The word “apartheid” often brings to mind South Africa’s past. But it also sparks conversation about systems of racial and ethnic separation in other parts of the world. Whether in classrooms, activist spaces, or social media, more people are asking what apartheid means—and how similar patterns show up globally.
This topic matters because it helps us recognize how power, identity, and injustice are tied together. When we learn from history, we’re better able to understand what’s happening around us today and what can be done to address unfair systems.
What This Article Covers
This article looks at apartheid in its original South African context and how that concept is used today in discussions about global injustice.
You’ll learn what apartheid meant in legal terms, how it worked in practice, and how some governments and human rights groups use the word to describe other systems that separate or oppress people based on race, ethnicity, or identity.
What Was Apartheid?
Apartheid was a system of racial segregation in South Africa that lasted from 1948 to the early 1990s. The word means “apartness” in Afrikaans, and that’s exactly what it aimed to do—keep people apart based on race.
Under apartheid, the government passed laws that forced people of different racial groups to live in separate areas, go to different schools, and use separate facilities. Non-white South Africans couldn’t vote, travel freely, or own land in most areas.
This system wasn’t just social—it was written into the law. The government created racial categories and controlled where people could live, work, and whom they could marry.
Apartheid created deep inequality. Most of the country’s land and wealth were in the hands of a small white minority. Meanwhile, the majority of the population lived with limited rights and little opportunity.
The Global Reaction
During the decades that apartheid existed in South Africa, it sparked protests not only within the country but also around the world.
Many nations cut off trade or sports relations with South Africa. Colleges and churches joined divestment campaigns to pressure companies and governments to stop supporting the apartheid system.
Artists, athletes, and public figures used their voices to speak out. The movement to end apartheid became a global effort, showing that international solidarity could make a difference.
In 1994, South Africa held its first multiracial elections, and Nelson Mandela became president. This marked the official end of apartheid—but its impact didn’t disappear overnight. The effects of segregation and inequality are still felt today.
What Makes a System “Apartheid”?
In 1973, the United Nations adopted a formal definition of apartheid as a crime under international law. This definition refers not just to South Africa’s system, but to any system that uses laws or policies to separate and dominate a racial group.
According to the UN, apartheid involves:
- Laws or practices meant to keep racial groups apart
- Acts of violence or oppression against one group
- Intent to maintain domination by one group over another
This definition is now used by human rights groups and legal experts to look at other places in the world where similar patterns might exist.
Modern Discussions About Apartheid
Today, the word “apartheid” is sometimes used to describe situations outside South Africa. This can be controversial. Some believe the word should only refer to the South African system. Others believe the term helps make sense of how racial separation and control still happen.
For example, some human rights groups use the word apartheid to describe conditions in the occupied Palestinian territories. They point to laws and policies that treat Palestinians and Jewish Israelis differently in the same geographic areas.
In these cases, the term is used to raise awareness and push for accountability. Whether people agree with the use of the word or not, the goal is often the same: to point out systems that divide and discriminate based on identity.
Why It Matters Today
Understanding apartheid isn’t just about history. It’s also about recognizing how power can be used to separate, exclude, and control. Even when laws don’t use the word “apartheid,” the patterns can still show up in housing, education, policing, and immigration.
By learning from South Africa’s past, we can better understand the struggles people face today. Students, activists, and communities around the world continue to speak out against segregation and racial injustice—whether it’s in cities, at borders, or inside schools.
The word “apartheid” serves as a reminder of what can happen when division becomes policy—and what it takes to dismantle those systems.
What Students and Allies Can Do
For students and young people who want to take action, the first step is learning. Study what apartheid looked like in South Africa. Learn how communities resisted. Then look at your own campus, neighborhood, or country. Are there patterns of exclusion or separation?
Ask questions. Speak up. Support groups that are working for equity and inclusion. Whether it’s housing rights, racial justice, or equal access to education, building awareness is part of building change.
Solidarity across movements and borders makes a difference. Just like international support helped end apartheid in South Africa, today’s movements can grow stronger through connection and shared action.
Keep the Conversation Going
Apartheid may be a word from the past, but the idea behind it—separation based on race or identity—has not disappeared. Learning what it means, how it operated, and how it shows up in other contexts helps us stay informed and ready to challenge injustice.
History gives us tools. Voices give us strength. Communities give us hope. Keep asking questions. Keep listening. Keep pushing for a world where everyone belongs.