Decolonisation of Oceania

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The decolonisation of Oceania occurred after World War II when nations in Oceania achieved independence by transitioning from European colonial rule to full independence.

Contents

While most of the countries of Oceania have a specific independence day, the independence of Australia and the independence of New Zealand were a gradual process and cannot be associated clearly with a specific date. Most of the British colonies in Australia gained responsible government in the 1850s, as did New Zealand in 1856. This was formalised into Dominion status in the 1900s, but with the United Kingdom retaining certain (disused) powers de jure. Although they were de facto sovereign states by the 1920s, Australia and New Zealand refused the formal recognition of their full sovereignty when offered through the Statute of Westminster in 1931, before accepting it respectively in 1942 and 1947.

Oceania continues to include a number of dependent territories controlled by colonial powers. The United Nations list of non-self-governing territories includes six Oceanian territories – the French dependencies of French Polynesia and New Caledonia, the American territories of American Samoa and Guam, the British dependency of Pitcairn Islands, and the New Zealand territory of Tokelau.

Timeline

Timeline of decolonising Oceania
CountryColonial nameColonial power [1] Independence date [2] First head of state [3] Independence won through
Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand Flag of New Zealand.svg Dominion of New Zealand Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 20th century gradual process
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia [4] Flag of Australia (1901-1903).svg  Australia 20th century gradual process
Flag of Indonesia.svg  Indonesia [5] Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Dutch East Indies
Morning Star flag.svg  Netherlands New Guinea
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 27 December 1949 (East Indies)
1 May 1963 (New Guinea) [6]
Sukarno Indonesian National Revolution
Flag of Samoa.svg  Samoa Flag of the Samoa Trust Territory.svg  Western Samoa Trust Territory Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 1 January 1962 Malietoa Tanumafili II and Tupua Tamasese Meaʻole [7] peaceful campaign by the Mau movement
Flag of Nauru.svg  Nauru Flag of Nauru.svg  Nauru Trust Territory Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia [8] 31 January 1968 Hammer DeRoburt peaceful campaign
Flag of Tonga.svg  Tonga Flag of Tonga.svg Kingdom of Tonga Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 4 June 1970 Tāufaʻāhau Tupou IV request
Flag of Fiji.svg  Fiji [9] Flag of the United Kingdom of Fiji 1871-1874.svg Kingdom of Fiji

Colony of Fiji
Flag of Fiji.svg

5 June 1871

13 August 1877 10 October 1970 [10]

Seru Epenisa Cakobau
(Kingdom of Fiji)
Kamisese Mara [11]
(Prime Minister: head of gov.)
British initiative, and negotiation
Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg  Papua New Guinea German new guinea flag.svg German New Guinea
Flag of the Territory of Papua.svg Territory of New Guinea
Flag of Papua New Guinea 1970.svg Trust Territory of Papua and New Guinea
Flag of the German Empire.svg  German Empire
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom [12]
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
16 September 1975 Michael Somare
(Prime Minister: head of gov.)
Australian initiative
Flag of the Solomon Islands.svg  Solomon Islands Flag of the Solomon Islands (1956-1966).svg British Solomon Islands Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 7 July 1978 Peter Kenilorea
(Prime Minister: head of gov.)
British initiative
Flag of Tuvalu.svg  Tuvalu Flag of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands (1937-1976).svg  Gilbert and Ellice Islands Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 1 January 1976

1 October 1978 12 July 1979

Toaripi Lauti
(Prime Minister: head of gov.)
British initiative
Flag of Kiribati.svg  Kiribati Flag of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands (1937-1976).svg  Gilbert and Ellice Islands Flag of the United States.svg  United States Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 1 January 1976

1 October 1978 12 July 1979

Ieremia Tabai British initiative
Flag of Vanuatu.svg  Vanuatu Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Flag of France.svg New Hebrides Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom
Flag of France.svg  France [13]
30 July 1980

1 August 1980

George Kalkoa peaceful campaign by the New Hebrides National Party
Flag of the Marshall Islands.svg  Marshall Islands Flag of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands.svg  Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands Flag of the United States.svg  United States 2 September 1945

21 October 1986

Amata Kabua ongoing Compact of Free Association with United States
Flag of the Federated States of Micronesia.svg  Federated States of Micronesia Flag of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands.svg  Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands 2 September 1945

3 November 1986

Tosiwo Nakayama ongoing Compact of Free Association with United States
Flag of Palau.svg  Palau Flag of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands.svg  Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands Flag of the United States.svg  United States 2 September 1945

