Policy of Apartheid in South Africa - Essay Example

1. What was the philosophical basis for South Africa's policy of apartheid? Apartheid was the term given to the political, legal and racial segregation or separation system enforced in South Africa from 1948 to 1994 by the National Party government. Segregation or a separation system in the sense, rights of the non-white people in all spheres of social life were curtailed, although they were the majority, with the minority white people ruling and calling the shots. When this apartheid policy was viewed from a philosophical sense, it seems that South Africa being a land of a diverse population, each section of the population ‘wanted’ their rights and interests to be maintained separately, without the want for living together.

In addition, they wanted to dictate others’ rights and interests but did not want others to dictate and control their rights and interests. That is, the white nationalist group (including all Whites in South Africa) never wanted to surrender its right of political self-determination or share political rights with Non-White. (). Instead, they wanted to determine and restrict the rights of the majority of non-white people and that formed the philosophical basis of Apartheid. So, apartheid short-circuited the multiculturalism of South African society and in many respects alienated their philosophical reflection from its immediate context. ().2.

What factors caused apartheid to end? Apartheid came to an end because of both internal as well as external factors. One of the key factors which put an end to was the opposition against Apartheid by not only the non-White people but also certain sections of White people. With opposition from all sections, the minority white government started to have second thoughts about continuing Apartheid. Then, there was intense external pressure particularly from Western countries, civil rights groups, and even business organizations.

With many protectionist and communist regimes like the Soviet Union disintegrating and more countries adopting democracy, there was more pressure on the South African government to abolish Apartheid and call for free and fair democratic elections. Many business organizations from Western countries operating in South Africa were pressurized to stop and leave from there. In addition, South African companies’ products were boycotted in foreign countries. Thus, the lack of business flow negatively impacted the South African economy.

“By the 1980s the economy in general and the manufacturing sector, in particular, showed signs of stagnation. The investment rate dropped from being one of the highest in the world--22.3% in 1964 to 16% in 1991” (). Thus, these social and economic movements put an end to Apartheid, with Nelson Mandela becoming the first democratically elected South African President in 1994.