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  • Textbook
  • © 1998

British Decolonization, 1946–1997

When, Why and How did the British Empire Fall?

Authors:

  • The most uptodate and comprehensive history of British decolonization available and includes the handover of Hong Kong
    Concise and manageable introduction to the subject

Part of the book series: British History in Perspective (BHP)

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Table of contents (14 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xii
  2. Introduction: The Empire in 1946 and Decolonization

  3. When did the British Empire fall?

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 11-12
    2. The Dominion Model

      • W. David McIntyre
      Pages 13-20
    3. The Attlee Government’s Decisions of 1947–8

      • W. David McIntyre
      Pages 21-37
    4. The Ambiguous Fifties

      • W. David McIntyre
      Pages 38-44
  4. Why did the British Empire fall?

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 79-80
    2. The Metropolitan Dimension

      • W. David McIntyre
      Pages 81-88
    3. The Global Dimension

      • W. David McIntyre
      Pages 89-94
    4. The Colonial Dimension

      • W. David McIntyre
      Pages 95-99
  5. How did the British Empire fall?

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 101-102
    2. Transfers of Power

      • W. David McIntyre
      Pages 103-109
    3. Republics in the Commonwealth

      • W. David McIntyre
      Pages 110-118
    4. Conclusion

      • W. David McIntyre
      Pages 129-132
  6. Back Matter

    Pages 133-157

About this book

The sudden demise of arguably the world's greatest empire in the years following the Second World War was a momentous event in global history. After nearly four centuries of colonial activity, the British relinquished their empire in a little more than twenty years.
In this comprehensive new survey, David McIntyre narrates the sequence of decolonisation, summarises the historical controversies surrounding its causes, and considers what was distinctive about the way events unfolded. The author argues that although colonial self-government had a long pedigree going back to the American colonies (and Dominion status had become a peaceful evolutionary route to independence), the upsurge of colonial nationalisms after 1945 meant that policy-makers were overtaken by events. The great speed at which the numerous dependencies in Asia, Africa, the Caribbean and Pacific were relinquished is analysed and the Commonwealth since decolonisation reconsidered, revealing an association displaying surprising vigour in its post-Britannic years.

Authors and Affiliations

  • University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand

    W. David McIntyre

About the author

W. David McIntyre, OBE, is Professor of History at the University of Canterbury, New Zealand

Bibliographic Information

  • Book Title: British Decolonization, 1946–1997

  • Book Subtitle: When, Why and How did the British Empire Fall?

  • Authors: W. David McIntyre

  • Series Title: British History in Perspective

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-26922-8

  • Publisher: Red Globe Press London

  • eBook Packages: Palgrave History Collection, History (R0)

  • Copyright Information: W. David McIntyre 1998

  • Edition Number: 1

  • Number of Pages: XII, 176

  • Additional Information: Previously published under the imprint Palgrave

  • Topics: History of Britain and Ireland