Movements have been common throughout human history for a variety of reasons. Slaves engaged in movements against their oppressive masters in ancient Rome. Americans rebelled in the American war for independence because of Great Britain’s authority over them. In The Wilsonian Moment: Self-Determination and the International Origins of Anticolonial Nationalism, Erez Manela argues that the anticolonial movements that occurred after World War I (WWI) were a result of President Woodrow Wilson’s rhetoric on self-determination for the post-war world. Manela claims that a “Wilsonian moment” began when Wilson’s vision for the postwar world spread throughout the world with the help of propaganda. As WWI was coming to a close, Wilson gave speeches
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In British occupied Egypt, nationalists like Wafd leader Sa’d Zaghlul believed that, “Wilson’s principle of self-determination prohibited the imposition of foreign rule on a people against its will, and Britain could therefore no longer claim legitimacy for its rule over Egypt” (70). In Korea, which was under Japan’s rule, a Korean Declaration of Independence was created that advocated for freedom from Japan and wanted to equality in international affairs. India expected their war contributions to be rewarded with home rule from Great Britain. In response to this desire, British Secretary of State for India Montagu declared that they would endorse Indians being allowed in the government but this was seen as falling short when viewed alongside Wilson’s views on self-determination. As a result of Wilson’s rhetoric, “Indian home-rule campaigners incorporated his principles into their rhetorical arsenal as they redefined their own goals and adjusted their expectations and demands to keep pace with the transformation they perceived in the international arena” (Manela 91). And in China, which wanted to see its status amongst the world’s nations increase, began to see Wilson’s ideals as being in line with Confucius. Kang Youwei, the leader of reform …show more content…
Manela clearly shows that the Wilson’s rhetoric on self-determination was international because it occurred all over the world, but more importantly it was transnational because many countries had similar experiences. Manela’s argument could have been enhanced, however, if he could have shown that a French colony had similar experiences. France was the second largest colonial empire at the time, and including one of its colonies would have shown that it was not just British colonies, or countries where Japan exerted its influence, that heard Wilson’s call for self-determination and acted on it. With not including a French colony aside, Manela’s work is an important work in understanding the anti-colonial uprisings that broke out after
In British occupied Egypt, nationalists like Wafd leader Sa’d Zaghlul believed that, “Wilson’s principle of self-determination prohibited the imposition of foreign rule on a people against its will, and Britain could therefore no longer claim legitimacy for its rule over Egypt” (70). In Korea, which was under Japan’s rule, a Korean Declaration of Independence was created that advocated for freedom from Japan and wanted to equality in international affairs. India expected their war contributions to be rewarded with home rule from Great Britain. In response to this desire, British Secretary of State for India Montagu declared that they would endorse Indians being allowed in the government but this was seen as falling short when viewed alongside Wilson’s views on self-determination. As a result of Wilson’s rhetoric, “Indian home-rule campaigners incorporated his principles into their rhetorical arsenal as they redefined their own goals and adjusted their expectations and demands to keep pace with the transformation they perceived in the international arena” (Manela 91). And in China, which wanted to see its status amongst the world’s nations increase, began to see Wilson’s ideals as being in line with Confucius. Kang Youwei, the leader of reform …show more content…
Manela clearly shows that the Wilson’s rhetoric on self-determination was international because it occurred all over the world, but more importantly it was transnational because many countries had similar experiences. Manela’s argument could have been enhanced, however, if he could have shown that a French colony had similar experiences. France was the second largest colonial empire at the time, and including one of its colonies would have shown that it was not just British colonies, or countries where Japan exerted its influence, that heard Wilson’s call for self-determination and acted on it. With not including a French colony aside, Manela’s work is an important work in understanding the anti-colonial uprisings that broke out after