Metropolitan Identities and Twentieth-century Decolonization

Constructing Metropolitan Identities and Decolonization focuses on the role of the processes and mechanisms involved in metropolitan identity construction, maintenance, and change in twentieth century decolonization, an event integral to world politics but little studied in International Relations. Besides contributing to a more complete picture of the various mechanisms which are involved in decolonization, this book questions ideational and constructivist approaches and complicates the argument that the adoption of positive norms like racial equality, democracy, human rights, and self-determination by colonial powers and their extension to their colonies were primarily responsible for how the colonial power came to reject colonialism. More specifically, the author examines Britain and India during the interwar period and the Indonesian disengagement from East Timor and argues that what were previously considered uncomplicated positive norms like democracy and human rights are embedded in discursive structures, processes, and mechanisms of far greater complexity than previously realized. These ideas must be examined for a more complete understanding of their role not only in decolonization but in the relationship between the North and South more generally.

Lena Tan is Lecturer in the Department of Politics at the University of Otago, New Zealand.