Decolonization Student Template

From Colonial Shackles to Sovereignty: Sri Lanka's Decolonization and aftermath

By Madhuri, Suchir, and Anya

Introduction

Topic: Decolonization of Sri lanka and the Cambodian genocide Brief Context:

• Sri Lanka gained independence from British colonial rule on February 4, 1948,
• The country, known as Ceylon during British rule, transitioned to a parliamentary democracy with the Dominion Status, maintaining ties with the British Commonwealth.
• Independence marked a significant moment in Sri Lankan history, paving the way for the establishment of its own government

Introduction

Cambodian Genocide:

• From 1975 to 1979
• In pursuit of agrarian socialism, aiming to create an extreme form of communism by forcibly remolding Cambodian society, eliminating perceived enemies, intellectuals, and ethnic minorities

Objective/Goals: To illustrate that despite setbacks after decolonization in the late 1900s, Sri Lanka continued to progress by:a) aligning Sri Lanka with Western institutionsb) reviving indigenous cultures and traditionsc) forming a democratic government

Economic

According to Kadirgamar Ahilan, After decolonization: - Sri Lanka was firmly aligned with the West and Western institutions such as the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization a) the central bank of Sri Lanka b) primarily focusing on agriculture as it is a recommendation that served western intrests

Social

According to Kadirgamar Ahilan, After decolonization: - It caused ethical conflicts -questioning of cultural identity -A divide in nationlism causing many debates.

Political

Causes:

• Inspiration from Indian Nationalist Movements (Sriram)
• Dominance of Political Elite (Senanayake)

Effects:

• Formation of Democratic Institutions (Pearce and Nadaradjane 2)
• Creation of the Sri Lankan Constitution (Warnapala 915)

Video

Video Link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/18ERUdcx0tZ4ejkr02C-y6Z4C0GgpO22V/view?usp=drive_link

The Cambodian genocide : A Call to Action

Causes:

• Political Instablity
• Ideological Extremism
• Desire for power

Consequences:

• Mass Atrocities
• Psychological Trauma
• Social Disruption

Call to action: Lets stand together and learn to prevent issues such as this to happen again by standing a togther and working towards peace and fairness for future generations

Works Cited

Akash Sriram. “How India’s Independence Movement Set the Tone for Future Global Political Movements.” Deccan Herald, 14 Aug. 2020, www.deccanherald.com/specials/how-india-s-independence-movement-set-the-tone-for-future-global-political-movements-873259.html.Gangadharan, Lata, et al. “The Long-term Effects of Genocide on Antisocial Preferences.” World Development, vol. 160, Dec. 2022, p. 106068. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2022.106068.Senanayake, Devana. “Sri Lanka’s Flawed Path to Independence.” The Diplomat, 4 Feb. 2023,thediplomat.com/2023/02/sri-lankas-flawed-path-to-independence.Warnapala, W. a. Wiswa. “Sri Lanka’s New Constitution.” Asian Survey, vol. 20, no. 9, Sept. 1980, pp. 914–30.https://doi.org/10.2307/2643737.Pearce, Will, and Anjali Nadaradjane. “Sri Lanka: Democracy in Crisis.” The Centre for Independent Studies, 8Feb. 2023, www.cis.org.au/publication/sri-lanka-democracy-in-crisis.Kadirgamar, Ahilan. “Polarization, Civil War, and Persistent Majoritarianism in Sri Lanka - Political Polarizationin South and Southeast Asia: Old Divisions, New Dangers.” Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, 18 Aug. 2020, carnegieendowment.org/2020/08/18/polarization-civil-war-and-persistent-majoritarianism-in-sri-lanka-pub-82437.