Did the Colonial Era End Too Abruptly Leading To Coups?
The vast majority of nations that received independence from colonial power started with brief periods of civilian democratic rule, but quickly saw those liberal democratic regimes dissolve into coups, one party rule and civil wars. This casts real doubt on the wisdom of the policy of colonial powers to grant independence immediately and en masse around 1960. The nations did gain independence, but the nature of the regimes that replaced colonial rule was, at best, no better than that of the colonial regime, and in many cases, far worse. Four decades later, as we examine the end of the imperial era, the questions are what could have been done better and what lessons can be learned going forward?
