新形势下的无奈选择——英国殖民时期塞舌尔的宪政变革论析

A Compelling Choice under New Circumstances:Analysis of the Constitutional Reformsin Seychelles During the Colonial Times

第二次世界大战结束后,民族主义和非殖民化浪潮的兴起使大英帝国的地位变得岌岌可危。在这种新形势下,英国被迫及时调整殖民政策,在各殖民地推行了一系列宪政变革,塞舌尔就是其中之一。这些宪政变革的推行,使得塞舌尔在独立前短短的20-30年间迅速建立了现代政治体制,并且以一种和平方式迎来了独立地位;但另一方面,我们也认识到,宪政变革的推行,是英国在新形势下的一种无奈选择,从其出发点和目标而言,都是为了更好地维护英国的利益,这就是宪政变革的实质之所在。

After World War II, the position of the British Empire became perilous under the impact of the tide of nationalism and decolonization. Therefore, the British government had to adjust its colonial policies and carried out a set of constitutional reforms in its colonies, Seychelles among them. On the one hand, these reforms enabled Seychelles to establish its modem political systems in 20 - 30 years before its independence and to achieve independence by peaceful means. On the other hand, the constitutional reforms were a compelling choice of Britain under the new circumstances and the goal was to maintain British interest, which was the essence of the constitutional reforms.