Which international body played a central role in decolonization after World War II?

• A. NATO
• B. World Bank
• C. The United Nations
• D. World Health Organization

Answer: (C)

The decisive factor is that the United Nations provided a global platform and legal framework that legitimized and guided the decolonization process after World War II. The UN promoted the principle of self-determination, gave colonies a voice in international diplomacy, and established mechanisms to oversee transitions to independence. Through the General Assembly, the Trusteeship Council’s work, and key resolutions (notably the 1960 Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples), the UN coordinated international support, set expectations for rapid decolonization, and helped internationalize the push for sovereign statehood. While other bodies like NATO, the World Bank, or the World Health Organization influence global affairs, they did not drive decolonization in the same collective, norm-shaping way as the United Nations did.