Decolonization after World War II

Photo of students of Lovanium University during a parade celebrating Congolese independence on 30 June 1960 in Léopoldville
Historical thinking about (de)colonization

This comprehensive teaching package from the KU Leuven focuses on historical thinking about the (post)colonial period after 1945. It is linked to the book Decolonization in Past and Present. Postcolonial and Subaltern Perspectives for History Education (2023).

Five key themes are addressed:

  1. The independence of British India and the Belgian Congo
  2. Belgian colonial collective memory
  3. The colonial legacy in Israel-Palestine, India-Pakistan, and the Rwandan genocide
  4. Migration to Western Europe after 1945
  5. Subalternity

Knowledge clips support students in critically analyzing sources (usefulness, reliability, perspective, representativeness, comparison) and in working with key concepts such as historical situatedness, causality, presentism, and collective memory.

Place & period
Belgian Congo (1908-1960)
Ruanda-Urundi (1919-1962)
DR Congo (1960-...)
Rwanda (1962-…)
Theme
Decolonization
Diaspora
Heritage and memory
Gender
Violence
Independance
Racism
Type
Lesson package
Historical sources
Video
Organisation
Year
2023
Language
Dutch
Target audience
3rd stage secondary
Duration
(20 x) 50 min.