decolonization
UK[ˌdiːˌkɒlənaɪˈzeɪʃən]US[ˌdiːˌkɑːlənaɪˈzeɪʃən]
n
The process by which a country that was previously a colony becomes politically independent and stops being controlled by another country.
n
The process of freeing an institution, field of study, or social attitude from the cultural or ideological effects of colonial rule.
Morpheme Breakdown
de
colon
ization
de
reverse
colon
settlement
ization
process of making
Etymology
The word is a modern political formation built upon classical components. The core element, "colon," derives from the Latin 'colonia,' a settlement or farm, which itself originates from 'colere,' meaning to cultivate or inhabit. The prefix "de-" signifies reversal or removal, a function it has held since Latin. The suffix "-ization" denotes the process of causing a specific state or condition. Therefore, the term's literal construction means "the process of reversing settlement/colonial control." It evolved in the mid-20th century to specifically describe the historical and political process of colonies achieving independence and, more broadly, the intellectual effort to dismantle the enduring cultural and psychological legacy of imperialism.
Analysis
Structure: de (reverse) + colon (settlement) + ization (process of making)
de: Latin origin. A prefix meaning "down from, off, away, reversing or undoing an action."
colon: Latin origin (from 'colonia', meaning 'settlement, farm'). Refers to a body of settlers or a territory under political control.
ization: English suffix (from Latin '-izare' via Greek and French). A noun-forming suffix meaning "the process of making or becoming."
Examples
The mid-20th century was a major period of decolonization across Africa and Asia.
The movement advocates for the decolonization of university curricula by including more indigenous perspectives.
True decolonization involves not just political independence but also economic and cultural self-determination.