Decolonization Of Pacific Island Nations Essay

After the conclusion of WWII, it was quickly realized that the countries that held such international power were rapidly losing their authority. In the late 18th century decolonization began but by no means had the European expansion reached its uttermost point. Most European statesmen prized their colonies as extensions of power and state power. There is no question that power matters in the international community. While decolonization may have been the favourable option to the ruling powers, it is evident that it did not reach their expectations. This essay will aim to look at the decolonization of the Pacific Island Nations, including Hawaii who have experienced immense injustice and acts of imperialism from their colonial powers. Captain …show more content…
The Islands were formally isolated and the Hawaiian population fell quickly due to disease. Missionaries gained control over smaller populations. Language and other cultures including the hula were outlawed, the breaking point came at Hawaii’s illegal annexation. The Hawaiian culture was nearly completely wiped out, thus leading the missionaries to believe that they were in fact “helping” these people and bringing them closer to god. The idea of “not in my back yard” rang through when the U.S. permitted the testing of atomic and hydrogen bombs in the Pacific Ocean. Obviously there would be grave consequences and it would be essential to find a suitable location to detonate. According to the U.S. the Pacific Islands were far enough away so that the U.S. would go unshaved. The size of their political voice and remoteness of the small islands served as validation to use them as the testing ground. In international politics, the people of the small islands, for example the Marshall Islands, were not significantly involved. Other excuses they gave to justify the testing of these bombs were as follows: the outcome was “unknown”, as they were so small very few people would be harmed, large populations would not face much harm and that the governing powers would strongly suggest that the islanders move to safer …show more content…
Very little information was given to the public and it was the only reporting done on these events so naturally, was very biased. It was a very one sided view and the information was laid out to make everything seem as it was okay. If the people of Euro-America were to question the legality or the inhumanity of such things, they would get no answers and it wouldn’t be reported. People of the Marshall Islands and other areas in the Pacific Ocean, still to this day have been displaced due to the nuclear toxicity of the surrounding area and the other side effects that come with the variety of bombs. Hundreds and thousands of people have suffered the consequences and islands have been completely destroyed. The populations of these areas are still born with birth defects, mothers are still giving birth to stillborn babies and great numbers of people are suffering from cancers, yet they are “only Pacific Islanders” (Keever, 2004).The people of Hawaii and the Pacific Islands had lost everything they had during colonization. Everything from their native lands to safe, clean drinking water. They lost their wellbeing for further generations from the trials of the atomic and hydrogen bombs. In the process of this, the United States made out that the Hawaiian natives were a less significant race on a global scale purely to justify their