This succinct and insightful account of decolonization analyses the tumultuous events that caused the shift from a world of colonial empires to a world of nation-states in the years after World War II. Kennedy's brief book will undoubtedly become a key resource for teaching the end of empire. It serves as an ideal launching point for anyone new to the field, whether they are interested in gaining a general understanding of decolonization or in finding ways to delve more deeply into the complications, chronologies, and meanings of the end of empire.