British Guiana: Decolonization and the Cold War

British Guiana on the South American mainland shows how the Cold War could shape a colony's path to independence. In 1953 the People's Progressive Party, led by Cheddi Jagan, won the colony's first election under universal suffrage. After 133 days Britain suspended the constitution and sent troops, claiming the government planned to set up a communist state; critics saw this as overreaction to a reforming labor government.

In 1955 the PPP split between Jagan, whose support came mainly from Indo-Guyanese, and Forbes Burnham, whose support came mainly from Afro-Guyanese, entrenching ethnic divisions in politics. In the early 1960s strikes and violence between the communities killed many people. The United States, fearing 'another Cuba' under Jagan, encouraged Britain to delay independence and to change the electoral system to proportional representation. In 1964 this helped Burnham form a government, and Guyana became independent on 26 May 1966.

The case shows external powers influencing who governed a new state.