The uncolonized countries of the world
And what makes a country colonized versus uncolonized
Throughout the age of European imperialism, nearly every country on Earth was at some point colonized, occupied, or claimed by a foreign power. But a handful of nations managed to avoid formal colonization altogether. These exceptions are few, but they’re significant because they showcase cultures that evolved independently from Europe, or at least indirectly. Truth be told, it all gets a bit messy. At one point Europe had such immense influence that drawing a line between directly and indirectly colonized is blurry.
Recently I got quite curious as to the history of colonization. It’s a subject I come across quite often in my research because it’s HIGHLY geographic. So I decided to pull together a brief article on all the uncolonized countries I could think of. And chief among these uncolonized countries is Thailand, the only Southeast Asian country never to have been colonized by a European power. Of course, if you’re interested, you can join me in seeing what an uncolonized Thailand looks like today, right here. Otherwise, continue on to the rest of the article below!
Thailand
Thailand, formerly known as Siam during this period of time, sat between British-controlled Burma (today Myanmar) and French-controlled Indochina (today Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam). I actually wrote a more in depth article a while ago on Thailand, but here’s the brief version. Rather than resist colonization through war, Thai monarchs, most notably King Mongkut and King Chulalongkorn in the 1800s, opted for a policy of modernization and skilled diplomacy. Seeing that their neighbors quickly succumbed to European powers, they implemented legal reforms, adopted European-style education systems, and even hired Western advisors to help reshape the country’s institutions (rather than resist them).
While all of that was important though, it wasn’t nearly as shrewd as what they did next: they played the British and French off each other. Given that France and Britain have always had a rather contentious history, the two European powers were always wary about stepping on each other’s toes too much. As such, Thailand was able to convince both that an independent Thailand was more useful as a buffer state which would keep the two countries from potential war. While Thailand did cede some territory to colonial powers to maintain peace but it remained a sovereign kingdom throughout the colonial period.
Japan
Japan is perhaps the most famous example of a country resisting colonialism. It was never colonized by a European power, largely due to its military strength and early embrace of modernization. Following the arrival of American Commodore Matthew Perry (no relation to the Friends star… I think) in the 1850s, Japan embarked on the Meiji Restoration, a period of rapid industrialization, centralization, and military buildup. Unlike countries that were colonized and subjugated, Japan became a colonial power itself eventually occupying Taiwan, Korea, and parts of China. Its success in defeating Russia in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904–1905 solidified its status as a peer to European empires rather than a subject of them.
Iran
Iran, formerly Persia, was another country that avoided outright colonization. While both the British and Russians exerted tremendous influence, especially in terms of economic concessions and military presence, Persia was never formally annexed or turned into a colony. A large part of this is due to its intense geography consisting primarily of mountainous terrain, a central desert, and a lack of navigable rivers. All this made conquest extremely difficult. Remember, this was before air forces existed. In addition, a powerful monarchy and strategic balancing between imperial interests helped Iran preserve nominal independence, though its sovereignty was often compromised in practice.
Now, all that said, it does get a little complicated for Iran because in 1953 the United States and United Kingdom supported and helped enact a coup in the country which saw the Shah return to power. This was largely done because the US and UK wanted to continue to exert control over Iran’s natural resources (largely oil). So, while not directly colonized, Iran starts to blur the line somewhat.
Liberia
Another interesting case! Technically, Liberia has never been colonized. But what if it began its life as a sort of reverse colonization colony? Oh boy. Regardless, Liberia stands out in Africa as a rare case of an independent nation during the colonial scramble. Founded in the early 1800s by a bizarre mixture of abolitionist Quakers, southern slave owners, and recently freed African Americans, Liberia officially declared itself a sovereign nation in 1847. There’s a whole big bag we could get into with Liberia’s history and, frankly, I don’t want to write 1,000 more words on it because that’s what it will take. But, suffice it to say, because of its unique relationship with the United States and the symbolic significance of its founding, European powers who were colonizing basically all of Africa at the time, generally avoided Liberia. Though they did surround it on all sides and frequently challenged its borders. Which I’m sure was just so much fun for the newly minted Liberian country.
Nepal
Nepal maintained its independence largely due to its fierce resistance and the rugged Himalayas that made invasion costly. After fighting the British in the Anglo-Nepalese War (1814–1816), the Treaty of Sugauli ceded some territory to the British, but Nepal retained its autonomy. In fact, the British came to admire the fighting ability of the Gurkhas and began recruiting them into the British Army, fostering a semi-allied relationship rather than one of colonization.
Bhutan
Bhutan followed a similar trajectory. It fought off British attempts at control in the 18th and 19th centuries, and by the early 20th century, the British had accepted Bhutan’s autonomy in exchange for influence over its foreign affairs. Bhutan’s isolation, mountainous geography, and strategic insignificance compared to its neighbors helped it avoid the fate of many other Asian states.
Ethiopia
Likewise, Ethiopia was the only African nation to successfully resist colonization during the Scramble for Africa, defeating Italy at the Battle of Adwa in 1896. This victory made Ethiopia a symbol of African resistance. Italy would later occupy Ethiopia briefly in the 1930s under Mussolini, but it was never colonized in the long-term sense like much of the rest of the continent. Ethiopia had an ancient and centralized monarchy, a Christian heritage that earned it some degree of respect among European powers, and a challenging highland geography that made occupation difficult.
Borderline uncolonized countries
There are a few other borderline cases. There are countries like Afghanistan, which was never formally colonized but heavily influenced and fought over by the British and Russians during the "Great Game" of the 1800s. The Soviet Union also attempted to colonize it again in the 1900s, followed by, of course, the American Afghanistan War in the 2000s. But, throughout it all, Afghanistan has persisted, for better or worse. Its harsh terrain and tribal resistance made it more trouble than it was worth to fully conquer. Similarly, Turkey avoided being colonized after the fall of the Ottoman Empire by asserting itself as an independent republic under Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and defeating occupying Allied forces during the Turkish War of Independence.
These uncolonized nations weren’t merely lucky. They took advantage of geography, engaged in tactical diplomacy, and in some cases adopted modernization to present themselves as sovereign and capable. And while many of them still experienced foreign pressure, interference, and occupation, their ability to maintain formal independence stands out in a world that, for centuries, was dominated by empires.
These were the ones that popped into my head, but I’m sure I missed some. So, you tell me, what country did I miss?
Colonization is a process of occupying a country for a longer period of time. Many countries were colonized by other countries than Europe. Take the Ottoman empire, they colonized large parts of Eastern Europe, Africa, the Middle East, parts of the Soviet empire countries. China did the same, occupied/colonized parts od Asia, etcetera. Why are you focussing on Europe?
Afghanistan attempt was foiled at Khyber Pass of British, and Chuna resisted the British with Boxer Rebellion. There are tons of countries, on either side of the equation.
The US had French, Spanish, Mexicans, English to several other colonials all kicked out by Bostonians over a Tea party. Even Russians were on sone whaling Isles in the Pacific.
Wake up Gibson n Diaz and smell the Maxwell coffee.