omplete the Historical Context and Introduction Template. To complete this assignment, review the Project 2 Historical Context and Introduction Guidelines and Rubric. Once completed, submit the template for instructor feedback.

ANSWER

Project 2: Historical Context and Introduction

Research Plan

Research Question: Who established or brought Apartheid in South Africa?

Introduction

Apartheid existed as a social and political structure in South Africa in the period of the White minority statute. The system established ethnic discrimination in contrast to the non-whites that primarily concentrated on facial features and color (Sooryamoorthy, 2010). Apartheid existed between 1948 and early 19990’s. Apartheid means separateness, which existed between blacks and whites. Ideally, racial segregation existed between the whites and blacks in South Africa for centuries, but after the introduction of the system legislation by the National Party during 1948, it became institutionalized and strictly enforced. Therefore, Apartheid in South Africa was established by the National party as a social and political system within the country.

Historical Context

Apartheid was not a result of the white supremacy and racism that existed in the 1900s but was established upon isolation of races and discrimination of the black popularity. Additionally, it focused on depriving the fundamental rights of the black (non-white) on the root of their race (Sooryamoorthy, 2010). The ANP, which was an all-white administration, introduced the apartheid rule when they gained authority in 1948 (Deegan, 2014). In the same period, Europe was getting back after World War II.

Apartheid in South Africa was established as social, political as well as economic structure on the separation of races. For instance, the land of Act of 1913 created means for the marginalization of the black land possessors, which deprived the blacks the right to possess the land (Sooryamoorthy, 2010). Through institutionalizing racism and isolation, the National Party could punish the non-whites that broke the rules. The rules went ahead to prevent/ restrict land ownership, friendship, and inter-racial marriages. Therefore, the results were codification of discrimination at a societal as well as institutional level. The political, as well as social situations of South Africa during Apartheid, introduced the white ruling and oppression of the blacks in South Africa economically, politically, and socially.

Impact of Historical Context

World War II and the Great Depression led to high economic woes for the National Party, which persuaded the government to reinforce their policies about racial separation.  The global events that happened during the mid-1900s, such as World war II enabled the Apartheid system by the ANP to continue systematically discriminate against the blacks in South Africa in a measured manner with fewer challenges from the rest of the nations (Sooryamoorthy, 2010). For instance, Europe was improving on its economies while the U.S was constructing its military power while Russia was attempting to avoid destabilization of the Soviet Bloc. Therefore, to various states, Apartheid rule was not a significant issue for them. Additionally, the economic and political consequences for eliminating trade with South Africa were very significant to many states, thus the need for a sustained relationship as well as a trade that allowed Apartheid to Flourish.

Under the system, the South Africans were separated by their races, which made it mandatory for them to live separately. The main aim of the Apartheid was to separate the South Africa black majority from the white minority as well as decrease the black’s political power (Deegan, 2014). Some laws were put into place to ensure that the people abided by segregation. The National party established legislation such as segregation of schools, banning interracial marriages and land Acts which prevent the blacks from owning land. To help in reinforcing the apartheid system, the administration strengthened the pass regulations that demanded the blacks to have documents that approved their existence in limited zones. However, Apartheid was abolished in 1994 after a new constitution was ratified, destroying the apartheid system, which brought many changes in the society.

References

Clark, N. L., & Worger, W. H. (2016). South Africa: The rise and fall of Apartheid. Routledge.

Deegan, H. (2014). Politics South Africa. Routledge.

Sooryamoorthy, R. (2010). Science and scientific collaboration in South Africa: Apartheid and after. Scientometrics, 84(2), 373-390.