decolonization
decolonization — noun
1. the process by which a region or country that was ruled by a foreign power gains
the process by which a region or country that was ruled by a foreign power gains the right to govern itself and becomes an independent nation
The decolonization of Algeria followed a brutal war that lasted nearly eight years.
decolonization + of + [country name]
Asher studied how decolonization changed the political borders of Southeast Asia.
For Ghana, decolonization in 1957 meant the first independent government in a century.
Noor's grandmother described the joy of celebrating decolonization in her village.
The speed of decolonization across Africa surprised many European governments in the 1960s.
- independence
more general; independence describes the resulting state, while decolonization describes the entire process
- liberation
stronger emotional tone, emphasizes the struggle against oppression
- sovereignty
focuses on the legal right to self-govern rather than the process of achieving it
- self-determination
refers to the principle that a people should decide their own government
- colonization
the opposite process of establishing colonial rule over a territory
- colonialism
the system of political and economic control that decolonization seeks to end
文法句型
decolonization + of + [region]
用法筆記
Most commonly used in historical discussions about the mid-20th century, when many former colonies in Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean became independent nations. Can be modified by adjectives such as 'political', 'economic', or 'cultural' to specify the type of decolonization being discussed.
常見錯誤
2. the act of rethinking an institution, course of study, or field of knowledge so
the act of rethinking an institution, course of study, or field of knowledge so that it no longer treats European perspectives as the most important ones, and instead includes ideas and voices from regions that were once colonized
Meera joined a committee on the decolonization of her university's history syllabus.
decolonization + of + [academic discipline]
The museum in Lagos started a decolonization project to feature more local sculptors.
Femi's article argues that decolonization of legal education would change how law is taught.
Some scholars question whether decolonization of the sciences is as urgent as in the humanities.
- decentering
specifically describes moving a particular group (often Europe) away from the center of a narrative or field
- diversification
broader term — means adding variety without necessarily restructuring the power hierarchy
- Eurocentrism
the viewpoint that decolonization in this sense aims to move away from
文法句型
decolonization + of + [institution/discipline]
用法筆記
This newer sense appears mainly in academic and cultural criticism contexts. It typically refers to re-examining what is taught in schools, displayed in museums, or valued in a field of study, rather than changing a country's political government. May be modified as 'academic decolonization' or 'curricular decolonization' for clarity.