Following the Second World War, the colonial empires that had dominated the world for nearly a century collapsed due to broad demands for economic and political independence on the part of subject peoples. Between 1945 and 1975, most of the former colonies of Africa and Asia won their independence through peaceful means or, less frequently, through wars of independence. At the same time, the world has become more interconnected through the process of economic, cultural, and political globalization. Decolonization and globalization included:

• Wars of liberation. The road to independence was sometimes amicable, as in Ghana and Morocco, but was often fiercely contested, as in Kenya and Algeria. Colonial powers fought to recover the empires that once attested to their world dominance. Concern for local settler populations also contributed to their resistance. In Vietnam the struggle for national liberation began with resistance to the Japanese during the war and continued afterward against the French and U.S.
• Ethnic and religious conflicts. Nationalism was a powerful force in postwar independence movements. In states where the national identity was defined by religion or ethnicity, however, this force could lead to internal and regional conflicts. The partition of India into Muslim and Hindu states did little to ease tensions in that region. The Iran-Iraq war was fueled by both religious and ethnic differences. In sub-Saharan Africa, where national boundaries bore little relation to tribal lands, each new nation was a potential hothouse for ethnic conflict.
• Fragile new democracies. Many of the new states were ill-prepared for self-government, lacking both the institutions and traditions that support democracy. In Sub-Saharan Africa, democratic governments were soon taken over by military dictators, and those states often plunged into prolonged civil wars. South Africa was technically a democracy but, until 1990, only for a small white ruling class. Likewise in east Asia, new states were governed by military regimes until the late 1980s. Notable exceptions to this global retreat from democracy are Mexico and India, both relatively stable and continuous democracies.
• The shift to an increasingly global economy. Since World War II, the industrial nations have tried to eliminate barriers to free trade, such as protective tariffs and import duties. Many nations have formed trade associations, such as the EU, NAFTA, and ASEAN, which grant special trading privileges to member states. Free trade favors those states with the cheapest manufactured goods and often undermines indigenous handicrafts.
• Global migrations. The global economy seeks out the cheapest labor and resources, and as a result, millions of workers have relocated to new industrial centers seeking opportunities. Problems of rapid urbanization and environmental degradation often result. Some migrants have been the unwilling victims of trafficking and even slavery.
• Resistance to globalization. Such dramatic changes have met with resistance from many quarters. Many cultures perceive a threat to their traditions and values. Islamic countries in particular have resisted the sexualized images of western pop culture.