Formation and reorganization of the Committee on Information on Non-Self-Governing Territories (1945–1963)

This article examines the history of the establishment and reorganization of the Committee on Information from Non-Self-Governing Territories between 1945 and 1963. The study aims to identify the key stages of its transformation and analyses how this process was justified by both colonial and anti-colonial states. The topic remains understudied in both Russian and international historiography, yet it is highly relevant in the context of contemporary geopolitical shifts, particularly the rise of the Global South and the growing discourse on a multipolar world order. The research relies primarily on UN documents, including yearbooks, meeting records, and resolutions. Supplementary sources include opinion pieces by Belgian and British authors. The first section outlines the study’s relevance, objectives, and a review of sources and literature. The second section explores the Committee’s formation, emphasizing that its creation in 1947 stemmed from ambiguous definitions of «non-self-governing territories» in the UN Charter. Afro-Asian states leveraged this ambiguity to establish a temporary oversight body targeting colonial powers, while the latter sought to restrict its mandate, arguing that such territories fell under imperial sovereignty. The third section examines the expansion of the Committee’s powers. Afro-Asian members justified this as streamlining the UN’s work. After 1955, they pushed for accelerated self-governance transitions. Colonial powers countered through the «Belgian thesis», which posited that any population lacking full political rights qualified as «non-self-governing». To neutralize this, anti-colonial actors advanced the «saltwater thesis» asserting that only overseas territories (geographically separated by sea) met the criteria. The final section discusses the Committee’s dissolution. Following Resolution 15/14, a new body with broader authority was created to oversee decolonization. Afro-Asian states lobbied to disband the Committee, while colonial powers attempted to undermine the new organ’s legitimacy. Their efforts failed, and the Committee was formally dissolved in 1963. The article emphasizes that the Committee was important primarily as an instrument for legitimizing colonial and anti-colonial policies. The implementation of specific measures was a secondary task. The example of the Committee is indicative and can be used to understand the role of the UN in the decolonization process as a whole. The author declares no conflicts of interests.

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