Former colonies refer to territories that were once under colonial rule but have gained independence from their colonizers. These regions may still bear social, economic, or political legacies from their colonial past.
Related terms
Decolonization: Decolonization is the process by which former colonies gain political independence from their colonizers through various means such as negotiations or armed struggles.
Neocolonialism: Neocolonialism refers to indirect forms of control exercised by former colonial powers over newly independent nations. This can include economic exploitation or maintaining influence through international organizations.
Resource extraction: Resource extraction is the process of removing natural resources, such as minerals or agricultural products, from a region. Former colonies often continue to face challenges related to resource extraction, including unequal distribution of wealth and environmental degradation.