Apartheid: On the Pages of History or Hidden in Plain Sight?

Apartheid. A term that is unfortunately not foreign to us. A simple search will show you that, by definition, it means “a policy or system of segregation or discrimination on grounds of race.”

I was first introduced to this term back in school while learning about South Africa’s history. The inhumane racial segregation that existed in South Africa and West Africa for almost 46 years has left an incredibly egregious mark on the pages of history. Like many others, I am horrified by the extent of cruelty the oppressors inflicted on those innocent souls. It brings a certain relief to the heart that this system of atrocities and agonizing practices was officially abolished in the early 1990s. However, the growing unsettling events happening around the world stand as a testament that reveals how apartheid-like practices are still prevalent to obscure real issues.

1948: The Dark Reign of Apartheid

Apartheid was a systematic tactic used to oppress and dehumanize the Black population in South Africa. Formally imposed in 1948 by the National Party of South Africa, its main objective was to institutionalise racial discrimination, which hedged the Black South Africans from exercising their basic rights and ultimately confined them within the chains of brutality and poverty. It’s diabolical how an administration was capable of ‘normalising’ racial segregation, disenfranchisement, and cold-blooded state violence.

Black South Africans were confined to poverty, their basic rights denied, and their dissent thwarted. Policies were cruelly obvious but served a purpose that ran far deeper: they divided the society, distracting a population from questioning the broader systemic inequities and failures of governance.

Dividing Hearts, Distracting Minds

Perhaps the vehemence of apartheid is more than just dividing the population. Its strategic claws are targeted to break people from within– crumbling their morals and shattering their hope until their existence mortifies them. The system succeeded on the principle of "us vs. them," which slowly, over time, became "the way of things." Governments, corporations, and political leaders of the present age rely on similar playbooks, usually masquerading as nationalism, religion, or class struggle.

Dawning the superhero cloak and projecting powers of polarization while masking accountability seems to be the growing trend in democratic societies. Politicians and media organisations often highlight the issue of cultural or identity-based conflict to deflect attention from mismanagement of the economy, corruption, or social injustice. When leaders portray a certain group as a threat, be it immigrants, minorities, or political opponents, public sentiment can be rallied while culpability for systemic problems is shunned.

Modern Masks of Segregation

When we draw parallels between the Apartheid Era in South Africa and the modern age state of affairs, the similarities are appalling. Though today's tactics are less explicit when it comes to racial laws, they rely on the same old core principle: deflection and division.

For instance–

India

India's "hidden apartheid" best describes the caste of Dalits, a discriminated group subjected to social ostracism, segregated living arrangements, and scarcity of access to basic services, despite constitutional provisions.

United States

Although it is protected legally from racial discrimination, systemic racism remains prevalent for Black, Native, and Hispanic Americans. Disparities continue to appear in the forms of wealth, education, and criminal justice. The history of redlining and segregation in housing has created many of the continuing economic and social imbalances.

Israel-Palestine

Many have criticised the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip for establishing a system of apartheid in which the unequal share of land resources and freedom to move around is determined by ethnicity. Palestinian people are restricted from moving around freely and face unequal access to essential facilities.

South Africa

Even after apartheid has been legally abolished, significant racial inequality in South Africa still lingers. Such issues persist even today through high concentrations of poverty in historic townships; access to good-quality education, and healthcare services remains unequal, while wealth disparities prevail.

Pawns Sacrificed, Cascade of Lies

In some nations, divisive practices identify themselves through ideological control with exaggerated nationalism or religious purity roles being played by the media and propaganda. Policies targeting certain ethnic or religious groups with security disguises inflame public emotions but hardly address real issues such as poverty or education disparities. In any case, such policies just set up the cycle of discrimination and exacerbate societal divisions while prolonging the agony of the oppressed.

This also happens in what appear to be the more progressive democracies. When economic times worsen, politicians may resort to polarising rhetoric to build a base of support and focus public ire on immigrants or other minority groups rather than on inflation, wage stagnation, or housing shortages. This is a way not just to maintain power but to bar the creation of any unity needed to solve systemic problems.

Play Stupid Games, Win Stupid Prizes

The million-dollar question is: What is the real cost of these apartheid-like practices?

In short, it's monumental.

They first create societal mistrust, set communities against each other, and propagate cycles of resentment. Furthermore, the entire concept of ‘democracy’ starts to distort from its true meaning and values. When leaders define dissent as treason and instill a sense of suspicion among people, they create atmospheres where accountability is nearly impossible. In those scenarios, public energy is wasted on arguing about divisive issues when corruption, inequality, and systemic failures worsen unchecked.

For a government focused on controlling the narrative and not on solving problems, essential issues such as healthcare, infrastructure, or education are neglected. This leads to stagnation and suffering in the long run.

The best way to dodge the bullet of these nasty tactics is to be conspicuous with reality and see it for what it is- a distraction. The power play of division and dismantling of society is odious to progress and development. As citizens, we must recognise these abhorrent strategies and raise awareness to overcome this system. For example, when public discourse is consumed by arguments over identity, it becomes pertinent to question what other broader issues are being put aside. Are unemployment rates rising? Is public infrastructure in disrepair? Is wealth inequality widening? These are the questions that cry out for attention but are frequently buried under layers of orchestrated outrage.

Defying the Devils in Disguise

History always unwraps its lessons. While the horrifying wickedness of apartheid is forever inked in the past, it surely taught us the significance of unity, which was crucial to fighting against this oppression. A system based on division and segregation ultimately succumbs to the unity of people.

Times might have changed, and the game plans have evolved. Nonetheless, we mustn’t fall prey to the devils in disguise and resist their vices before we end up in immutable crises.

As Nelson Mandela said, “What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what differences we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead.”

Khadija Khan is a student pursuing B. Com (Honours) at Jamia Millia Islamia.

Edited by: Sidra Aman