25 May 1994 (de facto)
1 October 1994 (de jure)

Kuniwo Nakamura ongoing Compact of Free Association with United States
Flag of the Cook Islands.svg  Cook Islands Cook Islands Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 4 August 1965
1992 [14]
Albert Henry
(Prime Minister: head of gov.)
Geoffrey Henry
(Prime Minister: head of gov.)
ongoing free association with New Zealand
Flag of Niue.svg  Niue Niue Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 19 October 1974
1994 [15]
Robert Rex
(Premier: head of gov.)
Frank Lui
(Premier: head of gov.)
ongoing free association with New Zealand

Stages of decolonisation

CountryDate of current form of governmentBirth of current form of governmentDate of acquisition of sovereigntyAcquisition of sovereigntyDate of territorial modificationMost recent significant territorial modification
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia [4] 1 January 1901Commonwealth of Australia established as a federation.1 January 1901 Federation of Australia – Formation of the Commonwealth of Australia by six separate British self-governing colonies16 September 1975 Papua New Guinea becomes formally independent from Australia
9 October 1942 Statute of Westminster adopted – Britain loses the power to legislate for Australia except by request
3 March 1986 Australia Act 1986 – Remaining legal ties between Britain and Australia are abolished, including the ability for the UK to legislate with effect in Australia
Flag of Fiji.svg  Fiji   10 October 1970Independence from the United Kingdom  
Flag of Kiribati.svg  Kiribati   12 July 1979Independence from the United Kingdom1 October 1975Separation of the Gilbert Islands (later Kiribati) and the Ellice Islands (later Tuvalu)
Flag of the Marshall Islands.svg  Marshall Islands 1 May 1979Constitution and a local government established21 October 1986 Compact of Free Association with the United States  
Flag of the Federated States of Micronesia.svg  Federated States of Micronesia 10 May 1979Constitution ratified3 November 1986 Compact of Free Association with the United States10 May 1979 Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei, and Kosrae unite to form the Federated States of Micronesia
Flag of Nauru.svg  Nauru   31 January 1968Independence from UN Trusteeship (Australian, British and New Zealand administration ends)  
Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 6 February 1840 Treaty of Waitangi where the British Crown established a right to govern from indigenous Māori tribes [16] 17 January 1853 Self-Government 1 January 1962 Samoa becomes fully independent from New Zealand. It is also the first small-island country in the Pacific to become independent.
18 April 1856 Responsible Government
26 September 1907Granted nominal independence (Dominion status).
25 October 1926 Balfour Declaration of 1926 — Great Britain and the Dominions are "autonomous Communities within the British Empire, equal in status, in no way subordinate one to another in any aspect of their domestic or external affairs"
27 July 1938 Governor-General ceases to represent the British Government and becomes the personal representative of the King.
25 November 1947 Statute of Westminster adopted — Britain loses the power to legislate for New Zealand except by request
10 December 1947 Full power to amend own constitution
1 December 1967Governor-General becomes a New Zealand appointment
1 January 1987 Constitution Act 1986 — Remaining legal ties between Britain and New Zealand are abolished, including the ability for the UK to legislate with effect in New Zealand
Flag of Palau.svg  Palau 1 January 1981Republic of Palau created upon the adoption of a constitution1 October 1994Emerged from United Nations trusteeship (administered by the United States)  
Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg  Papua New Guinea   1 December 1973Self-governing territory  
16 September 1975Independence from Australia
Flag of Samoa.svg  Samoa   1 January 1962Independence from New Zealand  
Flag of the Solomon Islands.svg  Solomon Islands   2 January 1976Self-government granted by the United Kingdom  
7 July 1978Independence from the United Kingdom
Flag of Tonga.svg  Tonga   4 July 1970Independence from the United Kingdom4 December 1845Unification of what is now the islands of Tonga by George Tupou I of Tonga
Flag of Tuvalu.svg  Tuvalu 1 October 1975Separation of Gilbert Islands (later Kiribati) and Ellice Islands (later Tuvalu)1 October 1978Independence from the United Kingdom7 February 1979Treaty with United States recognizing Tuvaluan control over Funafuti, Nukufetau, Nukulaelae, and Niulakita atolls
Flag of Vanuatu.svg  Vanuatu   30 July 1980Independence from joint British-French condominium   

Oceania

This is a list of all present sovereign states in Oceania [17] and their predecessors. The region of Oceania is generally defined geographically to include the subregions of Australasia, [18] Melanesia, [19] Micronesia and Polynesia, and their respective sovereign states. Oceania was originally colonised by Europeans with Australia and New Zealand primarily by the British, and the Pacific Islands primarily by the British, French and Dutch. Today, Oceania consists of fourteen sovereign states of various government types, the most common consisting of parliamentary systems.

