P2: CIVIL RESISTANCE, 1970s TO 1980s: SOUTH AFRICA: THE CRISIS OF APARTHEID IN
THE 1980s
“Disinvestment and sanctions were undoubtedly the most significant protests by the
international community against the National Party regime during the 1980’s”
Discuss to what extent you agree by focusing on various forms of resistance that
international anti-apartheid movements used during the 1980’s to ensure the fall of
Apartheid.
One would agree to the greatest extent that the disinvestment and sanctions set by the
International community were the most significant protests held against Apartheid,
ultimately causing its fall, as they acted as the “straw that broke the camels back”. There
were many forms of international protests starting around the 1960s’ and intensifying in
the 80’s due to external factors that created a pressurised climate of change. This
included cultural, academic, and sport boycotts, as well as the formation of the Anti-
Apartheid movement (AAM). However, only after the Nationals Party’s’ attempted
reforms of Apartheid did they face far more serious sanctions and disinvestments in the
1980’s. It was these that pushed the country into a weakened economy and ultimately
ensured the fall of Apartheid.
Apartheid was the social, economic, and political suppression of people of colour in
South Africa. The Anti-Apartheid Movement was first founded in 1960, gaining large
momentum in Britain and Ireland. AAM set up the International Defence and Aid Fund
which sought to financially assist the opponents of Apartheid, such as the ANC. These
pressures continued until 1983 when president at the time, PW Botha, decided to
reform Apartheid. It was here when he introduced the Tri-Cameral parliamentary
system, where there would be separate parliaments for white, coloured, and Indian
representatives. However, whites still held full political power, and Africans were totally
excluded from political affairs. In Botha’s Rubicon speech of 1985, he stated that he
would not consider immediate and major reforms of the Apartheid system. This, and the
Tri-Cameral system, prompted far more serious international actions taken against
South Africa.
One of many boycotts held were the sports boycotts. The South African Non- Racial
Olympic Committee was formed and campaigned against all-white South African teams
in all international sporting events. South Africa was also formally expelled from the
Olympic Committee. The Commonwealth countries signed the Gleneagles Agreement to
ban the South Africa sportsperson from all world sport. Boycotts intensified such as in
1981 when thousands protested against the Springbok rugby tour in New Zealand,
THE 1980s
“Disinvestment and sanctions were undoubtedly the most significant protests by the
international community against the National Party regime during the 1980’s”
Discuss to what extent you agree by focusing on various forms of resistance that
international anti-apartheid movements used during the 1980’s to ensure the fall of
Apartheid.
One would agree to the greatest extent that the disinvestment and sanctions set by the
International community were the most significant protests held against Apartheid,
ultimately causing its fall, as they acted as the “straw that broke the camels back”. There
were many forms of international protests starting around the 1960s’ and intensifying in
the 80’s due to external factors that created a pressurised climate of change. This
included cultural, academic, and sport boycotts, as well as the formation of the Anti-
Apartheid movement (AAM). However, only after the Nationals Party’s’ attempted
reforms of Apartheid did they face far more serious sanctions and disinvestments in the
1980’s. It was these that pushed the country into a weakened economy and ultimately
ensured the fall of Apartheid.
Apartheid was the social, economic, and political suppression of people of colour in
South Africa. The Anti-Apartheid Movement was first founded in 1960, gaining large
momentum in Britain and Ireland. AAM set up the International Defence and Aid Fund
which sought to financially assist the opponents of Apartheid, such as the ANC. These
pressures continued until 1983 when president at the time, PW Botha, decided to
reform Apartheid. It was here when he introduced the Tri-Cameral parliamentary
system, where there would be separate parliaments for white, coloured, and Indian
representatives. However, whites still held full political power, and Africans were totally
excluded from political affairs. In Botha’s Rubicon speech of 1985, he stated that he
would not consider immediate and major reforms of the Apartheid system. This, and the
Tri-Cameral system, prompted far more serious international actions taken against
South Africa.
One of many boycotts held were the sports boycotts. The South African Non- Racial
Olympic Committee was formed and campaigned against all-white South African teams
in all international sporting events. South Africa was also formally expelled from the
Olympic Committee. The Commonwealth countries signed the Gleneagles Agreement to
ban the South Africa sportsperson from all world sport. Boycotts intensified such as in
1981 when thousands protested against the Springbok rugby tour in New Zealand,
