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00:00:00 – 00:12:36
John Green's video discusses the global phenomenon of decolonization following World War II, highlighting the dissolution of European empires from the 19th century and the subsequent rise of numerous nation-states. The video contrasts the historical dominance of empires with today's nation-states and explains the unique nature of modern decolonization, which occurred without the formation of new empires due to the discrediting of imperialism post-WWII.
Key themes include the independence movements in various regions, such as India, where figures like Mohandas K. Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru aimed for a united nation, ultimately leading to the partition into India and Pakistan amid significant violence. The struggle for independence in Indonesia under Sukarno and the violent ends to French colonial rule in Indochina, notably in Cambodia and Vietnam, are also discussed.
The video further explores Egypt's political transitions under Gamal Abdul Nasser and the impact of arbitrarily drawn colonial boundaries in Africa. It highlights the lack of institutions and experienced leaders at the time of independence, citing examples like Congo, which had minimal higher education graduates, and the rise of leaders such as Robert Mugabe and Idi Amin.
Despite the challenges, the video notes progress in some African nations, with improvements in literacy, economic growth, life expectancy, GDP, and infant mortality rates in countries like Botswana, Benin, Kenya, Ethiopia, and Mauritania. The conclusion underscores the uneven but significant advancements made by these nations post-independence.
The episode wraps up with acknowledgments of the production team and an invitation for viewer engagement, maintaining the educational and interactive spirit of the Crash Course series.
00:00:00
In this segment of the video, John Green discusses the topic of decolonization and the dissolution of European empires formed in the 19th century, emphasizing their instability and the rise of nation-states. He highlights that most people today have only known a world of nation-states, contrasting it with the historical dominance of empires from various civilizations. Green humorously considers how past empires might perceive modern ideas like those presented in Star Wars, and notes that revolution is often easier compared to establishing stable governance post-revolution.
He explains that while empires like Rome and Persia also fell, modern decolonization is unique because no new empires have replaced those that disintegrated, largely due to the discrediting of imperialism after World War II. The Allied victory against Nazi Germany made it difficult for colonial powers to justify continued subjugation of their colonies, especially as these powers were significantly weakened by the war. The video goes on to describe the widespread decolonization post-World War II, illustrating this with examples of regions like India, French Indochina, and the Dutch East Indies gaining independence. Finally, the segment touches on the decolonization in Africa and notes that new nations had to navigate Cold War influences, often choosing between socialism and capitalism.
00:03:00
In this part of the video, the focus shifts to the decolonization of India, starting with the founding of the Indian National Congress in 1885. Initially, the Congress leaders, who were mainly from the elite classes, did not demand independence but sought to create a modern Indian nation. The best-known nationalist, Mohandas K. Gandhi, used nonviolence and a somewhat mythologized view of Indian history to lead the independence movement. Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru aimed for a unified India, unlike Muhammad Ali Jinnah of the Muslim League, who foresaw the division of India as necessary due to Hindu-Muslim tensions. This prediction came true when India was partitioned into India and Pakistan in 1947, leading to significant violence and displacement. Around 12 million people were uprooted, and up to half a million were killed during the transfer of power, contradicting the idea of a peaceful transition. The violence deeply affected Gandhi, who was eventually assassinated by a Hindu nationalist.
00:06:00
In this segment, John Green discusses the historical and global context of hunger strikes, mentioning their roots in ancient India and their use by suffragettes and in pre-Christian Ireland. He then transitions to the history of Indonesia under Dutch colonial rule and its struggle for independence post-World War II, highlighting the role of Sukarno. The narrative moves to the violent end of French colonial rule in Indochina, covering the rise of the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia and the prolonged conflict in Vietnam, which involved both French and American forces. The segment briefly touches on modern Vietnam’s manufacturing industry before shifting focus to Egypt’s political changes in the 1950s, where Gamal Abdul Nasser overthrew the king and skillfully navigated the Cold War dynamics between the US and USSR.
00:09:00
In this segment, the video discusses the status of anti-imperialistic nationalist forces in Egypt, such as the Muslim Brotherhood, and highlights the actions taken by Nasser and the army to ban and suppress them. The focus then shifts to Central and Southern Africa, emphasizing the problematic legacy of colonial boundaries that became the new nation-state borders, often arbitrarily drawn and detrimental. The speaker notes the economic development during colonial rule centered on resource extraction for export, neglecting local needs, resulting in a lack of institutions like schools and universities upon independence.
Examples are provided, such as Congo having only sixteen college graduates in 1960 from a population of fourteen million. The video also discusses the undermining of traditional elites by colonial powers and the emergence of new, often inexperienced rulers post-independence, highlighting figures like Robert Mugabe, Joseph Mobutu, and Idi Amin, who came to power through military means.
Despite these challenges, the video points to significant progress in some African nations. Botswana and Benin show strong literacy and economic growth, Kenya’s life expectancy has increased, while Ethiopia and Mauritania have seen improvements in GDP and infant mortality rates, respectively. The segment concludes by acknowledging that although this progress is uneven and fragile, there are notable advancements considering the relatively short existence of these nations post-independence.
00:12:00
In this segment of the video, the speaker concludes the episode of Crash Course by thanking viewers for watching and mentioning that the show aims to tell the story of humans from inside the human experience. The credits list Stan Muller as the producer and director, Meredith Danko as the script supervisor, Danica Johnson as the associate producer, and Thought Bubble as the graphics team. The episode is written by the speaker and Raoul Meyer. The speaker also refers to ‘Meatloaf’s Career’ as last week’s phrase of the week and invites viewers to guess or suggest future phrases, as well as to ask questions in the comments that will be answered by historians. The segment ends with the speaker’s signature sign-off, “Don’t Forget To Be Awesome.”