Question

The following is NOT a reason for the former colonies' failure to create stable, free and prosperous states:

A. Western institutions and practices were imposed from above even if they had little to no connection to local political traditions.
B. sometimes different ethnic and religious groups were lumped together in one state even if they had no common history or cultural identity.
C. Soviet Union and the United States discouraged decolonization, arguing new states would destroy the global balance of power.
D. local interests, ambitions and jealousies frequently prevailed over the efforts to create a stable central government.
E. those in charge had no desire to share power, allow criticism, or relinquish power if the rival party was elected.

Answer 1

The incorrect statement regarding the reasons for the failure of former colonies to establish stable states is Option C, as both the Soviet Union and United States did not actively discourage decolonization; rather, local resistance and administrative costs influenced the decline of colonialism.

Step-by-step explanation:

The failure of former colonies to create stable, free, and prosperous states can be attributed to several factors. Notably, these are: the imposition of Western institutions with little regard for local traditions (Option A), the arbitrary merging of diverse ethnic and religious groups into single states (Option B), the prioritization of local interests over a stable central government (Option D), and the unwillingness of those in power to allow criticism or share power (Option E).

One statement that does not represent a reason for this failure is Option C, which falsely claims that the Soviet Union and the United States discouraged decolonization due to concerns that new states would disrupt the global balance of power. In reality, the decolonization process was, in part, a result of the lack of desire from European powers to maintain expensive colonial administrations amid determined resistance from local populations.