Abstract
The Congo’s independence and immediate admission to the UN represented just part of the wave of decolonisation which swept over Africa in 1960.2 No fewer than 16 African states made their bow on the international stage and, together with Cyprus, they were all ushered into the world organisation. This had the effect of swelling the number of Afro-Asians in the UN to 45, and the UN’s membership to 99, which had a significant impact on the balance of voting power in the General Assembly. In that context, it marked the decisive loss by the West of its earlier dominance.
[The Foreign Secretary] ‘feared that racialism and colour were taking charge [at the UN]. … Votes were being cast blindly on this basis and not because of logic and argument’.1
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Harold Macmillan, Pointing the Way, 1959–1961 ( London: Macmillan, 1972 ), pp. 121–2.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Copyright information
© 1996 Alan James
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
James, A. (1996). Fretting about Afro-Asia. In: Britain and the Congo Crisis, 1960–63. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-24528-4_14
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-24528-4_14
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London
Print ISBN: 978-1-349-24530-7
Online ISBN: 978-1-349-24528-4
eBook Packages: Palgrave Political & Intern. Studies CollectionPolitical Science and International Studies (R0)