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1945-1958 - Decolonization and the Fourth Republic

Between 1945 and 1960, three dozen new states in Asia and Africa achieved autonomy or outright independence from their European colonial rulers. There was no one process of decolonization. In some areas, it was peaceful, and orderly. In many others, independence was achieved only after a protracted revolution. A few newly independent countries acquired stable governments almost immediately; others were ruled by dictators or military juntas for decades, or endured long civil wars. Some European governments welcomed a new relationship with their former colonies; others contested decolonization militarily.

The process of decolonization coincided with the new Cold War between the Soviet Union and the United States, and with the early development of the new United Nations. Decolonization was often affected by superpower competition, and had a definite impact on the evolution of that competition. It also significantly changed the pattern of international relations in a more general sense.

France had been subjected to the ordeal of two wars in thirty years. Fewer lives were lost in the Second World War (about 600,000 dead) than in the Great War, but material losses were far greater. Fighting and bombing destroyed cities, factories, bridges, railway lines and stations. The devastation was compounded by the fact that the occupying power had intensively exploited the French economy. Nonetheless, there was a remarkable growth period as the country recovered: times were hard, but peace had restored confidence in the future - as the upsurge in population growth known as the “baby boom” demonstrates - and American Marshall Aid made it possible to attend to the most pressing needs.

From 1945, despite the tough circumstances, emergency measures were taken. Key sectors of the economy were nationalized (energy, air transport, savings banks and insurance) along with major companies (such as Renault) and the Social Security (welfare) system was set up, as were works committees and economic planning under the guidance of Jean Monnet.

However, the political forces that had emerged from the Resistance - Communists, Christian Democrats and Socialists - and had supported the provisional government of General de Gaulle soon disagreed as to what institutions the new France should have and what direction the economy should take. The former leader of Free France left the government in January 1946 and in 1947 founded a new political party, the RPF, the Rassemblement du peuple français (“Rallying of the French People”). Two constituent assemblies elected by universal suffrage (women got the vote in 1944) and three referenda were required before the adoption of the Constitution of the Fourth Republic (promulgated on 27 October 1946), which established an all-powerful National Assembly and a President with limited powers. In January 1947, Parliament elected Vincent Auriol President of the Republic.

Divisions resulting from the Cold War and decolonization were soon added to these internal political divisions. Despite Communist opposition, France confirmed its Atlantic sympathies and placed itself firmly in the Western camp. France joined the European Organization for Economic Cooperation (EOEC), set up in April 1948 to distribute American aid, and became a member of the Atlantic Alliance (NATO) in April 1949. In addition, after Germany was divided, France opted for a policy of entente with West Germany which was to lay the foundations of the European Community. Jean Monnet, Robert Schuman and Chancellor Konrad Adenauer were instrumental in bringing the two countries closer together - a strategy which resulted, in 1951, in the creation of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), a first milestone on the road to a united Europe. France rejected the idea of a European defence community (EDC), but did, however, play an active role in setting up the European Economic Community (EEC) or Common Market instituted by the Treaty of Rome signed on 25 March 1957.

By this time, decolonization had led to a serious crisis for the Fourth Republic. Decolonization had started in Indochina, from which France had to retreat after eight years of a difficult war. The president of the Council², Pierre Mendès France, ended the conflict with the adoption of the Geneva Accords of 20 July 1954. Morocco and Tunisia became independent in 1956, while in sub-Saharan Africa a peaceful process of decolonization had begun. But in Algeria, decolonization took place following a conflict which lasted from 1954 until 1962 and was to bring down the Fourth Republic.