Colonialism And Decolonization Questions
The major challenges faced by newly independent nations in terms of external threats included:
1. Neocolonialism: Former colonial powers often continued to exert economic and political influence over newly independent nations, undermining their sovereignty and development.
2. Economic dependence: Many newly independent nations inherited economies that were heavily reliant on exporting raw materials to former colonial powers. This dependence made them vulnerable to fluctuations in global markets and limited their ability to diversify their economies.
3. Border disputes: The arbitrary borders imposed by colonial powers often led to territorial disputes between newly independent nations. These disputes could escalate into armed conflicts, destabilizing the region and hindering economic and social development.
4. Cold War rivalries: The ideological competition between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War era often played out in newly independent nations. These nations became battlegrounds for proxy wars, leading to political instability and further hindering their development.
5. Lack of infrastructure and resources: Many newly independent nations faced significant challenges in building infrastructure and accessing resources necessary for development. Limited access to education, healthcare, transportation, and communication hindered their progress and made them more vulnerable to external threats.
6. International isolation: Some newly independent nations faced diplomatic isolation and limited access to international markets due to their political ideologies or conflicts with neighboring countries. This isolation further hindered their development and made them susceptible to external pressures.
Overall, the major challenges faced by newly independent nations in terms of external threats were neocolonialism, economic dependence, border disputes, Cold War rivalries, lack of infrastructure and resources, and international isolation.