Between Indian and Pakistani independence in 1947 and the wave of African independences around 1960 (the 'wind of change'), dozens of colonies in Asia, Africa and the Caribbean became sovereign states within roughly two decades. Independence came through negotiated transfers, mass movements and, in some cases, armed struggle, dismantling the European overseas empires. New governments sought to assert national identity, modernise economies and build administrative capacity. The process reshaped the international system and the membership of the United Nations.
It spurred ambitious new and rebuilt capitals such as Chandigarh, Islamabad, Brasília and Abuja, conceived as instruments of national identity and modernisation. These projects made planning a visible symbol of independence and the modern state.