All questions of Decolonization & After for UPSC CSE Exam

The term used to describe the policy of indirect control exerted by the United States and the Soviet Union during decolonization is "neo-colonialism." It involves maintaining influence over former colonies through economic, political, or military means.

The correct answer is Option D: External interference during the Cold War. After gaining independence, Angola was engulfed in a civil war mainly due to the involvement of different external powers during the Cold War. The United States backed the FNLA, while Cuba supported the MPLA. South Africa also supported different groups. This external interference intensified the conflict and made it more difficult to achieve peace in Angola.

The correct answer is Option A: Allegations of fraud. UNITA, the main opposition party in Angola, refused to accept the election results in 1992, claiming that there had been fraud. This was despite the presence of 400 UN observers who reported that the elections had been "generally free and fair." UNITA's refusal to accept defeat led to the resumption of the civil war and further bloodshed in Angola.

President Nyerere advocated for a one-party socialist state with government control over the means of production in Tanzania. The text mentions his Arusha Declaration, which outlined his socialist vision for the country.

In 1992, a political change occurred in Tanzania with the introduction of a multi-party system, as mentioned in the text. This marked a departure from the previous one-party rule.

The correct answer is Option C: South Africa's occupation of Namibia. Namibia, which lies between Angola and South Africa, was under South African control and occupied illegally. The South African government delayed granting independence to Namibia, which angered the African nations and further complicated the situation in Angola. The MPLA government allowed SWAPO, a Namibian liberation movement, to have bases in southern Angola, which intensified South Africa's hostility towards the MPLA.

The text mentions that neither the United Nations (UN), the Commonwealth, nor the Organization of African Unity (OAU) were able to mediate during the Nigerian Civil War. This implies that these international organizations were ineffective in resolving the conflict.

The primary focus of John Kufuor's policies during his presidency in Ghana was diversifying the economy, modernization, and encouraging private involvement. His policies aimed to improve economic stability and development in Ghana.

The correct answer is Option A: Fear of communism. The introduction of apartheid in South Africa was primarily driven by the fear of communism. The Nationalist Party, led by Dr Malan, believed that white supremacy was necessary to protect South Africa from the spread of communism in Africa. They viewed non-white races, especially black Africans, as inferior and believed in the preservation of white domination. The Dutch Reformed Church supported this view, using religious justifications to promote racial segregation.

Ghana heavily relied on cocoa exports as its primary export product, which made the country economically vulnerable, especially when the world price of cocoa fell.

Kwame Nkrumah, the leader of Ghana, pursued a policy of socialism and pan-Africanism during his rule but was eventually overthrown by the military in 1966.

The primary reason for the accelerated decolonization in the mid-20th century was the impact of mass revolutionary movements in the colonial world. These movements, often involving armed struggles, played a crucial role in pressuring colonial powers to grant independence to their colonies.

The correct answer is Option D: Recognition of the need for change. P. W. Botha, the prime minister of South Africa from 1978 to 1984, realized that apartheid was unsustainable and needed to be reformed. He acknowledged the growing pressure from both domestic and international sources for change. Botha understood that South Africa needed to adapt to avoid further conflict and upheaval. While his reforms fell short of meeting the demands of racial equality, they represented an acknowledgement of the need for some concessions to address the grievances of the black population.

The correct answer is Option A: South Africa was expelled from the Commonwealth. In response to the apartheid regime in South Africa, the Commonwealth took a strong stance by imposing economic sanctions and condemning the racial discrimination. However, the expulsion of South Africa from the Commonwealth was the most significant action taken. In 1961, when South Africa became a republic, it had to reapply for membership to the Commonwealth. The other Commonwealth members, except for Britain, rejected South Africa's application, leading to its expulsion from the organization. This was a significant diplomatic blow to the apartheid government and further isolated South Africa on the international stage.

The outbreak of the Nigerian Civil War in 1967 was primarily caused by tribal differences and concerns about regional domination. The text mentions that Nigeria had significant tribal differences, with the northern region dominated by the Muslim Hausa and Fulani tribes, while the western and eastern regions, primarily the Yorubas and Ibos, expressed concerns about northern domination. These tribal tensions and regional disparities played a crucial role in the conflict.

The correct answer is Option C: Promotion of racial equality. The African National Congress (ANC) in South Africa was founded in 1912 with the aim of promoting racial equality and fighting against racial discrimination and apartheid. It sought to achieve political and social rights for all South Africans, regardless of their race or ethnicity. The ANC played a crucial role in the struggle against apartheid and eventually led to the establishment of a democratic and non-racial South Africa.

The outcome of the Suez Canal crisis of 1956 was the withdrawal of British troops from Suez without achieving their objectives. The crisis was a political disaster for the British and French colonial powers.

The correct answer is Option D: 1994. The civil war in Angola finally came to an end in 1994 when a ceasefire was negotiated, and a peace agreement was reached between the MPLA government and UNITA. This agreement was monitored by the UN, and UNITA accepted the results of the 1992 elections. The death of Jonas Savimbi, the leader of UNITA, in 2002 further contributed to the prospects of peace and reconstruction in Angola.

A nationwide protest and strike occurred in Nigeria during President Goodluck Jonathan's tenure due to the removal of a fuel subsidy, as mentioned in the text.

One of the key challenges faced by Tanzania's education system in the early 2000s, as mentioned in the text, was inadequate funding for schools. This resulted in a decline in the quality of education and decreased enrollment rates.

Jerry J. Rawlings, an air-force officer, initiated a "house-cleaning" exercise in 1979 to remove corrupt soldiers and politicians in Ghana before returning the country to democracy.

The main reason for Kwame Nkrumah's downfall as the leader of Ghana was corruption, one-party rule, and personal dictatorship. His authoritarian approach and alleged corruption led to his removal from power.

The correct answer is Option C: High inflation and poverty. The civil war in Angola had devastating consequences for the country. It resulted in high inflation, with inflation rates reaching as high as 240 percent. The war was also ruinously expensive, leading to economic instability and widespread poverty. The majority of the population lived in poverty, and thousands were on the verge of starvation. The conflict also had a significant impact on the healthcare and education systems, hindering their development.

Dr. Julius Nyerere played a vital role in the overthrow of President Idi Amin of Uganda, as mentioned in the text.

The end of British rule in India was marked by the partition of India in 1947, which led to the creation of two independent nations, India and Pakistan.

South Africa became the last bastion of white rule on the African continent after 1980. It was characterized by apartheid policies that enforced racial segregation and discrimination.

When Tanzania became one of the world's largest gold producers, the primary source of revenue was gold mining. The text mentions Tanzania's transition into a significant gold-producing nation.

President Mwinyi introduced a departure from Nyerere's policies by implementing a multi-party system and allowing more private enterprise in Tanzania, as mentioned in the text.

The outcome of the Nigerian Civil War was that Nigeria achieved full national unity. The text mentions that the final surrender came in January 1970, indicating that the conflict ended, and Nigerian unity was preserved.