This document discusses the decolonization of Asia and Africa in the 20th century. It outlines three main routes to independence: negotiated independence, incomplete independence, and civil war. Many newly independent states struggled with political instability, becoming one-party states or military dictatorships. The legacy of colonialism and challenges like rapid population growth and the Cold War also impacted development. A few nations like India, Botswana, and Ghana provide contrasting examples of democratic governance, challenges, and dictatorships. The Cold War influenced many independence movements and new states.