The Apartheid era was the time period between 1948 and 1994 in which blacks and whites in South Africa were given separate rights by law. Apartheid, which is directly translated to ‘separate living’, was set in motion after the election of Prime Minister Malan in 1948. Throughout this time in South Africa, various liberation movements begun, such as the formation of the African National Congress (ANC) that currently runs South Africa today. The black communities attempted to show their displeasure with the government’s oppression through peaceful protest however, after events such as the Sharpsville Massacre, the black liberation groups turned to violence to be heard. The police state was too predominant for non-violent protest to be effective or sustainable. The increased violence also caused the international community to get involved in the issue. On the other hand, some would say that the international political pressure would have eventually resulted in the collapse of the apartheid regime.
Throughout the Apartheid era there were various liberation groups that attempted to show their opposition to the laws by peaceful protest and they were met with brutal police force. In 1976 over 100 students were injured and two were killed after demonstrating peacefully. The Police’s heavy-handed response sparked further riots throughout the townships across the country. In a spiral of violence, these riots were also met with brutal police repression. It became clear to the various leaders of the liberation groups that demonstrating peacefully was not a sufficient way to get their voices heard. Groups such as the Spear of the Nation lead by Nelson Mandela, began damaging government property as well as well established white infrastructure. This continual violence ultimately led to peace talks between the ANC and the National Party government, which in turn ended Apartheid.
Liberation groups resorted to violence as a method of leverage against the state. In response, the government’s attack on unarmed protestors gained the attention of the international community. After the Sharpsville Massacre in 1960 the UN instituted Resolution 134, which began the political isolation of South Africa. Throughout the late 20th century the international community reacted to black people being wrongfully imprisoned, tortured and killed. Governments around the world began economically restricting South Africa. By the 1980s South Africa’s only trade partner was Israel. This international pressure in concert with all of the other internal violence helped the government realize their unjust ways and sparked solutions in the form of peace talks with the ANC.
In contrast, it can be argued that the international pressure alone would eventually place South Africa in such a deprived position that they would have no other option but to succumb to the pressure and end the Apartheid. This scenario would have been similar to that of Iran and their nuclear program. The international pressure placed on Iran resulted in nuclear sanctions preventing the weaponization of their nuclear resources. Therefore the violence was potentially not necessary for the end of Apartheid but it did accelerate it’s demise.
Apartheid was outright oppression. The black population faced a reality of limited rights despite their clear demographic majority of 80%. Peaceful demonstration failed due to the brutality of the government and it’s police. Violence was thus the catalyst that brought Apartheid to an end in 1994.
Throughout the Apartheid era there were various liberation groups that attempted to show their opposition to the laws by peaceful protest and they were met with brutal police force. In 1976 over 100 students were injured and two were killed after demonstrating peacefully. The Police’s heavy-handed response sparked further riots throughout the townships across the country. In a spiral of violence, these riots were also met with brutal police repression. It became clear to the various leaders of the liberation groups that demonstrating peacefully was not a sufficient way to get their voices heard. Groups such as the Spear of the Nation lead by Nelson Mandela, began damaging government property as well as well established white infrastructure. This continual violence ultimately led to peace talks between the ANC and the National Party government, which in turn ended Apartheid.
Liberation groups resorted to violence as a method of leverage against the state. In response, the government’s attack on unarmed protestors gained the attention of the international community. After the Sharpsville Massacre in 1960 the UN instituted Resolution 134, which began the political isolation of South Africa. Throughout the late 20th century the international community reacted to black people being wrongfully imprisoned, tortured and killed. Governments around the world began economically restricting South Africa. By the 1980s South Africa’s only trade partner was Israel. This international pressure in concert with all of the other internal violence helped the government realize their unjust ways and sparked solutions in the form of peace talks with the ANC.
In contrast, it can be argued that the international pressure alone would eventually place South Africa in such a deprived position that they would have no other option but to succumb to the pressure and end the Apartheid. This scenario would have been similar to that of Iran and their nuclear program. The international pressure placed on Iran resulted in nuclear sanctions preventing the weaponization of their nuclear resources. Therefore the violence was potentially not necessary for the end of Apartheid but it did accelerate it’s demise.
Apartheid was outright oppression. The black population faced a reality of limited rights despite their clear demographic majority of 80%. Peaceful demonstration failed due to the brutality of the government and it’s police. Violence was thus the catalyst that brought Apartheid to an end in 1994.