Understanding how systems of oppression operate isn’t just for history books or political science classes. It’s a necessary part of challenging injustice in the present. Real lives are affected every day by institutions that claim neutrality while contributing to harm. That’s why looking at actual case studies is so powerful.
By examining specific examples, students and organizers can better recognize patterns, connect struggles across borders, and make stronger demands for accountability. These case studies show what oppression looks like when it’s woven into the fabric of institutions—from governments to corporations to universities.
What This Article Covers
This article looks at real-world examples of oppressive systems. Each case highlights how power can be abused, how people are impacted, and how resistance takes shape. Whether rooted in apartheid, colonial control, or systemic racism, these stories help us understand not just what happened, but what is still happening now.
The goal here is not just to reflect on injustice but to learn from it. These case studies offer tools and context for those working to build something better, especially within academic spaces where silence too often protects power.
South African Apartheid and Global Complicity
Apartheid in South Africa lasted nearly five decades. During that time, a white minority government controlled every aspect of life for the Black majority. Segregation wasn’t just social—it was enforced by law. People were forcibly removed from their homes, denied political rights, and punished for resisting.
But apartheid didn’t survive on its own. Many companies, universities, and governments outside South Africa continued doing business as usual. They funded, partnered with, and legitimized a system they could have challenged.
One key moment of resistance came from students. Across the globe, student groups organized protests and called on their universities to divest from companies profiting from apartheid. These efforts took years, but they made an impact. Schools were forced to explain their investments. Some changed course. Others didn’t.
This case shows how global institutions can support injustice—and how students can force them to take a stand.
The Occupation of Palestine
The occupation of Palestine is one of the clearest examples of a modern apartheid system. From checkpoints and military raids to restrictions on movement and land seizure, Palestinians face daily violence and displacement.
Universities around the world have come under scrutiny for their ties to companies that supply weapons, technology, or infrastructure used in the occupation. These ties include research partnerships, endowment investments, and donor influence.
Students have led the way in exposing these connections. Campaigns for divestment, academic boycotts, and public education have challenged universities to stop profiting from harm. But resistance often comes fast—from administrations, lobby groups, and politicians who want to protect the status quo.
This case highlights how oppression is not just local—it’s reinforced by global networks. And it shows how campus organizing can disrupt that pattern.
Policing and Mass Incarceration in the U.S.
In the United States, policing and incarceration have long targeted Black, brown, and low-income communities. From the war on drugs to stop-and-frisk policies, the system has prioritized punishment over care—and profit over people.
Colleges and universities are not outside this system. Many have their own police departments. Others work closely with local law enforcement. Surveillance technology, student data sharing, and policing of protests show how campuses can mirror larger oppressive patterns.
Student groups have challenged this by calling for police abolition, mental health alternatives, and investment in community care. Some have pushed their schools to end contracts with police. Others demand removal of surveillance tech on campus.
This case reminds us that institutions we trust with education often rely on control to maintain order. Challenging that control is part of justice work.
Indigenous Land Dispossession and Institutional Growth
Much of the land where universities sit was taken from Indigenous people. This history is often hidden behind plaques or land acknowledgments that don’t come with action.
Some schools continue to profit from land seized through broken treaties or forced displacement. Endowments may include land-based revenues. Campus expansions can push out Indigenous or working-class communities nearby.
Student organizers have fought back by demanding full transparency, reparations, and the return of land. They’ve also pushed for Indigenous studies programs, faculty hiring, and meaningful consultation.
This case reminds us that historical harm doesn’t stay in the past. Institutions built on injustice carry a responsibility to repair it.
Corporate Partnerships and Apartheid-Era Models Today
Many companies today play similar roles to those that supported South African apartheid decades ago. They build surveillance tools, manufacture weapons, or extract resources in conflict zones. Universities often enter into quiet partnerships with these corporations.
Sometimes it’s about money—sponsorships, grants, naming rights. Other times it’s about influence—placing executives on advisory boards or allowing corporate interests to shape research.
Student groups have exposed these relationships and called for divestment. By digging into board members, donation records, and corporate ties, they’ve forced public conversations that institutions try to avoid.
This case shows how the logic of profit continues to guide decisions—even at schools that talk about ethics. And it shows how research, organizing, and public pressure can hold them accountable.
Connecting the Dots
Each of these cases is different. But they all share something in common: a system where power is protected, harm is allowed, and silence is rewarded. Whether through investments, partnerships, or policy, institutions play a role in that harm.
What also connects them is resistance. Students, workers, and community members have stepped in again and again to challenge injustice. They’ve done the hard work of researching, educating, organizing, and pushing for real change.
Case studies help make these struggles visible. They provide context and clarity. They remind us that we’re not alone—and that the fights we take on today are part of a larger movement for justice.
Understanding oppressive systems through case studies helps us see patterns and respond with purpose. These stories aren’t just about the past—they are about the power we still have to act, organize, and demand something better.