In the post-war years it went like this: colonialism bad thing, must stop it – mother country naughty (imperialist hyena) – colony thirsting for independence (freedom-loving peoples).
The actual dynamics of the struggle were quite clear. For example, Britain and France were keen to hang on to India and Algeria, while the Indians and Algerians were equally keen to get rid of us.
Compare this with what is happening today in Martinique and Guadeloupe. I suspect that France would dearly love to be shot of both of these islands, but it is no longer politically correct to say so. By the same token, the approved discourse among the islanders is to “struggle” for independence and there is indeed a subdued and not altogether convincing agitation to this end, but the fact is that everyone has a pretty good idea of the fate awaiting them if they did split with France.
In short, the situation pertaining today is exactly the reverse of what was happening when I was a boy.
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