... states, such as Sierra Leone and Nigeria, as well as the violence that was a consequence of the partition of the Indian subcontinent, Britain should be commended for managing to avoid the bitter struggles that the French and the Portuguese faced. However, just why decolonisation proved so simple to bring about is a fascinating question. In 1945, the subject of decolonisation was not even an issue, and no-one would have expected that, twenty years later, the empire - on which the sun famously never set - would be reduced to a handful of tiny or troublesome dependencies. Given the incredibly diverse nature of the Empire, it is only to be expected that there were a number of different catalysts for its dissolution, but nevertheless, some generalisations can be drawn. Thus the colonies' desire for independence, as expressed through burgeoning nationalist movements, the marked decline of Britain's economy, as well ...

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