Expert: Mark Smith - 10/31/2004

Question
Was World War Two considered a watershed in the political relations between the colonizers and the colonized in British and French West Africa?

Answer
Hello Peter.
WWII was a watershed throughout the Empires of Europe, and not only in Africa. The post war years saw a growing social and political consciousness amongst the colonies. They observed the apparent weakness of their colonial masters as they recovered from the devastating war and saw an opportunity to gain self-rule at least or full independence at most. Also the USSR sought to extend it's influence throughout the world and this brought into play the USA which did not trust the weakened European powers to provide strong leadership against the Soviet threat. This coupled with more liberal politics in France and GB saw a rush for independence in the west African colonies in the late 1950s/early 1960s. Nationalist movements in these colonies won important electoral successes and paved the way eventual independence.
Mark