Non violent action was put into effect against the oppressors within South Africa, and is the main contributing factor in which ended the Apartheid regime. The ANC ( African National Congress ) played a huge role in the end of the Apartheid (the separation of blacks and whites, the dominance the white minority had, as they oppressed the black majority) within South Africa. The ANC was established by John Dube in 1912, its sole purpose was to increase the rights of the black population within South Africa during the apartheid, the organization used non violent rallies and forms of protest to get the worlds attention which lead to the end of the apartheid. The way in which the ANC conducted itself during the harsh circumstances they underwent was truly amazing, the restraint and lack of violence is indeed one of if not the vital impacting factor that ended the apartheid regime.
The government in South Africa at the time was composed of South Africa's minority; the whites, who represented approximately one fifth of the country's population. South Africa was lead by a minority who controlled almost everything, the wealth, land, and the people. Part of the apartheid was the separation and segregation of blacks. The government and it's racialist leaders set up areas for the blacks to live, which became known as bantu stands. Blacks were not permitted to work in the same place or have the same level of jobs, essentially they did all the hard work. South Africa became polarized between the white areas and black areas, the inner city was more industrialized, rich and developed. On the other side, the outskirts could be compared to a developing nation, they were treated poorly and worked harder and got paid less. South Africa was however closely tied to the outlying discarded people it wanted to be separated from, they brought in money and did the jobs that needed to be done, and the importance of the poorly treated majority became known as well as the might they soon demonstrated. South Africa relied on the blind eyes of the world and full obedience of the people that lived within the country's borders. It ruled with an iron fist, and was able to do so as the political system the government ran was repressive and and kept the blacks in the dark and allowed for complete dominance as know one thought to question what was being done.
Eventually and suddenly some began to question the way in which the country was being run. Nelson Mandela, took over the ANC and began to fight the government and opened many eyes to the horrors and misdeeds that were occurring. He believed heavily in non violent action as a means to demonstrate his wishes and the wishes of his people. "Non-violent action can be defined as a conflict behaviour consisting of unconventional acts implemented for purposive change without intentional damage to persons or property. Non-violent action includes strikes, boycotts, sit-ins, occupations, demonstrations, refusal to pay taxes, creation of alternative and parallel institutions, and other forms of civil disobedience." He did not want a war or power, he wanted to be treated equally. To do this the ANC had many rallies and took many forms of action against the government that did not involve violence. Mandela and the ANC would burn their passports that were distributed to them that allowed them to travel, they would have protests and strikes, they would not take the buses to work, but instead would walk. However this was not the only way in which the ANC operated they had a military wing known as the Spear of the Nation, this group would use violence to demonstrate to the government they wanted change and they were serious about achieving it.
Many different things occurred that lead to the end of apartheid. Remarkably it was the course of non violence that lead to the success of the termination of the apartheid and the establishment of democratic black majority government. Ultimately the reason why non violence worked in ending such a controlling and oppressive chain of government was because the dependence of the South African government on the outside western and industrialized world as well as the obedience of the black majority people. Non violent protests such as that, that occurred in Sharpsville opened the eyes to the world, and began to get people questioning if what was occurring was right or wrong. A peaceful demonstration turning into a massacre really caused the western world to look at South Africa and raise an eyebrow and say no, this is not right. Another man who caused the world and the people of South Africa to rise up was Nelson Mandela. He was able to successfully use non violent means and protests to get people to think differently. His imprisonment alone caused the world to get involved and fight for what was right. Many boycotts and embargo's were put on South Africa, and as it was dependent on the outside world the government began to fall apart, apartheid had to stop. It had to stop because the majority of its citizens were beginning to question what was going on, and also had, had enough.
The government in South Africa at the time was composed of South Africa's minority; the whites, who represented approximately one fifth of the country's population. South Africa was lead by a minority who controlled almost everything, the wealth, land, and the people. Part of the apartheid was the separation and segregation of blacks. The government and it's racialist leaders set up areas for the blacks to live, which became known as bantu stands. Blacks were not permitted to work in the same place or have the same level of jobs, essentially they did all the hard work. South Africa became polarized between the white areas and black areas, the inner city was more industrialized, rich and developed. On the other side, the outskirts could be compared to a developing nation, they were treated poorly and worked harder and got paid less. South Africa was however closely tied to the outlying discarded people it wanted to be separated from, they brought in money and did the jobs that needed to be done, and the importance of the poorly treated majority became known as well as the might they soon demonstrated. South Africa relied on the blind eyes of the world and full obedience of the people that lived within the country's borders. It ruled with an iron fist, and was able to do so as the political system the government ran was repressive and and kept the blacks in the dark and allowed for complete dominance as know one thought to question what was being done.
Eventually and suddenly some began to question the way in which the country was being run. Nelson Mandela, took over the ANC and began to fight the government and opened many eyes to the horrors and misdeeds that were occurring. He believed heavily in non violent action as a means to demonstrate his wishes and the wishes of his people. "Non-violent action can be defined as a conflict behaviour consisting of unconventional acts implemented for purposive change without intentional damage to persons or property. Non-violent action includes strikes, boycotts, sit-ins, occupations, demonstrations, refusal to pay taxes, creation of alternative and parallel institutions, and other forms of civil disobedience." He did not want a war or power, he wanted to be treated equally. To do this the ANC had many rallies and took many forms of action against the government that did not involve violence. Mandela and the ANC would burn their passports that were distributed to them that allowed them to travel, they would have protests and strikes, they would not take the buses to work, but instead would walk. However this was not the only way in which the ANC operated they had a military wing known as the Spear of the Nation, this group would use violence to demonstrate to the government they wanted change and they were serious about achieving it.
Many different things occurred that lead to the end of apartheid. Remarkably it was the course of non violence that lead to the success of the termination of the apartheid and the establishment of democratic black majority government. Ultimately the reason why non violence worked in ending such a controlling and oppressive chain of government was because the dependence of the South African government on the outside western and industrialized world as well as the obedience of the black majority people. Non violent protests such as that, that occurred in Sharpsville opened the eyes to the world, and began to get people questioning if what was occurring was right or wrong. A peaceful demonstration turning into a massacre really caused the western world to look at South Africa and raise an eyebrow and say no, this is not right. Another man who caused the world and the people of South Africa to rise up was Nelson Mandela. He was able to successfully use non violent means and protests to get people to think differently. His imprisonment alone caused the world to get involved and fight for what was right. Many boycotts and embargo's were put on South Africa, and as it was dependent on the outside world the government began to fall apart, apartheid had to stop. It had to stop because the majority of its citizens were beginning to question what was going on, and also had, had enough.