Anti-Apartheid Movement

Definition

The Anti-Apartheid Movement was a global campaign against the institutionalized system of racial segregation and discrimination known as apartheid that was enforced in South Africa from 1948 to 1994. It was a widespread, grassroots effort to pressure the South African government to dismantle apartheid and transition to a multiracial democracy.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Anti-Apartheid Movement gained significant momentum in the 1970s and 1980s, with growing international support and pressure on the South African government.
2. Key tactics used by the movement included economic boycotts, divestment campaigns, and international sanctions to isolate South Africa economically and diplomatically.
3. The movement also involved grassroots activism, civil disobedience, and international solidarity efforts, such as the 1989 'Free Nelson Mandela' campaign.
4. The Anti-Apartheid Movement was instrumental in the eventual dismantling of apartheid and the transition to a multiracial democracy in South Africa in the early 1990s.
5. The movement's success was a significant victory for the global human rights and civil rights movements, and it served as a model for future campaigns against oppressive regimes.

Review Questions

• Describe the key goals and strategies of the Anti-Apartheid Movement.
  • The primary goal of the Anti-Apartheid Movement was to pressure the South African government to dismantle the apartheid system and transition to a multiracial democracy. To achieve this, the movement employed a range of tactics, including economic boycotts, divestment campaigns, and international sanctions to isolate South Africa economically and diplomatically. The movement also involved grassroots activism, civil disobedience, and international solidarity efforts, such as the 1989 'Free Nelson Mandela' campaign, to raise global awareness and build support for the cause.
• Analyze the role of international involvement and support in the success of the Anti-Apartheid Movement.
  • The Anti-Apartheid Movement was able to achieve significant success in large part due to the growing international involvement and support it received. As the movement gained momentum in the 1970s and 1980s, countries, organizations, and individuals around the world began to take action in solidarity, imposing economic sanctions, divesting from South African companies, and engaging in other forms of protest and activism. This international pressure, combined with the grassroots efforts within South Africa, ultimately contributed to the dismantling of apartheid and the transition to a multiracial democracy in the early 1990s. The success of the Anti-Apartheid Movement demonstrated the power of global cooperation and solidarity in challenging oppressive regimes and promoting human rights.
• Evaluate the long-term impact and legacy of the Anti-Apartheid Movement on the global civil rights and human rights movements.
  • The Anti-Apartheid Movement had a profound and lasting impact on the global civil rights and human rights movements. Its success in dismantling the apartheid system in South Africa and transitioning the country to a multiracial democracy served as a powerful inspiration and model for future campaigns against oppressive regimes and human rights abuses around the world. The movement's emphasis on economic and diplomatic pressure, as well as grassroots activism and international solidarity, has been emulated in subsequent movements, such as the campaign to end the occupation of Palestine and the fight against global poverty and inequality. Moreover, the Anti-Apartheid Movement's legacy has continued to shape the discourse and strategies of the broader civil rights and human rights movements, underscoring the importance of sustained, coordinated, and multifaceted efforts in challenging entrenched systems of oppression and discrimination.

Related terms

Apartheid: A policy of racial segregation and discrimination enforced through legislation by the National Party government in South Africa from 1948 to 1994.

Divestment: The action of selling off stocks, bonds, or other investments as a way to protest a country's policies, often used as a tactic in the Anti-Apartheid Movement.

Sanctions: Restrictions or penalties imposed on a country by other countries or international organizations, such as trade embargoes and financial restrictions, used to pressure the target country to change its policies.