Factors for the fall of apartheid policy in south Africa?
Political science
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Jun 26
1. International pressure: The apartheid policy in South Africa faced increasing condemnation and pressure from the international community, including economic sanctions and diplomatic isolation.
2. Internal resistance: The African National Congress (ANC) and other anti-apartheid movements led protests, strikes, and acts of civil disobedience, which garnered widespread support and challenged the legitimacy of the apartheid regime.
3. Economic challenges: The apartheid system was economically unsustainable, as it relied on the exploitation of black labor and segregation, which hindered economic growth and development.
4. Leadership changes: The release of Nelson Mandela from prison in 1990 and his subsequent election as president in 1994 marked a significant turning point in the dismantling of apartheid.
5. Negotiations and reforms: The apartheid government, under President F.W. de Klerk, initiated negotiations with the ANC and other political parties to transition to a democratic system, leading to the end of apartheid and the establishment of a new constitution in 1994.
6. Truth and Reconciliation Commission: The TRC was established to address the injustices of apartheid and promote national reconciliation, helping to heal the wounds of the past and move towards a more inclusive and democratic society.
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Google Gemini AI
Jun 26
Internal Factors:
- Internal Resistance: Widespread resistance from within South Africa, including protests, strikes, and sabotage by anti-apartheid groups such as the African National Congress (ANC) and the United Democratic Front (UDF). - Changing Social and Economic Conditions: Rapid urbanization and industrialization created an increasingly diverse and interconnected society, challenging the rigid racial segregation of apartheid. - Emergence of a Black Middle Class: The growth of a black middle class with access to education and economic power provided a base for political mobilization. - Defiance Campaign and Mass Arrests: The ANC's Defiance Campaign in 1952 and subsequent mass arrests of anti-apartheid activists raised international awareness and sympathy. - Soweto Uprising: The Soweto student uprising in 1976 sparked widespread unrest and international condemnation, galvanizing opposition to apartheid.
External Factors:
- International Pressure: Diplomatic isolation, economic sanctions, and pressure from the United Nations and other international bodies weakened the apartheid regime. - Diplomatic Initiatives: The Commonwealth Group's "Eminent Persons Group" attempted mediation in the early 1980s, while international negotiators such as Henry Kissinger and Chester Crocker later played key roles in facilitating talks. - Shifting Global Politics: The end of the Cold War and the decline of communism removed a key ideological justification for apartheid. - Nelson Mandela's Release and Negotiations: Mandela's release from prison in 1990 and the subsequent negotiations between the ANC and the apartheid government paved the way for a peaceful transition to democracy.
Other Factors:
- Economic Decline: Economic sanctions and isolation had a significant impact on South Africa's economy, undermining the apartheid state's ability to maintain its repressive apparatus. - Growing White Opposition: A small but growing number of white South Africans began to question the morality and efficacy of apartheid. - Reformist Presidents: President P.W. Botha and F.W. de Klerk implemented limited reforms in the late 1980s and early 1990s, recognizing the need for change.