Sovereign statePredecessors
Australia [4] Flag of the United Kingdom.svg British Colonial Period
Flag of New South Wales.svg Colony of New South Wales (1788–1901)
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Van Diemen's Land Colony (1825–1856), later Flag of Tasmania.svg Colony of Tasmania (1856–1901)
Flag of Western Australia 1870-1953.svg Colony of Western Australia (1829–1901)
Flag of South Australia.svg Province of South Australia (1836–1901)
Flag of Victoria (Australia).svg Victoria Colony (1851–1901)
Flag of Queensland.svg Colony of Queensland (1859–1901)

Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Commonwealth of Australia (1901–present)

Fiji Flag of the United Kingdom of Fiji 1871-1874.svg Kingdom of Fiji (1871–1874)
Flag of Fiji (1924-1970).svg Colony of Fiji (1874–1970)
Flag of Fiji.svg Dominion of Fiji (1970–1987)
Flag of Fiji.svg  Republic of Fiji (1987–present)
Kiribati Royal Flag of the Kingdom of Abemama (c. 1889-1892).svg Kingdom of Abemama (1795–1894)

Flag of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands (1937-1976).svg Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony (1892–1975)
Flag of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands (1937-1976).svg Colony of Gilbert Islands (1975–1979)
Flag of Kiribati.svg  Independent and Sovereign Republic of Kiribati (1979–present)

Marshall Islands German new guinea flag.svg German New Guinea (1884–1919)
Merchant flag of Japan (1870).svg South Seas Mandate (1919–1947)
Flag of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands.svg Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (1947–1994) (Marshall Islands participation until 1979)
Flag of the Marshall Islands.svg  Republic of the Marshall Islands (1979–present)
Federated States of Micronesia Flag of Spain (1785-1873 and 1875-1931).svg Spanish East Indies (1565–1898)
German new guinea flag.svg German New Guinea (1884–1919)
Merchant flag of Japan (1870).svg South Seas Mandate (1919–1947)
Flag of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands.svg Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (1947–1994) (FSM participation until 1979)
Flag of the Federated States of Micronesia.svg  Federated States of Micronesia (1979–present)
Nauru German new guinea flag.svg German New Guinea (1884–1919) (participation 1888–1914)
Civil Ensign of Australia.svg Nauru (1914–1942) (League of Nations mandate 1932–1942)
Merchant flag of Japan (1870).svg Japanese occupation of Nauru (1942–1945)
Civil Ensign of Australia.svg Nauru (1945–1968) (UN Trust Territory 1947–1968)
Flag of Nauru.svg  Republic of Nauru (1968–present)
New Zealand Flag of New South Wales.svg Colony of New South Wales (1788–1901) (NZ participation 1788–1841)
Flag of New Zealand.svg Colony of New Zealand (1841–1907)
Flag of New Zealand.svg Dominion of New Zealand (1907–1947)
Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand (1947–present)
Palau Flag of Spain (1785-1873 and 1875-1931).svg Spanish East Indies (1565–1898)
German new guinea flag.svg German New Guinea (1884–1919)
Merchant flag of Japan (1870).svg South Seas Mandate (1919–1947)
Flag of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands.svg Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (1947–1994)
Flag of Palau.svg  Republic of Palau (1994–present)
Papua New Guinea Flag of the Territory of Papua.svg Territory of Papua (1884–1975) and German new guinea flag.svg German New Guinea (1884–1919), later Flag of the Territory of New Guinea.svg Territory of New Guinea (1919–1975) (League of Nations mandate, later UN Trust Territory)
Flag of Papua New Guinea 1965.svg Territory of Papua and New Guinea (1949–1975) (administrative union between Territory of Papua and Territory of New Guinea)
Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg  Independent State of Papua New Guinea (1975–present)
Samoa Flag of Samoa (1879).svg Kingdom of Samoa (1879-1900)

Reichskolonialflagge.svg German Samoa (1900–1920)
Flag of the Samoa Trust Territory.svg Western Samoa Trust Territory (1920–1962) (League of Nations mandate of Britain, later UN Trust Territory of New Zealand)
Flag of Samoa.svg  Independent State of Western Samoa (1962–1997)
Flag of Samoa.svg  Independent State of Samoa (1997–present)

Solomon Islands German new guinea flag.svg German New Guinea (1884–1919) (Solomon Islands participation 1884–1893)
Flag of the Solomon Islands (1956-1966).svg British Solomon Islands (1893–1978)
Flag of the Solomon Islands.svg  Solomon Islands (1978–present)
Tonga Flag of Tonga.svg  Kingdom of Tonga (1845–present) (British protectorate 1900–1970)
Tuvalu Flag of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands (1937-1976).svg Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony (1892–1975)
Flag of Tuvalu (1976-1978).svg Colony of Tuvalu (1975–1978)
Flag of Tuvalu.svg  Tuvalu (1978–present)
Vanuatu Flag of Franceville.svg Anglo-French Joint Naval Commission (1887–1889)
Flag of Franceville.svg Independent Commune of Franceville (1889–1890) (unrecognised state)
Flag of Franceville.svg Anglo-French Joint Naval Commission (1890–1906)
Flag of France.svg Flag of the United Kingdom.svg New Hebrides Condominium (1906–1980)
Flag of Vanuatu.svg  Republic of Vanuatu (1980–present)

