals uncomfortable with infringements on human rights articles and dialogues appearing in major public venues like Paris-Match

27 F.L.N. (cont) Attracted attention in US: Kennedy demanded discussion in UN France surveillance tracked FLN to Tunisian village: air bombed it - US, Britain pushed for negotiations

28 Dropping Napalm Air War

29 Impact on France International embarrassment: - dissension in military, economic doubts - all challenged holding on to Algerie Francais - not enough to dislodge entrenched interests, boosted by victory in Algiers

30 Impact on France May 1958: - demonstration in Algiers led to formation Committee of Public Safety - Fear military coup directed from Algiers led to constitutional transfer of power in Paris: de Gaulle called from retirement

31 Impact on France (cont.) Je vous ai compris! De Gaulle said to: -the colons - the Algerian francophiles - the military: What did that mean?

32 Impact on France (cont.) - De Gaulle convinced of decolonization - believed in modernization of country, nuclearization of defense system - tried to keep nuclear test sites in Sahara (a test had taken place in 1960), some oil and gas holdings but - by 1961, willing to negotiate the nonnegotiable and with the FLN!

33 De Gaulle Decolonizes 1959 he spoke of self determination 1960 of an Algerian Algeria 1961 of a sovereign Algeria In 1962: We must concede these details rather than reject an agreement; for there is no comparison between the primary interest, which consists of reaching an agreement, and the secondary interest, which consists of holding a little longer certain things which in any case we do not reckon to hold for ever! [cited in Feildhouse, Decolonization in Africa, 2 nd ed., p.185]

34 De Gaulle Decolonizes - Attempts to assure colons, military and Algerians who believed assimilation that France would not abandon them failed constant unrest, plots to assassinate de Gaulle threatened to undermine France itself meetings at Evian, France with FLN led to agreement which was, only a few years earlier, unthinkable: negotiated independence for Algeria

35 De Gaulle Decolonizes Agreement: - France promised co-operation (financial assistance) to help rebuild after 8 years of war - FLN promised to protect remaining colons - offer them choice of citizenship after 3 years

36 De Gaulle Decolonizes But undermined: - flight of most settlers with skills, capital threatened economy - FLN factions threatened political stability

37 Independence