See also

Notes

  1. Some territories changed hands multiple times, so in the list is mentioned the last colonial power. In addition to it, the mandatory or trustee powers are mentioned for territories that were League of Nations mandates and UN Trust Territories.
  2. Date of decolonization for territories annexed by or integrated into previously decolonized independent countries are given in separate notes, as are dates when a commonwealth realm abolished its monarchy. Any discrepancies between dates listed here and public holidays celebrating the country's independence (and whether the date listed is celebrated as a holiday at all) are noted, as well as the national day if the country does not have an independence day.
  3. First head of state after independence. For current and former Commonwealth realms instead of the first head of state is listed as the first head of government.
  4. 1 2 3 Many Indigenous Australians and supporters of the Australian Indigenous sovereignty movement would contest the status of Australia as decolonised, noting that neither colonial Britain nor the subsequent Commonwealth of Australia ever signed a treaty with any of the hundreds of distinct Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander societies that existed prior to colonisation and still exist today. See:
    Ghillar, Michael Anderson (15 June 2015). "Decolonisation: to be or not to be included in the Constitution?". Sovereign Union.;
    Taylor, Zoe (5 December 2017). "Listen up: decolonisation is a collective effort by all Australians". Curtin University.;
    Korff, Jens (5 September 2021). "Decolonisation: What does it mean for me?". Creative Spirits.;
    Barayamal (6 January 2023). "What is decolonising Australia?".
  5. Transcontinental country, partially located in Asia.
  6. Not celebrated as a holiday. Netherlands New Guinea was separated from the Dutch East Indies on 29 December 1949. Following skirmishes with Indonesia in 1961 and the New York Agreement, the Netherlands transferred the authority of Dutch New Guinea to a UN protectorate on 1 October 1962 and it was integrated into Indonesia on 1 May 1963. The date 17 August 1945 (when Sukarno formally proclaimed Indonesia's independence) is celebrated as Indonesia's date of independence.
  7. Joint position known as O Ao o le Malo, whose individuals are severally referred to as O le Ao o le Malo.
  8. As a League of Nations mandate and later UN Trust Territory Nauru was under effective Australian administration with the United Kingdom and New Zealand as nominal co-trustees.
  9. As the Dominion of Fiji.
  10. Celebrated as Fiji Day. (While Fiji does not have a holiday called Independence Day, Fiji Day is celebrated as such). On 7 October 1987 after two military coups, Fiji formally abolished its Commonwealth monarchy and became a republic.
  11. Having been out of office since 13 April 1987, on 5 December Mara was sworn in along with Penaia Ganilau as Prime Minister and President respectively. From the abolition of Fiji's monarchy to Mara's and Ganilau's inauguration, Sitiveni Rabuka served as Head of the Interim Military Government.
  12. The main part of German New Guinea after the World War I became a League of Nations mandate and later a UN Trust Territory as the Territory of New Guinea under Australian administration. The Territory of Papua was a British colony transferred to the British Dominion of Australian administration in 1902.
  13. Vanuatu was a joint British-French Condominium
  14. Since 4 August 1965 the Cook Islands are a state in free association with New Zealand. The UN recognized them as a state under international law in 1992 Archived 19 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine . The Cook Islands are fully independent in their foreign relations and defence, but retain a residual constitutional link with New Zealand concerning citizenship.
  15. Since 19 October 1974 Niue is a state in free association with New Zealand. The UN recognized it as a state under international law in 1994 Archived 19 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine . Niue is fully independent in its foreign relations and defence but retains a residual constitutional link with New Zealand concerning citizenship.
  16. Finlayson, Christopher (20 March 2024). He Kupu Taurangi : Treaty settlements and the future of Aotearoa New Zealand. Huia Publishers. p. 14. ISBN   978-1-77550-615-7. OCLC   1238026659.
  17. "United Nations Statistics Division – Countries of Oceania". Millenniumindicators.un.org. Archived from the original on 13 July 2011. Retrieved 17 April 2009.
  18. The use and scope of this term varies. The UN designation for this subregion is "Australia and New Zealand."
  19. Excludes parts of Indonesia, island territories in Southeast Asia (UN region) frequently reckoned in this region.